The colored American., 1899-12-02

nouncement that such an address was
to be delivered would have pTecipItstt
an attack of The most vicious character
from critics who had not taken the
pains 10 iDfOIm themselves of MIR
Wa hingtOn's views on public ques.
tions, and who knew nothing of his Ie-
markable achievements. But printers
ink has so widely diffused the strong
and manly sentiments OF the Tuskegee
Wizard, al d the value of his education
81 system is so well known to all who
read as they run, that few have the te-
merlty to mount the TOstrum in Oppo
sition, and still fewer can hope for 4
tolerant hearing from an intelligent au
dience. Thus meeting where the
foes of industrislIsm were afforded the
freest latitude for ozpreesIop, bsoamera
yeTitable ''Iove feast.U
Mr.. Thompson reviewed the entire
public career Of Mr.. Washington, and
answered IN detail the criticisms re
corded against him, quo ting from
speeches and presenting data that
could not be corhOverted Mr. Thomp
son ssid in part:
al come to today to talk about man
OF our race, who hiss risen by his own
might from the depths of human
bondage, from the darkness Of slavery.
and from the thraldom Of ignorance
and poverty TO the highest development
offered by freedoms, intelligence and IL
dustTy.
come today to anaiy ze with you the
character and methods OF q man who
has won fame On two contIr ats by
sheer force Ofhis pt ptrsonsIi and Ia bors
and whose ears have been mRGe e to ling
with the plaudits of the foremost
scholars, statesmen, scientists, sOciOlo.
gists, and economists of America aud
Europe, without regard TO race, color,
creed or condition. l shall assume that
90 Fer cent. Of the ihinkn G element of
the Negro race understands and sppIe
ciates the great work that is being ae-
cCmplIshed by MIR. Washington for the
upiIitliB OF lne race
"Mr Washington is nothing if not
pTact cal. He believes in facing the
situatsOn as he finds it-nOt as he
would have il. He sees, with the clear
vision born Of experience, that force
cannot settle moral problems, and ap
pesls to the enlightened influences of
civilization and TO the arbitrament of
time for the adjustment of our gTiev-
ancIs. The South cannot, any more
than can any individul, be brought to
a IesliziDg sense of its duty TO the Ne
gro by persistent abuse. Mr. Washing
ton cOuHsels harmony between the "a
ces-nOt the harmony OF surrender, but
the harmony of mutual fOrbearance,
mutual acknowledgment OF intsrde
pendt Mt relations and mutual helpful
ness. 10 the end that all may reap the
benefits that come from unity OF pur'
IOse snd concert of action in doing all
that can be done for the development
OF our common country and for the re
demptiOn of the South.
II has been my fortune TO see much
OF Mr.. Washington, and know him to
be honest, genuine, sincere He says
ia private what he says In public. He
says in the South what he says Ia the
North. He is no politician or partisan.
His theories are agreed to by as many
republicans as democrats, and TO the
leaders of both parties he is welclm
visitor, and the custodian of their re
speCt and confidence. He is well poised
and sensible. Flattery cannot spoil
him md censure cannot discourage
him. He goes at every undertaking
cauti"uely, but il is the csution of the