The Afro-American. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1892-1899, 1895-12-21


than to succeed on any other than
an honest and honorable basis.
SOME SIGNS OF PROMISE.
The action Of the Governor of
Virginia with regard to the abom-
able 1awlessness of lynching, inclu
ding his most admirable address to
the State Legislature, on the same
subject, is indeed very hopeful
indication Of more patriotic and
Just ,oblic opinion, IN the future,
with regard to the Afro American
as a citizen and man. After all
there are Southern wllite men who
are not bereft of the true instincts
of a gentleman and who are not
wanting in the essential requisites
Of Justice and fair play Unfortu-
nately for both races our contact
with each other is Of such a nature
that opportunities are, most often
rare whereby the good qualities
and sincere dispositions Of each
are made visible each to the other.
Because of such state Of affairs
there is an inevitable tendency up
on the part of each to judge the
other by the ragged edges and fag
ends which unfortunately 50 con
i spicuously obtrude themselves.
Our white friends see SO much
which is bad and vicious in the
worst element Of the race, and by
means of the daily papers are kept
conversant with the tanlinal ten
denotes Of this same element, and
without stopping to snrmise the
causes and conditions which pro
j d1.os-eee>-l.-,g,7' -s41 7t0Ir5 Of dePraylty,
are more than apt to rush to I'M
Just and very harsh conclusions re-
specting the race as a whole, I'M
mindful of the fact that many of
us deplore as much as they the
wrong-doings Of the unfortunate
members of our race. On the other
hand as we are forced to note the
hard and cruel opposition manifest
ed towards the moral and intelIec-
tual element of our race honestly
seeking opportunities for industrial
and business development in the
: trades and workshops, and are
: brought face to face with the stolid
Indifference and supreme silence OF
| the better class Of white men, with
: regard to our Just and modest i'm
portunities, we are sorely tempted
| to the conclusion that all white
men are in league to hinder oul
| progress AID block the way Of oul
! material advance. Such occasions
as the crisis brought upon the cour
} try by the alarming spread and re
) psarkable increase of '1ynching'
! and the timely appearance Of Prof
2 Washington at Atlanta with the
: extraordinary and most creditabl(
7 exhibit Of the colored people in col
: nection with the Exposition, arr
), but the wise crderings Of Provi
f dence whereby both races are en-
: abled to recover themselves and t
look more narrowly and justly in
! to affairs which are Of mutual con
! Germ. The noble and courageous
e words of Governor O'Ferrall, Q
e Virginia, and like words from gol
e errors Of other Southern States
i the laws against lynching proposed
: in the Legislatures of many States
4 together with the high praise an
It warmth Of expression with whicl
}. the address of Prof. Washington
J. has been received in all parts 0
! the country by our white fellow
e citiz ms, are beyond doubt indica
!, tive Of the dawn of a more hopeful
e and more enlightened public sent
IS ment with respect to US and gu
S standing as citizens of this grea
d American republic. Il will cel
!, tainly pay Us both to be more cha
Y table to each other.
o. "
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