The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-26
SEASONABLE RUBBER ARTICLES
Bath Caps, Air Pillows and Bleaching
Gloves.
wM. H. ARMSTRONG & co.
New No. 120 a S. Illinois ST.. indianapolis. Ind
TO SOLVE RACE PROBLEM
BOOKER It. WASHINGTON SAYS EDU-
CATION is NECESSARY.
whites Must Assist IL They Wish the
Negro to Progress-GOvernor
andIer's Views.

ATLANTA. Ga, Sept. 25.-Five hundred
negroes heard Booker T. Washington. pres
ident of the Tuskegee Normal College for
Negroes. at Tuskegee, Ala, deliver an adj
dress here tonight on The Race Problem
in the Light Of European Travel" Prof.
Washington has recently returned from a
trip to Europe. and 1t was largely on his
observations of this trip that he spoke.
Among the other speakers was Governor
Gambler. who welcomed Prof. Washington.
The Governor said ne was astonished when
he contemplated the progress made by the
negroes during thirty years of freedom.
The cause of the negroes plight, Governor
Gambler said, was the dirty politicians.
He advised the negroes to listen to Prof.
Washington. as he could lead them TO attain
a position no politician could ever attain.
ConciudiI0, he said: Your work will aid
ne in putting down the mob In the South"
W. A. Pledger. a local politician and ed
flor Of a negro paper. welcomed the guest
en- behalf of the negro people. He believed
that the parting of the ways had come. He
spoke of equal rights for the negroes. and
said SOM of them had as good white blood
in them as was in the South. but with this
they could not buy a railroad ticket TO ride
In 4 decent coach. State School Commits
sionec Glenn and j. NJ. Henderson, president
of the Morris Brown College. also spoke.
Rev FL. Ii. Proctor. pastor of the Congre-
gational:st Church. introduced Prof. Wash
ington. who said In part:
II heard a few days ago that il had been
reported that L came back from Europe
disSouraged and disneartened as to the con-
ditions and prospects of my race in this
country. So far from this being true, i have
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 to-
night Is proof that the South desires the
elevation and not the degradation of the
negro: that the South desires TO encourage
him and not Cypress him.
Our problem Is not TO be solved by look
Ing 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 per-
mitted unmOlested to secure education,
property, employment and is given the pro-
lection Of the law l shall have great faith
In our being able to work out our own
destinies. The South has been guilty of n
great many crimes, but | believe that 1t has
men simnlv because thsy sonsbt bnnast am,
ploymcnt. There is little difference between
the slavery that compels. a man TO work
without pay and that which forces him to
refrain from working for pay.
Everywhere they tell me that in business
In the South there is practically, no. color
line and that in some cases One-half their
business Is with their white neighbors. The
two races are TO live In this country to-
Belner. ana ne Is an enemy 10 OOtn who
tries to array one race against the other.
In proportion as the negro grows intelli-
gent. industrious and good at heart. in the
same proportion viii the white man be
helped. In proportion as the white man per-
mfts himself to Cypress the negro, in the
same degree is the white man degraded and
his progress retarded In proportion as the
white man becomes intelligent and pros
porous. in the same degree does he learn
10 accord to the negro the rights that be-
long 10 man.
Il confess that my heart is greatly and
constantly troubled by the large number of
negro boys and men who stand In idleness
about the streets OF our cities and towns.
The negro is too poor TO be idle. He is too
Tar behind 10 let others get ahead of hin
In learning useful occupations He is too
weak TO fail 10 secure that strength and
respect which come TO anyone through the
ownership of property and the conduct CT
negro. In proportion TO his opportunities,
has made unparalleled progress, but / want
the progress in the future to be far greater
In connection with the efforts Of the ne
gro himself TO Improve and 10 obey the law,
II Is most important at the present time TIA
those IN authority see 10 Ii that the law is
enforced in the interest of the black MAJ
and white mar alike. Any deviation from
this course viii bring ruin TO both races
Almost the whole problem OF the negro
In. the South rests itself upon the fact as to
a valuable factor in the life OF the South
that he will not In any large degree seek
privileges but they VIII be conferred upon
him. To bring this about the negro must
begin at the bottom and lay a sure founda-
ton. and not be lured by any temptation
iEto trying TO rise onso false foundation.
While the negro Is laying this foundation
he Will need help. sympathy and justice from
the law. Progress by any other method
viii be but temporary and superficial, and
the latter end Will be worse than the be-
ginning American slavery was n great
curse 10 both races. and L would be the last
TO apologize for II, but in the providence of
Cod believe that slavery laid the founda-
ton for the solution OF the problem that Is
now before us in the South. During slavery
the negro vas taught every trade. every
Industry tina: constituted the foundation for
a living. Now. II on this foundation-laId
IN a crude way. II Is true. but a foundation
nevertheleSs-we can gradually grow and
Improve, the future for US is bright"
I.rur.- E<su.