The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-06
IN HIS OWN HANDS
THE DESTINY OF THE SOUTH
ERIN NEGRO LIES WITHIN
HIMSELF.
CAPT. COOKIES FINE ADDRESS

The Secretary of State Opens the
COIOred FaiT.-State Auditor Furman
Speaks to the COlored PeopIe--JOhn
Williamson Tells the Negroes They
Must Align Themselves With the
Better Glass of Whites--Jim Young
Says they Must Accumulate Property.
At noon yesterday the Colored State
Fair was opened
The speakers stand was in the circle
of Floral Hall, which was neatly decora-
ted in white and blue.
Secretary of State Charles NJ. Cook de-
livered the opening address.
Capt Cooke said:
cit is a time honOred custom that the
Governor of the State should make the
opening address of this fair. 1t is by
reason of this absence that occupy this
stand to-day. 1t is my regret and your
misfortune that | have to appear instead
of your Governor. l desire to say at
the outset that | shall address you as
citizens of North Carolina, interested in
her welfare and her developments. /
had long since formed the conclusion that
the talking and voting of radical differ
ences accomplishes no good, for the reason
that we of the two races who have been
reared together in the South know more
of the social differences that exist be-
tween the white people and the colored
people than we will ever learn by discus
siou of this subject, or by any writing
on the subject.
81 desire to offer you some
words of encouragement, and |
shall regard it as an occasion
of congratulation if they should be help
full to you in your aspirations after
higher and better things. 1t should be
a subject of congratulation to you that
the road of opportunity is fully open for
your success and that there is no longer
any race problem to be settled by the sug-
gestion Of outsiders
"It accords with the propriety Of this
occasion and my own inclination, as |
stand here surrounded by the products
of your labor to emphasize upon you
that work is the solution of the problem
of life, and when | use the word work
in this connection | mean work for the
development Of the intellect, and for all
ethical culture as well as manual labor
When that Great Divine on the Isle of
Palmos said, "These are they
which have come up through great trio
ulation", he uttered a great truth that
has its application in the development of
all good. The muscular strength which
has come to your bodies, giving to you
the capabilities of manual labor has
grown in response to the rule of bard
toll. The intellectually which man
possesses as the glory of his man
hood has come as the result of almost
unceasing mental labor. And every
moral and ethical quality of your nature
and which, in the aggregate, constitute
your moral manhood, have come up
through tribulation in self denial, and
pressing 10 tiresomeness the great activ-
tiles in favor of your fellow man.
II commend yos for the evidence you
furnish this day of your progress and
your development. And in opening this
fair, it is my trust that the blessings Of
God may be with you, and that next
year shall be characterized by the greater
advancement of your race, and that you
may be kept by the power of truth. "
State Auditor Furman also made an
excellent address, in which be called at
tention to the fact that since 1890 the
amount of property on which negroes
pay taxes in North Carolina has doubled.
John Williamson made one of his
unique speeches that had in it deal Of
common sense. He said there was no
negro problem. "The future Of the ne
gro" he said, sis in his own hands
And his welfare depends upon his
aligning himself with the better class of
white people in the South"
Jim Young also made very good
speech, very much along the same line as
Williamson's. He said the white people
did not shut doors in their faces because
of their color, but because of their pow
erty, mentally and financially. eff the
negro saves and accumulates property
there will be no negro problem.
Rev. J. E King, of st. Augustine's
Episcopal Church, made the opening
prayer.
Thomas Donaldson is president of the
association and w. z. Debnam is secre-
tary
The fair will continue through the 9th,
7th and 9Th inst.
The races to day will be as follows:
First race, trotting to harness, one
mile, three minute class. Not less than
three to enter, two to start.
Second race, open to all ages, one half
mile dash; not less than four to enter,
two to start
The races begin at three o'clock.