The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-23

sn the farm he finished the course with a
good English education and a practical
and theoretical knowledge of farming. Re-
sixths OF the citizens were black, he still
found them mortgaging their crops. living
on rented land, from hand to mouth and
deeply In debt. school mad never lasted
longer than three months and was taught
IN a wreck Of a log cabin by an inferior
the. young nan TO whom | have referred
TOOK the three months public school as
a starting. point soon he organized the
older people into a club that came together
every week In these meetings the young
man instructed as to the value of owning
a home, the evils of mcrtgaging and the
Importance OF educating their children. He
taught them how to save money, how to
sacrifice until they got out OF debt. Through
ings the first year of the young mans
work these people built. by their contrl-
buttons in money and labor, a nice frame
schoolhouse that replaced the wreck OF a
log cabin. The next year this work was
continued, and these people. out of their
own pockets. added two months TO the or
by month has been added to the school
term till 1T now lasts seven months every
years. Already fourteen families within a
radius of ten miles have bought and are
buying homes. a large proportion have
ceased to mortgage their crops and are
raising their own food supplies. In the
midst of all was the young man educated
at Tuskegee. with a model cottage ana a
center of light for the whole community.
This all came about by reason of the
fact that they had this leader. this guide,
this Christian to show them how to utilize
the results of their own labor-to show them
how to take the money that had hitherto
been scattered TO the wind in mortgaging.
high rents, cheap jewelry and whisky. and 10
concentrate in the direction of their own up
lifting. My people do not need or ask Tor
charity to be scattered among them: II Is
very seldom you ever see a black hand in
any part of this country reached forth for
alms-it Is not for aims we ask, but for lead
ers who will lead. and guide. and stimulate
our people till they can get upon their own
feet. In our attempt TO elevate the South
one other thing must be borne In mind. l do
not know how you find 1t here. but in Ala
bama we find ii a pretty hard thing TO make
a good Christian OF a hungry man.
NO CHARITY.
1.-THE chance that we ask Is. by your help
and encouragement, 10 be permitted to move
on unhindered and unfettered for a few
more years. and with this chance, If the
Bible Is right and God is true, there is no
power that can permanently stay our
progress. Whatever friction exists between
the black and white mar in the South will
disappear in proportion as the black man,
by reason of his intelligence and skill. can
create something that the whites want or
respect: can make the white man dependent
on the negro for something, instead of all
the dependence being on the other side"
Mr.. Washington thinks the negro can do
better in the South than in the North. not
withstanding that in some sections the black
man has difficulty in voting.
In conclusion, he said: Let ii be said of all
parts of our country that there is no dis
tinction of race or color in the opportunity
to earn an honest living. Throw wide open
the doors of industry. We are an humble,
patient people; we can afford to work and
wait. There is plenty of room at the top.
The workers up in the atmosphere of good
ness, love-, patience, forbearance. forgive
ness and industry are not too many or over
crowded. II others would be little, we can
be great: IL others bad, we can be good; IL
push them up. Men ask me IL measures like
those enacted In South Carolina do not hurt
and discourage. / answer, nay, nay; South
Carolina nor no other State can make a law
to harm the black man that does not harm
the white man In a greater measure. Men
may make laws to hinder and fetter the bal
lot. but men cannot make laws that will
bind or retard the growth of manhood"