The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-23
To the Editor:

1t Is mucn TO De uepreCaJeu DV all con-
cerned, by the body economic, as well
as the body polite that the native born
negroes of this country should not fol-
low the wise counsels of intelligent lead
ers of their own race, like Booker T..
Washington, instead Of running after
false gods which only daze in order to
destroy.
That astute observer endeavored to
impress upon his people at the Atlanta
Exposition in 1896, that their masses
must seek emolument by their handi-
craft rather than by professional occu-
pations, just as all races do in fact, the
world over, adding that no race can pros
per until it learns that there is as much
honor in tilling n field as in writing an
essay. Let our Anglo Africans listen to
Booker, for his words are golden and
opportune at a time like this, when fac
tons are wrangling over distractions in
various States-because they demon
strate to each race and individual its
obvious duty, and allot to each his part
in a way which can cause no clash or
friction
l find no fault with the negro himself
for needing suasion which seems to
lead to emolument and ease; and | dare
say he does his best, when installed into
his new calling, to accomplish duties
which he knows nothing about But
confusion take the unconscionable
schemers who excite the inordinate am
billions of incompetent and untutored
blades by persuading them that they
know more than they do; thereby using
them to rake their precious chestnuts
out of the Goals, disappointing them in
the end, and meanwhile, through their
protege's official Encouragement, bring
ing blight worse than grass-hoppers or
locusts upon every economic interest they
touch; sucking the life-blood out of pro-
ducers, clogging all business by excess
sive taxation, driving home industries
out of the State, and lettering outside in
vestments from coming in.
The colored men here, as ] see Them
and as they appear to a casual observer,
would be quite content with their usual
avocations, and are not anxious for
office. l doubt if majority of them all
would even imagine that they were
capable of holding public office, or of
filling positions for which they have not
been specially fitted and couched, unless
some evil-minded demagogue who pro-
poses to further his own sinister ends,
had put the idea into their heads! We
all have to qualify for whatever we do.
Colored men, like all the human race,
are fond of AN easy life. and there. are
few of us all who would not prefer an
easy chair and a sinecure to hard labor
in the shop or field.
Our Southern Populists, like the
Western Changers of past years, have
had grievances hard to bear. They have
borne the heatpand burden of the day,
and received no more pay than others
who came5insat the. eleventh hour and
worked i'm the shade But prudence for
bid that they should work under the
shadow of a.policy which win surely lead
to black 1domination, They have not
taken the right way to get rid of their
troubles. and truth to tell, there is not
an honest Southern born Populist who
ever anticipated or imagined the un-
happy results which have attended his
innings and his efforts to redeem the
times. Now, like the old time Changers,
he must gracefully take the back seat,
and once more stand in line, shoulder to
shoulder with probity and intellectual
good order, to save the State and its
good name,
Mr.. Editor. / am Northern born, and
have seen the labor troubles in that I'M
easy section, and / have noted the quail
ty of its imported workmen. Much of
it is sorry stuff, as we all know. by
contrast, to my mind, the very best
working class on earth are our negro
bread winners. One-thrd of our South
ern population are AnglO-Africans, born
on the soil and as Booker Washington
pertinently SAYS: 'No enterprise seek
ing the material, civil or moral welfare
of this section can disregard it and reach
the highest success" They are indus
trious, cheerful. accompanying, ana luil
of natural good humor. They are sus-
ceptible and tractable, improvident as a
class. but have nevertheless managed 10
acquire thirty millions Of property III
three decades, beginning with nothing.
They are fond of it, and in each sue
ceeding generation more and more OF
them will learn to read and write, be-
cause ambition in that direction lis very
common among them. Let them apply
their acquired knowledge to practical
use. But when it becomes a fad with
them to hold petty offices, instead OF
producing something, it is cold day toi
the whole community.
Some philosopher has blessed the
man who makes two blades of grass te
grow where one has grown before, pu
when one husbandmans 1O-acre patci
looks like it had been grass hoppered
where is his hope, or ours for the III
ture? ! wish to tell you, my dear sir
that your people in the negroid belt nave
no conception of the damage which mas
already been done to your welfare DS
the black plague which has followed the
initial Populist movement. Its ravages
do not strike you as they do a stranger
who drops down upon you after three
years absence. Not only do | find gen
eral business stagnant and every one
discouraged, but new enterprises are
repealed. Even sportsmen and visitors
who have money to spend, and are not
solicitous about investments, are deterrt
from coming to your favored locations
which they have enjoyed so much hitler
TO, and / understand that very few are
booked for "a sojourn among you the
coming winter.
Ore word to the main point Of negro
domination, and forbear. | would say
let the experiment of negro self-govern