The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-27

TO do this ws muA turn our attention
20 this great and pressing matter. We
must begin TO found and endow ochooas
for the technical education Of our people.
We must wisely follow the lead Hon. Book
er T. Warrington has set for ~, and make
practical industrial training = prominent
feature In our system Of education Prof.
Washington has demonstrated beyond
question that the negro has the talent for
can become m artisan Of the 1rst class.
That he can succeed In III technical and
mechanical labors equally a. wei a. hiS
white brother. II would be . revelation TO
white people. - well - to che people Of
my own race, 10 visit, a. have done, the
institution Of which Ar. Washington u
president IT Tuskegee, Ala. A. looked
upon these splendid products wrought out
By the hands OF young men and women Of
my own race. I felt . thrill Of pride In my
soul / nav there the practical proof Of
the capacity OF the negroes Of this country
to eater the field Of industrial activity and
stand shoulder to shoulder with their white
brethren In the race Tor progress and
wealth. / saw the complete answer to the
oft-reneated declaration that the negro Was
tncapacitated to perform any other than
the most mental labor. AZ I see II. the
time Is at hand for our leaders to open Z
AVW NAekSSs tAA tnC UU8SV AAt0RSAyp ~
launch him forth upon q career OF indus
trial activity and development that will
secure his place In the progressive devel-
0pment OF this country. He must now wake
up to the fact that he 10 In the midst Of
the most MAGNIFICENT material and indus
trial civilization the world has ever known.
He must enter into the channels Of activ-
ity II he shall have place among the PROS
porous. thrifty and happy people Of this
a, L. els,n
the negro n concerned for several reasons
First, the negro. on account Of social con-
ditions IN the South. Il practically shut out
from tho professions There u little or no
chance Cor him In the legal profession. A
few who have entered this field have failed,
not 20 much from lack Of ability ~ for
want OF patronage. The social conditions
arc such that It IL imposabls Tor even the
most competent and aspiring OF my race
And thu same 10 true Of all other profes.
spbns. whether It be that Of medicinel
chemistry O. journalism. lt - not ger.
name to the subject In hand to discuss the
reason for this state Of thinEA TO merely
state these facts Ia su01cient. and all OBJ
servant persons will admit them
This being true. the negro must look
elsewhere than to the learned professions
for the betterment 0f his condition and to
.
wouia counsel them to turn their attention
TO the vide field Of industrial activity
which II now being opened to them as
never before - any race o. cation that
has ever lived In the world.
The pursuit Of agriculture was too slow
tor the shrewd Yankee OF nifty years ago.
and he began to look about to improve his
social condition. With all his might ind
per&rtence he turned his attention to in
ycntion and industrial work. with con-
sequence that the then barren hills Of New
England are now teeming with thousands
OF plants Of industry. and the once pow
erty-stricken people Of the East are now
the richest and most prosperous people on
the face Of Gods green earth.
Tho South 10 waking up to the posi-
bllitiea before her. and soon. Ike New
England, We shall realize our greatness,
improve them and reap the reward Of
untold wealth and independence. Here
lies tho opportunity OF the negro. There
In no opposition to his entrance TO this
field. On tho other hand he II invited to
so and work with might and energy. II
for no other reason he 10 wanted for his
muscle. his endurance and his reliability
as laborer. But to turn this opportunity
TO the fullest account the negro must be
trained and skilled. lie must learn how
to adapt hts work to the best results. He
must be taught to take the raw material
and convert II into the finished product.
Heretofore the negro OF the South has de-
pended upon agriculture and the profits
therefrom for a livelihood. Nearly the
whole OF his energy has been directed 10
the raising OF cotton and corn. I would
not be understood as undertaking the i'm
portance and the necessity of this great
calling or a. urging my people as . whole
20 abandon It.
but even as our white brothers are learn
ing. 20 must We learn that IL In diversified
Industries that make the botterment OF our
people A people wholly devoted to agri-
culture must ever remain poor. We must
touch our magnificent forests with tae
hands OF artists and transform them into
the beautiful and useful products for
which God Almighty has designed them.
We must lift the sleeping ere from It's
bed. put It under the manipulation OF SKIN
and NJ Il for the wants OF man. We must
be recreant II we allow aliens ard foreign
ers to reap eur heritage and gather our re-
wards.
We may talk as much as wa please about
social equality and political rights, hit
as true as the Gcd lives the negro ami
the poor whites IN this country cannot look