The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-04

TO rule in this country who are most ahlo
10 rule and will rule with wisdom aud jus-
tice, and bend our energ es in an appeal To
Inc conscience and sense of Justice OF chose
VINO rule to rule justly, TO enforce the law
VAIN absolute impartial.ty and to open to
us the doors of industrial and business OPP
portunity and TO protect us in our private
ffslnts as citizens.
AS black men we are not so much con-
cerned in this stage of our progress in
wealth, intelligence and general influence
about who shall rule as we are about how
we are ruled.
In our present condition, our problems
are not thoae of government. but those
that relate to our own personal and social
Improvement.
Let US first learn to properly support our
families. educate our children. manage OUR
own affairs and develop among ourselves a
healthy moral sentiment that will purify
and dignity our personal and social life.
The bus ness of the negro is 10 stop maxi
Ing everybody else rich by spending all he
makes; to quit begging some white man
to run him or back him and learn TO run
hims aft, to quit having "a good time" and
get down TO sober. earnest, steady labor,
to train up his children to habits of indus
try and decent lTng; to quit buying bacon
and raise it, to raise what he eats, eat less
and sell more; TO quit buying everything
anybody brings along 'on the installment
plan and paying three and four prices for 1t.
To quit renting, live self-denyingly until
home is bought and t1en continue to live
self denying SO as TO keep from losing 1t,
to quit playing the monkey by pulling out
political chestnuts for somebody else; TO
bring the Jug home with molasses in 1t.
The Hebrews once worshipped golden
calf, but our god, our idol, mas been "a
good time" and Saturday has been our day
or worship and we have kept it holy and
Ioid o,tt ~ old all M
ness has been our ritual. But providence
has raised up Moses. Booker T. WASH
ington. He has ccme to point us TO the
mount of Christian character and common
sense and to the laws of industry and NOR
ality. and he is urging the thoughtiess
worshippens OF animal pleasure to leave
their god and worship at the shrine of de,
cent living, and self denying industry. And
in 1his connection we quote the words OF
our great race leader, who says Just now
we must be more concerned apout cur du-
ties than about our rights. and that 1t IS
our duty to make ourselves deserving VI
rights as the best means Of getting them.
This colored race must respect itself
and make itself respectable. Industry,
thrift and right living viii do this. IL
negroes will respect each other, mann
tain right standards among vneil-
selves there will be less trouble Win
other races. -
and their own race. No social struc-
ture can be stronger than the indi-
viduals who compose II. ,
An aggregation OF individuals pitteu
against each other can never attaih
strength All permanent Improvement
commences within.
We need not marvel at race preJu-
dice 1t is natural, universal anu IN
sSnse necessary to preserve racial anu
Na,ioual integrity and Identity. Chrl5-
tianity and education will greatly ihou-
ifv race prejudice. Indeed, IT has al,
ninlshed race prejudice. we sAouiu
rejoice at this. .ha
Pagan SparIa was not tolerant VI 'AS
IIeiot.
A. tho bar of American public senii-
mont the black man VIII ge. 1ustce,
Theme Is a strong sense OF justice anu
cir nIav in the Anglo Saxon mind ana
IN view of this the very heipiesshess
of the black man Is his gredtes,
strength. A strong, tra'e nlah WI
not kick his fellowrnan because mers
down. We can confidc in the ALss
can neople. Whenever maiter becoi.ies
an issue with them it will be seltieo
The p,,bl,c school teacher and the
Christian preacher must 70 hsha y.
hand and train the negro how 10 tiinM
rightly for himself, row 20 iNs, ~
10 earn IlNtlinvou' a. 49,
die. ,a,orars
The masses OF negroes are iapo'e.s
and wage carriers. Il is this mass no,
The small educaeet and pfoiess.on.ai
class that determines the states OF ~.
race. The educated negro. ne teachs.e
and the preachers must labor 70 ere
xato me masses of the race. TINS mus
he dome by the public schools ana .ne
churches. No race or nation hAs ~
rights and privileges handed 10 'hein
these have been attained by toll ana
suffering, by painful evolution. ine
black man will form no excepl'oh
this rule. He will rot be carIleu ~ , liz
heights In Howery beds Of ease, wna,ss
atheTs toiled to win the prNe ana
sailed Ger troubled sea- a.r,
There is no royal road to geoms'hm ~
ar civiiixatton. Our salvation NUS ps
to,led and worked and suifersu on
Ger we shall reach tie goal. u mis-
n by a patient continuance ~ wei
doing. n.rt Of the
divine plsn. Races reIresent typss :.
snlritltai evolution. They are sna,on,
sense complemental. While a. os ,anas
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