The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-27

proves, until they Amass sufficient wealth
70 make them independent and self-re-
specttng citsHenS. A people In stTaltened
circumstances, such ~ poverty entails,
can never bold . high or commanding posi-
ton. This may sound strange, coming
from one holding the position ] occupy.
but Il ID time We should hear strange
things. if they b. .trua What influence
can we exert clothed In rags and ignorant
because We have not the means to rightly
educate ourselves Or our ca.ldrenf I say
the time 10 at hand when the negro race
must wake up o. perish. 10 there any
hope Tor wealth o. influence 50 long a.
our people remain 9armsrs In the country,
BARRIERS, b0otblacks and draymen In the
cityf The men OF our color who command
the best wages - . class are the skilled
worlmen.
We have now arrived at 4 period In our
history when Il 10 practical - begin on .
large scale this Industrial education which
In itself viii settle the race question.
For more than thirty years we have been
STRUGGLING to teach our people the rudi-
ments Of knowledge. to give them what 10
called . common school education. 80
great has been our success that we can
now cay to the world that more than 60
per cent. OF the 100000 negroes In Ameri-
ca can read and write. We are therefore
now ready to divert our efforts for the
education Of the negro into the channels
OF technical training. believe that Provi-
dence has Get this hour 10 take our new
departure.
A great chronological school for negro
boys should be erected in the South in
every state. and an industrial school Tor
our colored girls. Are the negroes OF the
South TO sit IDLY by and make no effort
in this direction? Are they content to re-
main ~ they are while the white institu-
lions are turning out year by year 30
many trained and skilled men?
The philanthropy Of Northern men
which prompted them to erect schools
and colleges for the negro in the South
win to . great extent be wasted II we
mented BY Industrial institutions.
confess that a. see II this Is
the only wise course to pursue. This Is
tho solution Of the economic problem
which now ccnfronts us and Is the RAIN
bow OF promise that arches our skies.
I love my race. ! long to see my peo-
pie stand upon nrm footing Of prosper
tty. long to see them independent. self
respecting and progressive wish for
them. a. wish for nothing else in the
world. happy. peaceful. glorious future
There are many prophets Of evil, men
who look with doubt on tho negro's fu-
ture and predict his gradual but certain
passing AWAY. either by extinction or de-
portation. In spite OF all theories and all
their gloomy predictions. the negro has
gone on Increasing in population and gem
eral intelligence Today his condition II
a thousandfold more hopeful than when
he first felt the boon Of freedom.
The few cases Of rape that have met
with such horror and condemnation by
the intelligent negroes Of this country, rs
by the whites themselves. have not less
ened our faith IN tho future OF the ne
gro. The negro will never be the apollo
gist OF crime and violence. Tie will Join
his white brethren IN stamping out crime
and Furnishing the wretches who are
guilty. No friction will come between the
races on this question. but the white peo-
Pile will find the great masses OF colored
people in perfect accord and harmony
with them on all these vital issues which
relate TO the peace and good order of So
ciety.
The faces Of my people are turned to-
ward the morning. We have said fare
well TO the past and are shouting ''all
hail 10 the future" The Moabites and
the Amelekites will not destroy our con-
fdence In our destiny. All the dangers
that lie along our paths viii not alright
us or turn NE back to the land Of night
and darkness. We shall go on and. by
our devotion. fidelity and faith. reach
the goal of our hopes and the reward
Of our tolls. We shall cultivate the
best relations with our brother In white.
We shalt admire his genius his knowl-
edge and his boundless power. We want
no conflict we will have no race war.
We will rather look 70 him for help and
instruction. ana feel that we are happy
20 have the magnificent civilization
which he has wrought out TO inspire our
minds and stimulate our aspirations.
NY eyes will not behold the complete
working out OF this magnificent destiny.
but II win come 20 pass. and n the spir-
lts Of men are permitted TO look down
on the nortais below II would add 20 my
happiness IN that glorious world TO know
that I had contributed one mite OF in
fluencc TO the accomplishment ~ the
great and bcnehcent end OF how "a set
tie the differences between the white and
the coiored race.
h.< ~ A