The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-29

Booker Washington recently delivered
speech, which vindlcates the good
opinion which the world has for the
leader Of his race in the United states.
He points out that only individual
EFFORT can give the colored people the
respect and consideration Of the white.
Individual EFFORT can place him on the
pinnacle that will make him the admir-
alton of the world. No less a man than
Colonel Henry Watterson, an ex-con-
federate, endorses this statement
The lesson washington strives to
teach is a very old one, and has been
impressed upon man since the begin
ming Of time. but It'll now few or no
friends of the colored man have been
wise enough to recognize that the same
conditions apply to both races"
Booker Washington clearly dlscerns
this fact. and puts his finger on the
'.reeking sore Of the black civilization"
when he says:
confess that my heart IS greatly and
constantly troubled by the large numner
OF negro boys and men who stand ~ Ieie 5
towns The negro is too poor to be IDLE
He Is too far behind to let others get ahead
OF him In learning useful occupations he
is TOO weak to fall TO secure that strength
| and respect which come to anyone through
the ownership OF property and the cen-
duct OF business. do not md too much
| fault: the negro. In proportion TO his oppor-
tunlties, has made unparalleled progress
| hut want the progress In the future 10 DC
| far greater than IN the past
Washington notes the chief drawback
when he observes the idle and IMPROVE
dent habits of the colored population In
the large cities Of the south. 1t is this
fact which has made them, In many
cases, a lawless elemen; of-the citizen
ship, a class undervalued by manufac-
turers, who declare they are the most
costly and undesirable labor employed.
This. also, is a summary of a comment
by Colonel watterson, and we quote
him. because 1t is all the more signif-
cant, Colonel watterson having fought
70 perpetuate slavery Colonel Waiter
son quotes Mr. Rankin. manager Of the
Henderson cotton mills, In recent
commercial address in which he said
the trouble was that the colored work
men had not been taught sanitary
measures, and could only be employed
for mental work. and are unreliable
On the farm the southern colored men
lack thrift and regard for the land
owners interest.
The recognition by Booker Washing
ton Of the chief faults of his people in
the south. and his steady refusal" says
Mr. watterson. Ito listen to dsma-
Rogues at attempts to elevate the race
by politics, constitute true title to
greatness. II any Moses can lead his
rnce out of the Egypt OF Ignorance,
s,O,h. and vice. Booker Washington is
that man."
What blessing 1t would be to this
country. and particularly the southern
portion. IL there were thousand other
Booker washingtons
washington is a native OF West Vir-
ginla. In West Virginia the eolored
man has liberty. educational advantages
supported by the state, and Is free
from the prosecutions which drive him
to desperation. The West Virginia eli-
mate and soil bred this Moses. who is
leading his race from the Wilderness
May she produce more Of them. West
Virginia soil is rich in the production
of all that promotes civilization