Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-08-24
NOTES AND COMMENTS!

Hon. II. G. A. Atwood, ex-consul to
San Domingo under Republican ad-
ministration and later hungry demo-
crat seeking consulship to Calais,
France, has recently attacked that
honored and respected race leader,
Miss Ida B. Wells. The attack was un-
provoked, having for its aim self ag-
grandizement. Mr.. Atwood's asser-
tions are against the best interests of
the race and are spoken in spirit of
tyranny. Would that his record as
race leader and lover of the prosecuted
race was as clear, good and concise as
that of Miss Ida B. Wells.
The colored people have yet to learn
that the solution of the so-called race
problem lies almost entirely within
themselves. AS citizens of state or
nation, be ever watchful. Take advan-
tage of everything that promises to
open the avenues of business and re-
spectability that may present them
self. Let every colored person reason
when he or she accepts position that
upon my integrity and enterprise de-
pend the future of my race" Let your
character be beyond reproach, un-
questioned. Knock at the commercial,
professional and mechanical door for
admittance, and if admitted make your
self indispensable. as it were. Prepare
for the future. Who knows how soon
the advantages and commercial inter-
ests of the two races (white and black
will be one and the same, not as a
national issue, but as an individual
issue, man to man.
The colored man is prime factor in
everything. His labor made tie south
what it is to-day. BY his endurance
and energy the wealth of the country
was and is largely produced. He may
be found in all parts of the globe, first
as common laborer-ready and adapt
ed: second as a mechanic-skilled and
competent, and third as a professional
man--intelligent and philosophical.
Brave as a warrior, aggressive as a
leader and law abiding as citizen.
The man prospers best who devotes
himself to his own interests. The
sighting of ones affairs to oversee
those of another gives the one who re-
ceives the extra attention time that
should be devoted to self. BY this as
sertion it is not intended to convey the
idea of selfshness. but only as an illus
tration of that time-honored adage:
.Tend to your own business and others
will tend to theirs" The successful
person has sufficient to do to carry out
the principle herein laid down. Keep
vour own counsel, think and do for
yourself.
The young men who are working at
| the various menial positions could have
learned trades and professions in the
years which they have devoted to dust
ing clothing, shining shoes and groom
ing horses. Honor and shame from
no condition rise" yet such action is q
draw back to the race in general.
When one is not independent he must
necessarily be dependent. The demand
for skilled labor is greater than for
| unslxilled Men who devote years
| doing such work as can be learned in a
| few weeks or months are discharged at
will, simply because their places are so
| readily filed Not so with a skilled
mechanic who serves an apprenticeship
| of a required number of years He is
more independent and his place is not
so easily filed. Young men, make
mechanics or professional men of
yourselves.
Iowa's congressional representatives
will soon be home and no doubt most
of them will take active part in the fall
campaign. They are welcomed home
as mother would dutiful son aftersa
long absence. Iowa is proud to know