The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-26
LEADS ALL NORTH CAROLINA DAES I'M NEWS AMID CIRCULATION.

degree does he learn to accord the negro
the rights that belong TO man.
'"l'he years that we are NOW passing
through are serious and trying ones so
far as the questions Of the white and
black races are concerned. | may not
be able to advise that which will bring
a complete remedy for all our ills, but l
believe that there never was time when
the negro needed to give more attention
to the matter of making himself intelli-
gent industrious, law-atidimg, and to the
cultivation of high moral habits. The
negro is too poor to be idle. He is too
far behind to let others get ahead or
him in learning useful occupations He
is too weak to fail to secure that
strength and respect which comes to
any one through the ownership of prop
erty and the conduct of business. |
don't find too much fault; the negro
in proportion to his opportunities, has
made unparalleled progress, but i want
the progress in the future to be far great
er than in the past.
"In connection with the efforts of the
negro himself to improve and to obey
the law, it is most important at the pres
ent time that those in authority see to it
that tie law is enforced in the interests
of black men and white alike. Any
deviation from this course will bring ruin
to both races and to our country. ! he
official who breaks the law when 4
negro is concerned will ere long break it
wnen a white man is concerned. We cam
not have ONE code of Justice for a white
man and another for the black man
without both races being made to suf-
fer. want to impl0re my race to not
get discouraged during this trying time.
Perhaps we needed these trying days to
prod us on to greater effort and more
conscientious duty Without sorrow
there is no JOY, without trial there is no
triumph. without the storm there is no
strong oak.
almost the whole problem of the ne
gro i'm the South rests itself upon the
fact as to whether he can make of hin-
self such a valuable factor in the life OF
the South that he will not in any large
degree seek privileges but they will be
confered- upon him. To bring this about
the negro must begin at the bottom and
lay sure foundation and not be lured by
any temptation into trying to raise on a
false foundation. While the negro is
laying this foundation he will need help,
sympathy and justice from the law.
"Amer'icam slavery was great curse
to both races, and / would be the last
to apologize for it. But in the provi-
dence Of God / believe that slavery laid
the foundation for the solution TO- the
problem that is now before ms in the
South. During slavery, the negro was
taught every trade, every industry that
constitutes the foundation for living.
Now, if on this foundation, laid in rather
a crude way, it is true. but a foundation
nevertheless. we can gradually grow and
Improve the future for us is bright.
1.-The black man who can make HIM
self so conspicuous as successful farm
er a large taxpayer, a wise helper of lris
fellow man as to be placed into posi-
ton of trust and honor, whether the
position be political or otherwise, by ma
tural selection is a hundredf0ld more Sc
cure in that position than one placed
there by mere outside force or pressure.
Prof. Washington closed by outlining
the work that is being done in Europe
for women in the direction of indls5rial
training. They are studying theoretical
and practical agriculture, horticulture,
dairying and poultry raising.