The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-18
ADVICE TO ooLoREp FARMERS.
Prof. DIacIxshear Talks to Them AS
One of Them.

To the Colored Farmers of Waller County.
Prairie View, Texas, July 17-Having
been invited to address you last Saturday
and being unable to be present on account
of urgent business, l take this means of
addressing you. through the courtesy of
The Post. A great calamity has fallen
upon a section OF our beloved State. The
blow has fallen heavily on white and black,
on planter and on renter. on landlord and
tenant. Great as has been our calamity,
the worst, at least the most trying time, is
yet before us. There is widespread de-
vastation; houses and fences swept away,
gins destroyed. stock gone or dead, crops
utterly ruined. What are We to do? The
colored farmer has an opportunity now 10
lift himself in public confidence, by going
right to work 10 build up this ruined sec
ton. Work and plant. plant and work"
must be our motto. Plant cotton, sorghum,
corn, peas, peanuts. Build up the fences,
put up such temporary houses as clrcum-
stances will allow. He who will not work.
must not eat. Pay no attention to fanatics
who imagine the government is to feed
the sufferers indefinitely. The government
has not given a cent TO feed anybody Some
deluded people are still expecting a gov
eminent mule an army oVercoat ana forty
acres of land. 1t Is all right TO accept
ratons for short time uatii each man
can arrange for the independent support
of his family. Many good, honest men
will have no trouble in getting their white
friends to tide them over the present
crisis. No self-respecting man VIII ac-
cent rations any longer than he is forced
to do It, The colored man VINO ADVISES
you not to work but to depend on rations Is
a traitor to his race and his country. Let
us prove TO the world by our conduct IN
this crisis that we respect ourselves, that
we love our State and that we do not pro-
nose to be a dead weight on the public.
Our standing in public estimation is PLAIN
ly at stake. Let us acquit ourselves IKE
men. Let lis take up the burden OIL our
section and help carry. II our friends
will furnish land let us freely give labor
The prompt and liberal way In which
the people of Texas have come TO the
relief of the flood sufferers, most OF whom
are of the colored race, Is an indication,
the hest possible, of the real sentiment OF
our good white neighbor toward us. we
ara still among our friends; but let us by
no means abuse this friendship, Our hon
cred and beloved chief executive, Governor
Joseph d. Sayers. has demonstrated anew
his ability. his tact and his humanity In
most trying situation anu tue oo'Vieu ~
nile are grateful to him and also to all the
friends In and out of the State who nave
helped our flood sufferers.
The great calamity is not without its
benefits. II has shown the black man the
svmpathetic and unselfsh side OF the white
man and a better feeling will exist between
the races in the great BRACES valley, than
ever before. II will also enforce lesson
OF foresight and economy on the coioreu
people. who sadly need this lesson. SUI
fering and hardship are necessary TO In
dividual character and to social progress
The Importance of the colored people as
an industrial factor in the development OF
The great Brazos valley is more evident
than ever.
The moral, intellectual and Industrial
training of the plantation negroes Is a
serious problem. Many of these people are
as completely cut of from all the best IN,
flnences Of American life as II they lived
IN another planet. This flood will not be
fruitless OF good II It calls with unusual
emphasis the attention OF the public toJ