The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-02-01

TO OUR ToUNG MEN.

Nothing eucceeus ike SUCCESS III
every enterprise in which We engage
The means employed and the end in
view has for its object, success. In
our haste and carelessness, we may
fail to use the proper means, and as
a consequence fail in the end, but the
object remains unchanged. No man
knows what he can do in the way of
business until he has mad e an effort.
The question is often asked, how can
an enterprise be made success! We
answer that vigor and capacity will
make any enterprise success. No
business enterprise will succeed, with
stupid, incompetent men in the lead
Unfortunately for our old men, this
seems to have been matter that they
never considered. II our young men
carefully consider these matters, they
will steer clear Of the many quick
= sands that have let our forefathers
down.
We desire to see our young men
engage in business enterprises, and
thus demonstrate more fully the Ne
gro's capacity to measure arms with
the other races in the mercantile
world. To simply declare our equal
ity with the other races without proof,
is not convincing argument, espe-
i cially wheL our inferiority is being
T. affirmed from every house top. Up
on his own merit the Negro must
10 stand or fall. IF he has business ca
ID pacity, he must stop telling the world
about this possession, but show it in
a. some successful business enterprise.
&c We can never reasonably hope to
compare notes with the other races
when we have no notes Quantity
and vacuum are unlike quantities
therefore the comparison fails. II
with our favorable opportunities, in
telligence and wealth, We fail to util
nd ize our forces and concentrate ou
B. means, we cannot justly condemn
any one but ourselves. This life is
y, theatre and every man is expected t
ra play his part. The same applies t
races. They must mount the stag
sas and perform their parts, or take seat
at in the rear.
ZEN While our fields for ope cation ma
Ifs not be as large and varied as tho:
md Of tho other races, yet We have som
nee avenues still open to US. While tt
at factories, machine shops, clerkship
on &C., offer no inducement to tn
struggling young Negro, he shout
- not become discouraged, but dire'
tha his energies in other directions. II
idea that man must have four
~ FIVE thousand dollars to open q CO
al. yard, grocery store, feed store, &c
= is all bosh. Some of the richest N,
in this country commenced busine
e operations with less than one dolla
Seu The proprietor ofthe fremont HOu
"a in Chicago, commenced with sixt
cents. One of the wealthiest men
Nashville to-day, commenced vi
the one dollar and fifty cents One
one the leading business men Of this C
anu ten years ago, could not pay o
Peo- weeks board in advance. To-day
pur- check would be received by any ba
sssly in the city for fifty thousand dolla
e 60 Is the Negro possessed of like BIT
'cate ness qualities? Can he grasp a
hold q dollar like his brother
white, We trow not. Let our yot
in men come together and make an
$50 fort Of some kind toward the bett
lovsd ment Of the race; and if you fail
ence; this, 60 it single handed. Do
'here spend too much time in crying Ab
n life what rich Negroes ought to do.
{ oc- fail 10 do. Strike a square, fair d
Sister for yourself Negroes as q whole
the Rot very philanthrepie They