El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-18
THE NE6ROS' FUTURE.
". H. Noble, Jr.. of Galveston, Dis
cusses the Question of Their
fiuo

Representative.
SIT is with extreme qualification tb at
I attempt to address the Negro Press
association of Texas while in its in
cipiency. We are here to effect an or
panization which will benefit the citi-
zens of color of the great Lone Star
state. The necessity for such an or
pauization, the wisdom of united
plan of action on the part of the negro
journals with respect to the cond1-
ton of the race in ali of its relations Is
too apparent to admit of any lengthy
discussion. But l wish to impress up
on YOU the fact that there rests upon
US q great responsibility as public edu-
Gators of our people. What we say
through the columns of our papers not
only impresses and influences our peo-
pie, but impresses and very largely in
fiuences those with whom we live.
It is fattering compliment to ue.
nv fellow craftsmen, that the press Is
the most powerful agency that can be
utilized to better the condition of our
race. There is not single phase OF
their life that we can not reach. The
home life, intellectual improvement,
Industrial and business activity, patrl-
otto citizenship and Christian cultur 9
are topics to which we can address our
selves and make suggestions for ad-
vancemeut. The home life of our peo-
pie needs to be elevated and purified.
First, our homeless, shiftless people
need to possess homes that they may
beautify them and make them the c1ta-
dels of virtue and morality, of chaste
womanhood and noble manhood. 1t is
our privilege to insist on our people
acquiring liberal education-for there
is no excuse now for ignorance and H.
literacy among the negroes. The state
provides for his education, and it will
be the negroes own fault II he plOds
through life an ignoramus.
We need especially to urge upon the
people the necessity of becoming more
actively engaged in business and COM
mercisl pursuits---not that business
which degrsdes and demoralize, such
as cheap beer joints and dives. but
that higher class OF business which
will bring respectability and dignity to
it. Then weeneed to emphasize most
strenuously the necessity OF the negro
patronizing his sown enterprises. We
connot expect others to patronize us ii
we do not pstronize each other. In
politics we want to counsel con-
servatism and that business sagacity
which the best business man always
employees in his political life. 1t is un-
wise and unsafe for our people to fol-
low continually the lead Of those in the
state whose only purpose is to further
their own personal and selfish ends.
Nothing has invited more prejudice to
negro race as it's blind and foolish
faith in political humbugs and trick
sters and its eternal enslavement to
single party.
Negro republicans should contend
for the same share of patronage that
others of his party do and should con-
vince the bosses he is party man for
| the same reason and upon the same
principle of his white brother. We
need q reform in the matter of our
| leaders. should rather say radical
change and the press of the state
should see that such is had. 1 have
spoken at length along the lines we
may help our people. L beg to sug-
guest this plan of associated cooper
alton among US and hope that some
notice may be- taken if advisable. Sup
pose there are seventeen negro news
paper in Texas, we can form an active
association among ourselves whereby
each one can furnish the other papers
or the association with a budget OF
news from his city every weeks and
thus each paper publish each week the
news of seventeen cities, which would
be of much interest to our readers. In
conclusion, 1 hope that this orRanizs-
tion may be Perfected and kept in act
i've operation-thata bond ofsympathy
and union may exist between US and
that we may be able to better assist In
the higher development of our race"
Dallas News.