Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-15
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
His Inspiring and Uplifting Address
Wednesday Evening

Upon the solution OF the Race Problem
---n Succession OF strong Arguments,
Amusing Anecdotes and Thrilling
CIImsxes.
The lecture in the Auditorium Wednes-
day evening by Booker T. Washington,
the colored principal of the Tuskegee,
Ala, Normal and Industrial Institute, will
long remain vivid in the memory Of all
I.who were so fortunate as TO hear it. One
momen. the Auditorium rang with enthus-
iastic applause; the next absolute stiffness
was broken by the exposition of the inspir-
ing gospel of the colored emaHcipator. Mr..
Washngton's subject was: "Solvng the
race problem in the Black Belt of the
South" He was introduced by Col. Kit
tredge Haskins, who recalled the act of
President Lincoln in behalf of the colored
race and stated that what had since been
done for them would be told by gentle
man who had devoted his life to service in
their behalf and whom it was his privilege
and pleasure TO present.
Mr.. Washington prefaced his lecture by
giving a brief sketch of his early life, stat
ing that he was born a slave In 1853 or
| 1859. His earliest recollection Of life
was of the time when he and his mother
were summoned TO go 10 the masters
house. where Lincoln's proclamation of
emancipation was read TO them. While
working in the coal mines OF West Vir-
ginia he heard Of Hampton Institute for
negro and Indian children, and without
knowing where the institution was he
started out TO find 1t. At this institution
he received his first lesson in the use Of the
English language from Miss Amelia Tyler
OF Brattleboro. Since leaving Hampton
Institute Mr.. Washington has devoted
himself TO the problem of solving the race
question in the South
He cited several methods which have
been suggested for the solution of the
| question, but declared that none Of them
were practicable, the only true method
being to treat the negro as a Christian
gentleman. Cursing the negro will not
Chrstianize him. Stealing his ballot away
only works a temporary injustice upon
him while the white man who drives him
| from the polls intlicts a permanent injury
TO himself by dragging himself down TO
lower standard of civilization.
The negroes are ignorant through the
curse of $50 years of bondage. They
need leaders TO help them on to their feet,
| to help them TO mix elements of
strength with their natural inclination TO
| industry, to teach them the coveted method
of application so that they can compete
| with the white man, and to teach them 10
put brains and skill and dignity into all
| their occupations. At the close of the war
the negroes possessed all the skilled labor
in the south. They have been outstripped,
however, by the inventive genius of the
Anglo Saxon race, and they must now
depend upon the influence OF their normal
and educational institutions for that influ-
ence which will constitute their most
potent and lasting-protection.
Throughout his address Mr.. Washing
ton emphasized the fundamental gospel Of
self-help which he has been proclaiming
to his race ever since his public career be-
gan. With logical argument, with bril-
liant flashes of wit and with bursts of in
| spring oratory he illustrated over and over
again the fact that real help for the ne
groes must come from themselves: that so
far as they can be taught to do certain
things little better than any one else can
do them, acquire property, have decent
homes, well educated children, in word,
become substantial, independent, self-re-
| speeding citizens, Just so far the problem
| will be solved.
| There are no race lines in business, Mr..
Washington said. A man who hasn't got
three cents TO pay his ferryage may just as
we'll be one side of the river as on the other.
A case was never known where a white
man refused TO borrow the negro's dollar
If be had it to lend. In final outburst of
eloquence the orator showed how insep-
| arably the races are linked together. As
| platform effort the address furnished two
| hours of rare enjoyment. 1t was inter-
esting to see how completely Mr.. Wash
ington has acquired the orators art.
The address was a succession of argu-
ments plainly and strongly stated, of anec-
dotes which illustrated his text while
they cOnvulsed his hearers, and of climaxes
which thrilled and inspired the audience.
AS platform entertainment 1t more than
met every expectation which had been
raised in regard to it, and 1t was gratifying
to see the Auditorium filed on such an oc-
casion. The entertainment was the third
in the Star course by the Y. M. G. A.