Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-25

ScFNlelb we must increase our desires,
and develop by the socializing influence
about us. We have, in many sections OF
the north, mixed schools, clean, roomy
! houses, clean streets, public parks, all OF
which give the colored population of this
section an opportunity to measure arms
with their white neighbors, and conclu-
sively prove in many ways that with the
same opportunities others enjoy we will
be the same. When you prove to a man
that you are his equal by performing
the same tasks he performs. you remove
from his mind all traces of the belief that
you are inferior.
Twenty years ago there was hardly o
respectable apartment house in this city
for colored people. Old frame shanties
and backyard houses We're the only apart
| ments offered to our people, for the simple
reason real estate agents and owners knew
we were content. A few years ago The
more progressive class of our people re
fused to live any longer in the old houses
and commenced to move to Brooklyn and
Jersey City What was the result? The
demand being made for better houses in
this city, the landlords commenced to
build in good localities modern flats and
apartment houses for colored people.
There are many other steps along this
line in this region to refute Mr. Fortunes
statement. Turning to the south (as the
recent letters of Manhattan in the Sun
clearly show,) the wheel of progression
has started to turn. Progress in the South
moves very slowly, and old ideas and
prejudices die very hard, still the starting
of cotton factories and other industries,
electric railroads, and other progressive
moves must eventually remove all exist
ing prejudices against us in that section.
This will not be in my day, or Mr. For
tunes, but surely sixty years hence our
grandchildren will enjoy all the social and
political blessings of our common coun-
cry. The trouble with great many OF
us negroes of today is we are selfish; we
are blinded by personal ambition and pr-
vatc interests. We feel as if we are en-
titled, as individuals, to all the political
and social blessings that other classes of
Americans enjoy; and often when we fail
co get what we know is justly our right
we take a pessimistic view, and seem to
care little about the welfare of our future.
generations.
The future of the negro race in this
country never looked brighter than it does
today We are part of this country's
people; we are here to stay, and will solve
the negro problem" upon the same
economic lines that Russia and Ireland
must solve their problems. Neither the
political representation demanded by
Russians, nor the parliament in College
tfreen demanded by the 1rishmen will
bring political freedom and social rights
economic freedom must come first The
Development of n nations industrial re-
sources Is the s,rest way to gain political
and social freedom. Russia has begun at
last in the righ5 way; the industrial de-
velopment now going on has silenced the
Nihilist; at it continues, political repre-
'entation and social rights will commence
to appear and follow closely economic
DEVELOPMENT
The negro race will soon school itself
In handling the problem; the race must
and will learn that twelve hours labor ut
81 day Is utterly incompatible with DO
litlcal and social freedom. When we, as
race, learn this truth, the better it will
be for us in thousand ways
In conclusion, l would repeat that it is
an economic and not a political or social
problem that stands in the way of the
progressive march of the Afro American.
If the economic factors are looked after.
the other parts of the NEGRO problem"
will take care OF themselves.
We have every reason as a race to be
hopeful The progress we have made dur
ing the first thirty years Of our freedom
along all the progressive roads, finds no
parallel In history, and two generations
hence the Afro-American will enjoy all
the political, religious, and social free
dom possessed by the several classes of
white citizens. Then will our country
be not only in name but reality, one of
the people, for and by the same.