The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-26
THE SOUTH is HIS FRIEND
HIS ADVANTAGES OVER THE
EUROPEAN LABORER.
LET HIM MAKE HIMSELF NECESSARY
Then he viii Become Valuable Factor ia the
South, Says Booker T. Washington
in Lecture on the
Race Problem,

Race Problem.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 25.-Five hundred
negroes heard Booker II. Washington,
president of the Tuskegee Normal and
Industrial College for negroes at Tuske-
gee deliver an address here tonight on
the Race problem in the Light of Euro
pean Travel" Professor Washington
has recently returned from a trip to
Europe and it was largely upon his OBJ
servations ON this trip that he spoke.
Among the other speakers was Governor
Gambler who welcomed Professor Wash
ington on behalf of the State. The
Governor said he was astonished when
he contemplated the progress made by
the negroes during thirty years of free
dom. The cause of the negroes plight,
Governor Gambler said, was the dirty
politicians. He advised the negroes to
listen to Professor Washington ana he
could lead them to attain a position no
politician could ever attain.
Concluding he said:
Your work will aid me in putting
DOWN the mob in the South"
w. A. Pledger, local negro politician
the guest on behalf of the negro people.
ne believed that the parting OF the ways
had come He spoke ON equal rights for
the negroes and said some of thenl had
as good white blood I'm them as was i'll
the South. but with this they could not
buy a railroad ticket and ride in 4 de-
cent coach. ---+--ss4.s
Rev III. III. Proctor, pastor Of the Cln-
gregational church introduced Professor
Washington.
Prof Washington took occasion -
thank the Governor of Georgia in th2
name of the negro race and all. good
people throughout the country for the
mandy and courageous MANNER in which
he is having the law for the protection
Of human 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 mem
hers of both races standing shoulGe- 10
shoulder, in favor of blotting ont
crimes" said Mr.. Washington, there
can be no doubt as to the future pros
perity and happiness of each race"
The speaker denied that he had re-
turned from Europe discouraged and dis
heartened as to the condition and pos
poets of his race in this country. So far
from this being true he never felt more
hopeful about the future of the race
than he does at present.
II have unwavering faith i'm the provi-
dence of God, continued Prof. Wash
ington 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 in large measure it depends for
daily subsistence.
Our problem lis 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.
80 long as the negro is permitted
unmolested to secure education, property
employement, and is given the protection
of the law / shall have great faith in
our being able to work out our own des-
tiny. The South has been guilty of Il
great many crimes, but ] believe that it
has rarely if ever been guilty of murder
ing men simply because they sought hon
est employment. 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.
Over and over again while in EUroDe
/ had constantly impressed upon me the
advantage which the negro has in tie
South in the opportunity TO enter sue
cesSful business as compared with poor
people in Europe.
II you ask me for the source and
foundation .or my encouragement ever
the prospects of the race, / would point
You to the negro who is engaged i'll bus-
ness in the South In all parts Of the
South | have met the negro carpenter,
truck gardener, the contractor, the butch
er, the merchant, they speak hopefully
and encouragingly. Everywhere they
tell me that I'M business in the South
there is practically no COLOR Inc and
that half their business is with their
white neighbors. Two races are TO live
in this country together and he is an enc
my to both who tries to- array one race
against the other.
''In proportion ais the negro grows in
telligent, industrious and good at heart.
in the same proportion viii the white
man be helped. In proportion as the
white man permits himself to oppress the
negro. in the same degree lis the white
man degraded and his progress retarded.
In proportion as the white man becomes
intelligent and prosperous in the same |