Evening star., 1895-04-04
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE
Discussion Of What the Oolored Race Should
Undertake
Interesting Symposium at the Bethel
cial Future of the Negro.

One Of the interesting events Of the past
week was the, largely attended symposium
Of the Bethel Literary Association in the
assembly room of the Metropolitan A. NJ.
E. Church, on M street between 18th and
18th. This society was organized in 1881,
and has had a most fiourishing existence.
It's membership has included during the
past fourteen years the leading people
among the colored population of the city.
The late Frederick Douglass was one of its
special friends and patrons, and it was his
custom to accept an invitation once every
year to address the association on some Of
the leading issues Of the day, especially
bearing on the progress and development
Of his race Among others who have with
in the past year delivered addresses before
the Bethel Literary are George c. Gorham,
who has taken great interest in the or
ganization; Maj. ]. w. Powell of the eth
biological bureau and Prof. Cleveland Abbe,
also another good friend to the society.
business for Colored Men.
The subject before the society at its last
meeting was 'The Business Development
of the Colored Race" Mr.. r. g. Smith,
president of the society, occupied the chair
and punctuated the program as the sue
cessive speakers were introduced with ex-
ceedingly happy little speeches. The first
speaker was Mr.. A. s. Gray, secretary of
the society. who, as member Of the Union
League, treated of the relation of that or
ganization to the colored race He said
the negro was weaker than the white race
and his opportunities in labor are pre-
scribed. Yet he thirsts for knowledge and
endureS hardship and sacrifice in the effort
to rise. He is patient, obedient and con-
scientious in his labor.
The speaker recognized the extravagance,
improvidence, love of pleasure and lack of
1lf 1k lny,t
but, he urged, the general movement was
upward and forward. The two things to
be done were to improve the moral and
material condition of the colored man and
to secure a more favorable public opinion
for him. With material strength he would
gain respect. The Union League to this
end believes negroes should stand together
&and help, not hinder, each other. A color
ed man, other things equal should hire a
colored lawyer, doctor, carpenter or mason.
Cooperation was the secret of success
The special directions toward which the
colored race could direct it's energies were
agriculture, commerce and business.
What Might BE Done.
Mr.. H. Z. Baker followed with a most
direct and practical paper on what
the colored man might do If he were
in trade. There are $4,000 people of our
race in the District" said Mr.. Baker
This means the expenditure each month
Oh at least $S0,O0O, on the average, for the
necessaries of life. Compute what this Is
annually and consider that 1t goes wholly
out from our numbers. This is true Of the
proceeds of all the labor of colored people
When the items of rent, fuel, clothing sup
plies and the a1lany other things essential
to comfortable living are considered, 1t will
be seen that there Is a tremendous aggre-
gate. which, II our people would direct
their attention toward trade and business,
would be vast aid to our progress ma
terially and morally"
Ex-Representative John r. Lynch made
an off-hand speech on the necessity for
colored people to make money and save it
and get ahead. He spoke of the power of
thrift. The cOlored man who saved money
and got on iE the world would have doors
opened to him that otherwise would be
forever shut
Miss Jordan had subscribed and paid for
$4o.OOO worth of stock in a steamboat COM
pany, and the business was in a promising
condition. Another steamer had been bought
in place of the one burned. the insurance
having been available for that purpose.
President Smith called attention to an
excellent bust of the late Frederick Doug
lass. which was. he said. the work of Mr.
Hill, a colored student of sculpture, a fact
which suggested another indication of the
progress and aspirations of the colored