The Washington bee., 1898-08-06
DR.. F. ]. Shadd'S Address
BEFORE THE COLORED CON
FERENCE.

Often the thought of becoming a
mother weighs heavily on her mind,
hence the checkered career before
CESSATION is completed is a serious
| condition for mother and child.
| Hard work. poverty, and bad sur
roundings are always conducive to ia
talities and even when everything
goes we'll with her the Squalor of her
condition gives no warmth to the eX
preston. "Welcome little stranger"
/ The poisons of specific infection tend
to cause still-born and premature
births. Statistics do not contain full
account as the mother will not give
all the facts when she knows that she
eliminates herself.
The evil results of such diseases
must be taught our people. They
should know that specific Infection
| DESTROYS thousands of the race.
There are three times as many still
born colored children in the ID. e., as
there are white and we are only one
third ofthe population.
Infant mortality is alarming, because
60 per cent of the confinement cases
are attended by ignorant midwives.
Under infant mortality, syphilis
causes many deaths. The ranges of
such infection are very extensive. 1t
causes LESSONS of nerve centres, Wis
cera, bones blood vessels, hence di-
sease contracted FIVE or ten years ago
now like "Banguo's ghost" will not
down at our bidding but is plainly in
evidence as We view the vital equation
OF the race. DISGUSTING as the thought
may be, must call the attention of
this conference to its bateful influence
extending In an unbroken chain from
the hovel of the poorest to the man
sion of the richest, sapping the life of
the nation.
Even under the most scientific treat
ment 1t takes years to eradicate it
from the system and worse than all no
one can tell when the patient is cured.
Some claim there is no cure. This
moral leper often turns from his evils
ways, Joins church, becomes a bright
and shining light and soon marries a
healthy and virtuous christian woman
when he infects with his poison which
is handed down ''in biblical language
ito the children of the third and
fourth generation"
AS physician who has attended
thousands of such cases | enter nv
solemn protest against it
| am opposed to allowing boys to
sow wild oats.
Until we can arouse the lad to such
state as to demand different condi-
tlonS we must expect our mortality to
be large.
Our teachers must consider this SUBJ
Ject and act in accord with these
facts. We must teach the youth puri-
ty Of thought and acts.
In his fields of usefulness, politically
and civilly, the negro is very often
barred in his avoCations, but there are
no forces strong enough to keep him
from being abstemious, moral and
honest, provided he has the courage
to do right.
He has the power within himself to
keep from all vices. Let him show
the world that he is a freeman, free
from all intemperance, free from all
influences which degrade and make
him bestial.*
Concensus of opinion seems TO be
that the world has reached a point
where the Caucasian is superior and
all else must give way before him.
| Mark this warning We must act
at once and fortify the citadel of race
advancement by needing the letter son
,, the wall Of public opinion respecting
the future of the negro in this country.
We are part OF this great nation; we
are Americans in every thought and
word and always ready to stand guard
for the protection of our country either
at home or abroad.
We rally around the stars and
stripes and plant our banner on the
rampants of Moro Castle; we face
death in protecting this flag even
though we are unprotected under its
folds at home.
Such is the irony of fate and such is
the evolution necessary in transform
ing slaves into freemen
Hispain-American war is a great op-
portunity for the negro. But unless
we can live under the benign influ-
ences of American civilization how can
we survive in new territory?
The times are ripe for advancement;
glorious future is before us, glorious
because there is contention and strife
among the dominant classes. Are we
ready to use the opportunity offered
today?
My answer is yes. We must incour-
age economy, industry, personal pu-
rity, in fact all the cardinal virtues.
We must become acquisitive; we
must devise those things beyond the
limited confines of our homes.
Place for the future and be ready to
strike when the iron is hot Micawbers
are not wanted in this age. We must
be ready to engage in everything tend.
ing to broaden our horizon, show re-
suits of our energy, judgement and
forethought.
Be ready to take the tide at its flood
and reach the goal of success in safety.
How to live should be the text be-
fore every colored congregation in this
country. Our ministers may become
powerful factors for good if they
preach less about Moses and the
Prophets, gastronomic facts of the
biblical whale and more about how to
live and enjoy the beauties of the
world. How to live" should be
taught the children in the public
schools.
United in one purpose we can sue
ceed in reducing the alarming mortal
ity of the negro.
Race protection demands that we
act at once and along social econo-