The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-13
Booker Il. Washington Discusses
Race Problem
Before the Industrial COnVen-
tIOn at 7 Tuskegees
SCORES CHURCHES
Which Spend S544,OOOAnnuaI'
Iy on Benighted
In Foreign Lands and But ~ y
600 on Those at HOmes

Huntsville, Ala, Oct. 1S.-The race
question was the topic of discussion Dy
delegates to the southern industrial
convention. The presence of two OF the
most prominent negroes in the south
and the knowledge that they together
with Gov. AIcCorl1le of West Virginia,
would speak upon the subject attracted
the largest attendance of the conYen-
tion.
President c. w. Dabney of the Uni
versity of Tennessee was the speaker
of the day. He discussed the improve
Enent of agriculture in the south, urging
higher education Of the farmer as
means to this end.
Prof. Booker Washington, principal
of the Industrial college at Tuskegee'
Ala, was given an enthusiastic recep-
tion. He was introduced by Col Kill
brew of Nashville, acting chairman, IN
a graceful speech.
Mr.. Washington said in part;
sIn all discussion and legislation
bearing upon the presence of the negro
in America, it should be borne in mlnd
that we are dealing with a people VINO
We're forced to come here without
their consent and in the face OF most
earnest protest. This gives the negro
a claim upon your sympathies and gen
erOSity that no other race can possess.
BESIDES.
land into residence Of a country tnat
was not Of his choosing, he has earn
ed his right to the title or American
citizen by obedience to law, by patriot
ism and fidelity and by. the millions
which his brawny arm and Wiling
hands have added to the wealth OF TINS
country.
1T is a sign of a new era when we
can so far forget the past, that con-
vention freed from political influence
and selfish motive, composed Of the
most progressive and intelligent white
citizens of our southern states are wise
and brave enough to devote a day TO
the negro and his relation to the econ
oTnic progress Of the south. 1t is Wen,
it is praisewOrthy, it is wisdom that
you do this. No people ever had so
much to gain by the lifting up of a
race. No people ever had so much to
lose by the degradation of a race.
In saying what I do today, although
myself a negro and an ex-slave, there
is no white man whose heart IS more
wrapped up in every interest of the
south and loves it more dearly than IS
true of myself. The south can have
no sorrow that do not share. She can
have no prosperity that do not rejoice
In She can commit no error that do
not deplore. She can take no step for
ward that I do not approve.
Different in race, in color, in his
tory, We-c can teach the world that al
though thus differing it is possible for
US all to dwell side by side in love, in
peace and material prosperity. We can
De one, as L D6l1eNe we Will be IN larger
degree IN the future, IN sympathy, pur-
pose, fOrbearance and mutual helpful
ness. Let him who would embitter,
who would bring strife between your
race and mine be accursed in his
basket and his store, cursed in the fruit
of his body and fruit of his land. No
man can plan the degradation of an
other race without being himself de-
graded. The highest test of the civiliz-
alton Of any race, is in its willing
ness to extend helping hand to the
less fortunate.
THE south extends protecting arms
and welcome voice to the foreigner,
all nationalities, languages and con-
dtt1ons, but in this pray that you
will not forget the black man at your
door. whose habits you know whose
fidelity you have tested. You make of
others larger gatherers of wealth, but
you can not make of them more law
abiding, useful and God-fearing people
than the negro who has been by your
side for three centuries, and whose toll
in forest, field and mine has helped to
make the south the land of promise
and glorious possibility.
Before We can make much progress
we must decide whether or not the
negro is to be a permanent part of the
south. With the light that is before US
We have no hesitation in declaring that
the great bulk of the negro population
viii permanently abide in your midst
Any hesitation. any halting or doubt
ing as to the permanent residence of
the race will work infinite harm to the
industrial and economic interests of
both races Here in His wisdom Provi-
denee has placed the colored man
Here he will remain. Here he came
without a language, here he found the
Anglo-Saxon tongue. Here he came in
paganlSms here he found the religion
of Christ Here he came in barba risr1
Here he found civilization Here he
came with unframed hands. Here he
found industry. If these centuries of
contact with the white American has
done this, can you not trust to the
wise creator aided by the efforts of the
negro himself and your guidance to do
the remainder. At this point are you
willing to cease your efforts and turn
the work over to others for completion?
our duty to the negro viii not be full
uIled until you have made of him the
highest type Of American citizen in in
morality.
The south has within itself the
1orces that are to solve this tremendous
problem. You have the climate, the
soil, the material wealth. You have
the labor to be performed that will oc-
cupy many times our present negro
population While the calls come daily
from South America from the Ha-
Wailan Islands, from the north and west
Tor the strong and willing arm of the
negro in the field Of INDUSTRY, Won At
your very doors have that which others
are energet1cal1y seeking. Not only are
you in possession of that which others
are seeking, but most important of all
custom and contact have SO knit +he |
two races together that the black man |
nnds in these southern states an omen
sesame in labor, industry and business
that is not surpassed elsewhere. It is
here alone largely by reason of the pres
ence of the negro, that capital is freed |
from the tyranny and despotfsna that
prevents you from employing whom YOU
please, and for that wage which is ml-
tually agreeable and profitable 1t is
here that that form of slavery which |
prevents a man from selling his labor
90 whom he pleases on account Of his