The Afro-American. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1892-1899, 1895-10-19

After many hard blows the
mighty wall which has for centur
les stood between the sons of Ham
and commerce has been partially
battered down by the force of tn
advance made by enterprising Afro
Americans A few years ago res
pectable business establishments
owned and Fmanaged by Afro
Americans were a novelty. Now
sush institutions are attractive cen
tiers in most Of our large Southern
cities. A short time ago one OF
the Southern cities awarded an
Afro-A merican coal merchant \
contract to furnish the city Goa Be
cause he was the lowest bidder
md it is reported that he filled the
contract to the qualification Of bis
own race and to the satisfaction of
/ the city officials, all Of whom were
white Democrats.
The Afro. American department
OF the Atlanta Exposition is report
ed by the white press as being the
attractive feature of the show and
a great many white visitors who
mould public sentiment in Europe
and America have unstintlngly ex-
pressed tn ,ir commentator of the
educational, agricultural and com
mercial advancement of the race
as they see it at the Cotton States
Exposition. This confession and
endorsemel t is gratifying TO the
small element Of the race who in
season and out of season, has plead
the business idea as being the best
material lever to lift our people
out of their dependent condition
and the most charming prize to en-
courage them to hasten onward to
freedom and prosperity.
Here in Baltimore the agitation
has been kept up until out of it
has come the Northwestern Fam
iIy Supply Co., the Lexington
Savings Bank; Madame William
son & Taylor's Millinery parlors,
the Brewing Drug store and mum
erous individual establishments,
which reflect the intelligence,
thrift, economy and aspirations Of
fro-Americans in this old Monu-
mental city.
With these golden ensigns on
every hand there is no reason why
any thoughtful SAfro-American
should spend his days in grief and
gloon. Neitheris there any rea-
Son why tbs race Should be advised
to flee ID Africa in order to get rid
of the burdens that retard their
progress. Let us remember that
America is our territory, that our
title to it was purchased by the
blood of our fathers and let Us be
manly enough to hold the heritage,
cost what it will. Letus also re-
member that it is our privilege to
improve our condition day by day.
This we can do by moving with
the business tide. Fall in line with
our faithful men and women who
are in the drift and who are pull
ing ahead with all their strength.
The object Of the men and wo-
men who have the business fever
is to lay foundation for the youth
ofthe race, to give employment to
tothe boys and girls when their
schools days are over. Is not this
praiseworthy object! Is there
an Afro-American father or moth
er so blind and stupid that they
will not see that there is power in
the business idea; that behind it is
The earth and all its products: that
when the business wheels move
swiftly, gold, silver and the green
backs pass through the hands of
all people and when Afro.Ameri-
cans combine on the business sys-
tenn which they can do if they will
a large percentage of the money
expended by our people will pass
through the hands of our business
element and in short time con-
strain even the sons of Japhet to
fall in love and seek association |
with the sons Of Ham.