Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-08

lI.AalH pom. Gus VIC IulAu-I tA q TO-
construction Of their own habits Of IRE
and set what good they can from the
suggestions made, and from toe spirit
Of emulation aroused. So far from
imagining 8 conflict Of Interests be-
tween themselves and their white
neighbors. they urge upon each other
the cultivation Of friendly relations be-
tween the races as q valuable aid to
their own Improvement. The voice OF
the political agitator is not heard In the
conference.
The third annual meeting has just
been held, a report Of which SAYS:
The annual report Of the Committee on
Declarations, which is a report of the con-
diCon OF the negroes, was encouraging,
though less So for the progress disclosed,
when is slight, than for the sensible view
10 takes of the situation Both the report
and the discussion which followed 10 were
wholly without the spirit Of racial antag-
onism, and wore frank, specific and prac-
teal ln their suggestions. The report
opened with "a sentiment that might with
advantage be adopted by the numerous
professional agitators who are more con-
cerned with the political racial and section
al phases Of the negro problem than with
those that are material, moral and educa-
tional. The negroes Of the Tuskegee Con-
ference recognize that the best way 20 pro
cure privileges are 20 deserve them. 1--WE
believe they say, "that education, prop
erty and practical religion viii eventually
give us every right and privilege enjoyed
by other citizens, and, therefore, that our
interests can best be served by bending all
our energies 20 securing them, rather than
oy dwelling on the past. or complaining"
And TO securing education, property ana
practical religion the conference addresses
its suggestions
The educational condition is described as
bad, and mainly for want Of suitable teach
ers Four-hfths of the farmers still mort
gage their implanted crops, and two-thirds
OF them live in One-rO0m cabins. To be the
pOssessOr of two rooms has become a COM
mon ambition since the conference began,
while four rooms mean opulent arlstoc-
racv.
In morals and religion an Improvement
is claimed, but the conference recognized
in immortality one OF the greatest obstacles
90 the advancement Of the race. III the
plain words used on this subject were not
merely formal, the Alabama negroes are
aware of the seriousness of this difficulty
They demand more upright living on the
part of all, and especially Of ministers, and
q more rigid line between the virtuous and
the immoral
The conference tells its members
that
They must cultivate their land more
thoroughly they must raise their own
food supplies. must avoid the emigration
agent and keep out of the cities, must pay
their taxes promptly and stop moving from
farm % farm, must work winters as well
summers and Saturdays as well as other
days, must practice economy, pay their
debts, stoD getting drunk, be more particu-
lar about the character Of their preachers,
keen their 7Omen at home and OIL tae
streets, and keep themselves out Of the
courts
TN csc are most excellent and simple
suggestions. They strike at the root Of
the trouble. As Southern contem-
says, "only one suggestion is
omitted that might have been valuable.
That is to let politics and politicians
alone, TO be the tools and dupes OF no
set Of men, 20 exercise the right OF
honestly, independently and
without the sale Of votes"
May the Tuskegse Conference grow
and prosper.