The colored American., 1899-12-02

nouncement that such an address was
to be delivered would have precipItate
an attack of The most vicious character
from critics who had not taken the
pains 10 inform themselves of Mr..
Wa hinglon's views on public ques'
tions, and who knew nothing of his re-
markable achievements. But printers
ink has so widely diffused the strong
and manly sentiments OF the Tuskegee
Wizard, al The value of his education
al system is so we'll known to all who
read as they run, that few have the te-
merlty to mount the rostrum in oppo
sition, and still fewer can hope for a
tolerant hearing from an intelligent au
dience. Thus meeting where the
foes of industrialIsm were afforded the
freest latitude for oppression, bsoamera
veTitable ',love feast"
Mr.. Thompson reviewed the entire
public career Of Mr.. Washington. and
answered IN detail the criticisms re
corded against him, quo ting from
speeches and presenting data that
could not be cortioverted. Mr. Thomp.
fon ssid in part:
81 come to today to talk about man
Of our race, who hss risen by bis own
might from the depths of human
bondage, from the darkness of slavery,
and from the thraldom Of ignorance
and poverty to the highest development
offered by freedom, intelligence and IL
dustTy.
l cone today to apaIy Ze with you the
character and methC ds OF a man who
has won fame on two contIr .ts 10y
sheer force OfhIs pt rsoneIi y and Is bors
and whose ears have been mace to ling
with the plaudits of the foremost
scholars, statesmen, scientists, sociolo.
gists, and economists of America aud
Europe, without regard to race, color,
creed or condition. shall assume that
80 FER cent. Of the thinkil G element of
the Negro race understands and spple
ciates the great work that is being ae-
complIshed by Mr.. Washington for the
uplifting OF the race.
"Mr. Washington is nothing if not
praet cal. lie believes in facing the
situatson as he finds it-not as he
would have it. He sees, with the clear
vision born Of experience, that force
cannot settle moral problems, and ap
pesls to the enlightened influences of
civilization and to the arbitrament of
time for the adjustment Of our griev-
ancss. The South cannot, any more
than can any individul, be brought TO
a IesliziDg sense of its duty TO the Ne
gro by persistent abuse. Mr.. Washing.
ton couHseIs harmony between the ra-
ces-not the harmony OF surrender, but
the harmony of mutual forbearsnce,
mutual acknowledgment of interde |
pendt Mt relations and mutual helpful |
ness, to the end that all may reap the |
benefits that come from unity Of pur
Iose snd concert Of action in doing all
that can be done for the development
of our common country and for the re
demption of the South.
1t has been my fortune to see much
of Mr.. Washington, and l know him to
be honest, genuine, sincere. He says
in private what ne says In public. He
says in the South what he says 10 the
North. He is no politician or partisan
His theories are agreed to by as many
as democrats, and to the
leaders OF both parties he is welcome
visitor, and the custodian of their re
spect and confidence. He is well poised
and Sensible. Flattery cannot spoil
him ind censure cannot discourage
him. He goes at every undertaking
but it is the caution Of the