The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-24
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in vain and this love of man for man is
able TO solve every problem that can
confront US. / believe with all my heart,
with all the past before me, with all the
gloomy outlook that nowhere under Gods
sun will the negro find truer. kinder, more
considerate friends than right here IN tbs
southland, among these white people,
where We were born, where we have lived
and where we expect to die.
At present we may seem to be growing
further apart. This, my young friends,
is your duty, by politeness, honesty of
purpose and sobrety TO bring about
better relation. Our paths must lie sepa-
rate yet together. We must make for our
selves our own social structures and as
sociat:ons. yet they must hep US Wlth
words of council, words of encouragement
abun.lant opportunities to labor and imam
cial assistance if need be as we march on
ward beside the highest civilization the
world has ever known.
Thousands of negroes in every walk OF
life whose faces are turned to the sun
of progress are doing their humble parts
TO lift up the race and inspire to noble
eTdeaVpr.
intelligent colored teachers in the public
,chools OF this city and two thousand five
hundred in the State are teaching these
great lessons faithfully to the children
under their charge, and thousand minis.
ters in a thousand pulplts are teachlns
lessons of thrift, politeness, sobrlety, nom
esty. truth, and virtue
Think you not that the achievements OF
onr race do not add something to the
eIorv of the Sunny South? Every for
ward movement IN literature and science,
every accumulation OF property on the
mart of its colored citizens add to the
honor and material wealth of our city
ana State, and speak in thunder-tones OF
the kindly spirit of his white felow-cit-
liens Every church spire whose tow
efing peak kisses the effu!gence OF the
evening air, tells of the triumph Oh thar
religion that Japhet received from his
brother sheIn and gave to despised Ham
after nearly four thousand years. and
which, in the providence of God, is in
tended to light up all people.
The negro has been, as it were, "the
ward OF the nation" He is now being
called upon 10 demonstrate what is IN
him. Will he succeed? This is the
problem for him TO solve. VIII he pc
able to preserve his equilibrium?
LAW OF GROWTH.
The law of growth in the spiritual as
in the physical world is, first, the blade,
then the ear, then the full corn in the
carr the law of growth in the psycoi-
ogical world is, memory, thought, judg-
nent: are not the laws OF growth in the
world of civilization equally ineXorable?
First. agriculture, then commerce, then
manufacture, and then art and science
AT the present state Of our development
the great majority OF our people should
be farmers. Had we engaged or should
we for the future, engage in this en-
ployment and build Up the waste places
OF our dear South, it will serve to set
tie one of the most serious problems that
now confronts US, the great and inceaslng
growth of the army OF the unemployed
Our street corners, especially where IL
quid damnatfon is dispensed. are crowded
with this great mass of shiftless "ne'er
do wells,'' that add 10 our woes, and by
whom our race is judged. They get in
jails and penitentiaries and drag the
whole race down. What shall be done
with them? Ifstley are idle because they
cannot get work to do, then that is
a question for the social economists and
business association to grappie; for no
well-admnistered business community
ought to allow an honest man to loaf for
want of honest employment. If they are
lazy and unwilling TO work. then that
is q question for the municipality to set.
tie, and provide WORK houses that they
may be made TO labor. and become pros
ducers as well as consumers, according
TO divine Law, which says, SIZE who will
not work, neither shall he eat. II they
are too smart or too good to work, then
God help them, for. there is more hope
OF fool than such a man. ButsSthe
fact remains that TOO many of our young
negroes are loafers from choice rather
than constraint; for they do not hunger
and thirst" after work, and are too#fond
of splendid leisure without the necessary
labor subsequent thereto and, like the
i lily, toll not, neither do thay spin: yet
Solomon, in all his glory is not arrayeds
{ like one OF these. = Too many parents
foolishly say of their children, II don t
want. my child to work as hard as 4 have
done...sI want my boy to work as hard as
I have done, and harder, too. II need be-.
So. young men aud Womeu,s recommend