The Washington bee., 1899-04-15
THE LAST DITCH.
equest from a

equest from 8
prominent colored man In n
Carolina as to what should be the
political course of the negro of the
South, Prof. Booker L. Washing
ton assays 20 relieve himself in
bart as follows:
is there any reason why the negro in
the South should oppose the southern
white man In his politics? Why is If
that the negro IN Cuba has surpassed
US IN settling his race problem? Is il
rot because the negro in Cuba has
made the white mans interest there
his own? For example, suppose dur
ing the agitation of the freedom OF
Cuba, the negro had continued to
es9ouse the cause of Spain instead of
the cause of the white man in Cuba,
would not the white CubanS have
grown furious against the black man
IN Cuba? Then returning TO Alabama
politics he asks, Why should we
longer follow MIR. Ioungblood with his
400 white followers rather than Gov.
L. Johnston with his 5oo, 900 white fol-
lowers when there is no principle at
sake ,"
If the above questions constitute
an answer to question. then the
question must have been equiV0cal
indeed, To the first questian there
Is but one reply, if we are TO con-
slider that the negro retains the
least spark Of intelligence, man.
hood, or selfrespect.
The attitude of the negro is not
that of opposition TO the white
people of the South, hut in the
interest of that people if they but
knew It.
The principles underlying the
Republican party which declare the
right to vote, the right of represen-
tation, the right of equal enjoyment
of ali of the privileges of citizen
ship are calculated not ONLY to
advance the real interests of the
negro, but constitute the only basis
upon which republican form of
government can safel Y and honora
bly stand. 1t is, therefore. the duty
of the negro not only to proclaim
republican prin' iples, but at all
times aud under all circumstances
to seek to propagate and defend
them. 10 advise race not to stand
for the right simply because a cl liss
who persist in doing wrong, is to
prostitute our real interests to the
worst form of political debauchery
and to precipitate conditions which
can but inspire the disgust and
ridicule of all decent people.
There is every reason why we
should stand by principle, for it has
been. is, and ever will be the basis
upon which the claim of equality
can be successfully contended. The
policy of obsequiousness and boot
licking may do for some people as
means OF sustaining inordinate
vanity or of advancing personal
aggrandizement; but such degrad-
ing methods cannot inure to the
benefit of race. Uncompromising
manliness and heroic devotion to
principle are the only sure means
of race advancement, the advice of
trucking pessimists and mushroom
leader" to the contrary motwIth-
standing
As to ;he course Of the negro in
Cuba, it is only necessary to state
that environment is quite differ.
ent from our own. He is a recog-
nlzed coordinate factor in the island
and has not been Disseminated
against because Of his color. His
right to exercise untrammelled
participation in public affairs has
never been questioned. He is rep
resented in the army and navy of
Spain, he is found IN the foremost
ranks Of the learned professions
and recognized as most influen-
tiaI entity in the commercial