Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-02-27
PIND A WAY Or MAKE ONE.
BY j. NJ. AFTER, A. b..
Harper's Ferry, w. Va.

end, is resolution. When a man, or
ganization, race or nation resolves
to achieve a purpose or to work out
result, there is firm ground to hope
and strong reason to believe that it
will be done.
The adage, "Where there is will
there is a way" contains more truth
than (mere sentiment) fiction. Its
validity, along all the paths and in
all the fields of human progress by
men of determination and firm re-
solve has been tested again and again.
Men of low estate have struggled
against, overcome, and risen above
the embarrassments of poverty, the
discouragements of misfortune, the
barriers of prestige and prejudice;
have attained place and power, bless
ed mankind and left behind them an
immortality which shall ever live to
quicken the aspirations, direct the
cause and strengthen the hope of
the human race. What is true, in
this respect, of individuals, is also
true of nations; and what has been
possible to man in the past is in like
manner possible to him in the future.
Resolution is the great driving wheel
OF motive power that moves the hui
man race along the track of progress.
Where this is possessed the other
essential elements will not be want
ing nor will external means refuse
necessary aid. This then, above all
others, is the quality fitted to give
hope, and to make possible the sue
cess or a people struggling to rise.
Hence the motto and actuating
sentiment of the Negro should be to
''find way or make one" In our
case such a sentiment seems abso-
lutely necessary. The disposition
of the dominant race is to treat us
as aliens as we'll in the means Of live
lihood as in the privileges of society.
If, therefore. we shall hope to rise
above the position of hewers of wood
and drawers Of water, to a place
along side of other prosperous and
successful races, we must resolve not
to stand idle all the day long because
no man has hired us. But rather by
genius, skill, tact, talent, economy
and providence, we must so manage
as to accomplish self employment.
The race has already furnished many
worthy examples of the kind; but
the spirit and practice need to be-
come more generally diffused in the
work of fostering such sentiment,
encouraging such efforts and accom-
plishing such result, the press must
play an important part. Race pride
and race union must be stimulated.
Wasteful practices and pernicious
habits must be discouraged and
eliminated SO far as possible. I'm
favorably growing tendencies must
be forestalled and characteristic
preferences whose practical bearing
is against the best interest of the
race, must be subordinated to the
dictates of reason and the decisions
of judgment. This brings us to the
point where in this article we shall
begin the discussion of an inherent
tendency among our people, which
we regard as deserving notice.
A manifest characteristic of the
colored people, as race, is their
preference for town and city life.
North, South, East, West, every
where this disposition is exhibited.
The tendency is unpropitious. The
results of the practice are against
the most vigorous development and
substantial progress of, the race.
Towns and cities in all ages, it is
true, have been the great centers
and prime agents of civilization; and
under different state of things this
preference might be regarded with
approval. But under existing con-
ditions and circumstances it's effect
is to retard rather than hasten our
advance. The business of towns