The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-10-17
A PLEA FOR
HIS RACE.
BOOKER 7. WASHINGTON TELLS
ABOUT the EFFORTS OF TINE
NEGRO.

NEGRO.
His speech Thoughtful Oae - He
Was Given = Splendid Reception. and
His speech Was Frequs.aIy interrupted
by Appiau.e-"C.st Down Your Buck
etS."
The negro race had a representa-
tive on the programme of the opening
exercises at the Atlanta Exposition,
OF whom they have great reason to be
proud.
Booker T. Washington, president Of
the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
School, spoke for the negro. 1t was
the first time colored orator had even
stood upon a platform before such q
vast audience with white men and wo-
men. 1t was an event in the history
of the race
His speech could not have been ex-
celed. 1t was in the best of taste, and
there was not jarring note in it. 1t
made magnificent impression, and
was frequently interrupted by ap-
plause.
Washington said:
"MR. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CITIZENS -
One-third of the population of the
South is of the negro race. No enter
prise seeking the material, civil or
moral welfare of this section can dis
regard this element of our population
and reach the highest success. l but
convey to you, Mr.. President and Di-
rectors, the sentiment of the masses of
my race, when | say that in no way
have the value and manhood of the
American negro been more fittingly
and generously recognized than by the
managers of this magnificent expOsi-
tiOn at every stage of its progress. 1t
is recognition which will do more to
cement the Friendship of the two
races than any occurrence since the
dawn of our freedom.
"Not only this, but the opportunity
here afforded will awaken among us a
new era of industrial progress. Igno-
rant and inexperienced, it is not
strange that in the first years of our
new life we began at the top instead
of the bottom; that a seat in Congress
or the State Legislature was more
sought than real estate or industrial
skill; that the political convention or
stump speaking had more attractions
than starting dairy farm or truck
garden.
A ship lost at sea for many days sud-
denly sighted a friendly vessel. From
the mast of the unfortunate vessel was
seen the signal, Water, water, we die
of thirst.5 The answer from the
friendly vessel at once came back
Cast down your bucket where you are
A second time the signal, Water, wa
ter, send US water ran up from the
distressed vessel, and was answered
Cast down your bucket where you are
And third and fourth signal was an.
swered, Cast down your bucket where
you are.' The captain of the distressed
vessel, at last needing the injunction
cast down his bucket and it came uI
full Of fresh, sparkling water from the
mouth of the Amazon river. To those
of my race who depend on betterine
their condition in a foreign land, OF
who underestimate the Importance Of
cultivating friendly relations with ths
Southern white man who is their next.
door neighbor, l would say, cast dow1
your bucket where you are; cast il
down in making friends in every
manly way of the people of all races
| by whom we are surrounded. Cast il
down in agriculture, in mechanics, il
commerce, in domestic service and il
the professions. And in this cOnnec
tiOn it is we'll to bear in mind tina
whatever other sins the South may b.
called upon to bear, when it comes tt
business pure and simple, it is in tn
South that the negro is given man
chance in the commercial world, ant
in nothing is this exposition more elO
quent in emphasizing this chance
Our greatest danger is, that in tn
great leap from slavery to freedom W.
may overlook the fact that the masse
of us are to live by the productions o
our hands, and fail to keep in min'
that we shall prosper in production a
we learn to dignity and glorify com
mon labor and put brains and skill int
the common occupations of life; shal
prosper in proportion as we learn t
draw the line between the superficia
and the subst antial, the ornaments
gewgaws of life and the useful. N
race can prosper until it learns tina
there is as much dignity in tilling
field as in writing poem. 1t is at tn
bottom of life we must begin, and nc
at the top. Nor should we permit Ou
grievances to OvershadOW our Oppol
tunities.
| "CAST DOWN YOUR BUCKETS"
!, "To those of the white race who loo
to the incoming Of those of foreig
birth and strange tongue and habit
for the prosperity of the South, were
permitted, l would repeat what l sa
to my own race: Cast down yol
bucket where you are' Cast it dow
among 100000 negroes whose habi
: you know, whose loyalty and love yC
, have tested in days when to ha,
, proved treacherous meant the ruin
our firesides. Cast down your buck
:, among these people who have withOl
strikes and labor wars, titled yo'
: fields, cleared your forests. build.
r your railroads and cities and broug
forth treasures from the bowels of Il
: earth, and helped make possible th
n magnificent representation of the pr
! gress of the South. Casting dow
your bucket among my people, helpil
= and encouraging them as you are d
I ing on these grounds, and to educati,
t of head, hand and heart, you will fiji
that they will buy your surplus Ian
Il make blossom the waste places in yo
q fields and run your factories. VIII
doing this you can be sure in the
!, ture, as you have been in the past. th
you and your families will be su
'' rounded by the most patient, faithf
law-abiding and unresentful peoI
that the world has seen. As we ha
proved our loyalty to you in the pa
in nursing your children, watching
the sick bed of your mothers and fat
= ers, and often following them wi
q tear-dimmed eyes to their graves,
y in the future, in our humble way,
7, shall stand by you with a devOti
y that no foreigner can approach, rea
to lay down our lives, if need be,
" defense of yours, interlacing our
Is dustrial, commercial, civil and |