The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-09-26
Booker Washington Is More
Hopeful of the Negro.
Is WELCOMED By GOV. GAMBLER
Geoigia's Chief Executive Tells an At
lania Audience of Colored People TO
Hearken to the Philosopher ofTuskegce,
and He Would Lead Them Where No
Politician Could Attain - THE Race
Problem In Light of European Travel"

Atlanta, Ca, Sept. 25.-Five hundred
negroes heard Booker T. Washington,
president OF the Tuskegae Normal and
Industrial School for Negroes at Tus-
kegee, deliver an address here tonight on
The Race Problem in the Light OF Euro
pean Travel" Prof. Washington has re-
Gently returned from a trip 10 Europe. and
II was largely upon his observation on this
trip that he spoke.
Among the other speakers was Gov.
Gambler, who welcomed Prof Washington
on behalf Of the State. The governor said
ne was astOnished when he contemplated
the progress made by the negroes during
thirty yeats of freedom. The cause Of the
negroes plight. Gov. Gambler said, was the
dirty politicians He advised the
negroes to listen TO Prof Washington. and
ne could lead them to attain a position no
politician could ever attain Concluding,
he said: Your work will aid me in put
ting down the mob in the South"
W. a Pledger, a local negro politician
and editor OF negro paper, welcomed
the guest on behalf of the negro people.
he believed that the parting OF the ways
had come. He spoke on equal rights for
the negroes, and said some of them had as
good white blood in them as was in the
South. but with this they could not buy a
railroad ticket and ride IN a decent coach.
State School Commissioner Glenn and J.
NJ. Henderson, president of the Morris
Brown College, spoke Rev. H. II. Proc
tor, pastor of the Congregational Church
introduced Prof Washington.
The Governor aDd tac Law.
Prof. Washington took occasion to thank
the governor of Georgia, in the name of
the negro race and all good people
throughout the country. for the manly
and courageous manner in which he is
having the law for the protection of hu-
man life enforced in this State. The
speaker believed the governor had the aid
and sympathy Of every man, white and
black, in the State
with the cleanest and strongest men,
e-rs Of both races standing shoulder TO
Enoulder in favor of blOtting out crimes"
said Mr.. Washington, there can be no
doubt as to the future prosperity and
happiness Of each race"
L heard a few days ago." continued
Prof Washington, that it had been re-
ported that | came back from Europe dis
couraged ana dishearteEed as to the con-
dition and prospects of my race in this
country. So far from this being true. |
nave never felt more hopeful about the
future OF the race than | feel at present.
Ii other evidence were needed the mere
presence OF your Chief Executive and
other officials tonight is proof that the
South desires the elevation and not the
degradation of the negro; that the South
desires to encourage him and not oppress
MIN. / have unWavering faith in the
providence IF God. Who knows but that
events within the last year have been
GODS way of teaching the race that It
must make friends in every manly way
With people among whom it lives and
upon whom n a certain measure it de-
ponds for daily subsistence.
Our problem is not to be solved BY
looking TO Congress or to the North alone.
but by the reputation that each individual
creates for himself in his own community
and county.
so long as the negro is permitted IN
molested to secure education. property,
employment, end is given the protection
OF the law | shall have great faith in our
Being able to work out our own destiny.
The South has been guilty of a great
many crimes, but | believe that it has
rarely, II ever, been guilty of numbering
men simply because they sought honest
employment. There is little difference be-
tween the slavery that compels a man TO
work without pay and that which forces
him TO refrain from working for pay
Advantage Over tie i'""r of Europe.
over and over again while in Europe
had constantly impressed upon me the
advantage which the negro has in the
South in the opportunity to enter success
full business as compared with poor peo-
pie in Europe
If you ask me for the source and foun-
1ation for my encouragement over the
prospects of the race, / would point you
- the negro who is engaged in business
IN the South. In all parts of the South
have met the negro carpenter, truck
the contractor. the butcher. the
speak hopefully and en-
Everywhere they tell me that
n business In the South there Is practical |
y no color line, and that half their bust |
ness is with their white neighbors. Two |
races are TO live in this country together, |
and he is an enemy of both who tries TO |
array one race against the other.
In proportion as the negro grows in |
-elligent, industrious, and GOOD at heart, |
n the same proportion will the white man |
De helped. In proportion as the white man |
permits himself 10 Cypress the negro, in |
he same degree is the white man de- |
graded and his progress retarded. In pro-
portion as the white man becomes intel |
igent and prosperous. in the same degree |
Ices he learn to accord the negro the |
tights that belong to man.
The years that We are now passing |
through are serious and trying ones, SO |
ar as the question of the white and black /
aces is concerned. | may not be able 10 |
ldyise that which will bring a complete |
emsdy for all our ills. but | believe that /
here never was a time when the negro /
Needed 10 give more attention 10 the mat
er Of making himself intelligent, indus /
rious, laW-abiding. and 10 the cultivation /
II high morals and habits. / confess that /
ny hedrt is greatly and constantly trou-
led by the large number OF negro boys /
md men who stand in idleness about the |
streets OF our cities and towns. Ny /
rlends, / comics &c you that since thirty |
ears ago / don't believe that | nave |
pent single day IN complete idleness.
The negro is too poor 20 be idle. he Is TOO l
ar behind 10 let others get ahead OF him
n learning useful occupations. He Is too /
weak 10 fail 10 secure that strength and /
aspect which comes 10 any one through /
ne ownership or property and the con-
iuct OF business. ] don't ind too much /
ault; the negro In proportion 10 his op-
'ortunities has made unparalleled prog
ess, but ! want the progress in the future
@ be far greater than in the past.
The man who il able 10 do something
IS well OF better than any one else is the
Individual who Is h0nored and respected
egardless Of his race or color.
Both Iae. . shoaId Fare Alike
in connection with the efforts Of the
egrO himself 10 improve and 70 obey the
aw. IL Is most important at the present
ime that those In authority see 20 II that
he law Is enforced in the interests OF
lack men and white alike Any devia-
ion from this course Will bring ruin 10
18th races and 10 our country. The Of
cial who breaks the Law when a negro
; concerned viii ere long break IL when
white man Is concerned. We cannot
ave one code Of justice for q white man
nd another for the black man without
9th races being made to suffer | want
0 inplore my race not 10 get discouraged
uring this trying time Perhaps we
seded these trying days to prod Us on