The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-08
RACE PROBLEM
OF THE SOUTH
Continued From First Page.)

of that area in the South where all the
conditions of the race problem are present
in their characteristic forms. Thirdly, it
is a place of much intellectual breadth,
where fair and courteous hearing can
every aspect of serious opinion upon this
subject. In the fourth place, it is the
home of the State Industrial school for
negroes, with an attendance of nearly
900 pupils. and is within easy reach Of
Tuskegee, where there exists one of the
most important institutions of the South
for the industrial training of the negro
race. Visitors from the South and the
North who are concerned with this as
pect of the problem will, therefore, nnd
much in Montgomery and it's vicinity of
deep interest to them. 1t is intended that
the Conference shall be as representative
as it can be made The debates will
necessarily be occasions of certain
amount of controversy. But this con-
troversy, expressing for the most part
the honest though conflicting opinions OF
our own section, will not be the contro-
versy which is embittered by sectional
prejudice. The very freedom of debate
will not only command for the Conference
the confidence of all classes of our people,
but will bring the ablest to realize that
this is fair opportunity for the advo-
Gates of every serious measure of relief.
in such an arena, guarded so far as possi-
bic with scrupulouS fair mindedness from
every abuse of the privileges of debate,
the truth must ultimately prevail. There
must result the broader education of the
public mind both North and South in the
facts of the case, and in the better under
standing of the remedies ssuggested.
While it is intended that the Conference
shall remain strictly within the control
of Southern men, and while most of the
speakers will be selected from the South,
two or three men from the North who
have given this question serious and help
fsl consideration have been requested to
be present as guests. This provision
was suggested not only in order to give
more general distinction to the Confer
ence itself, but in order that we may
prove to all the sections of our country
that the South is willing within her own
borders to give a fair and candid hear
ing to all honest thGHght upon this sub
ject The Northern speakers who have
been selected have been chosen, of
course, from those who may be depended
upon to look at the subject from nom
partisan standpoint and who can speak
to the people of the South with that
depth of sympathy and that breadth of
intelligence which have become charac-
teristic of the leading men in all parts
of our country. Since the close OF our
war with Spain, and through the grow
ing identity of our commercial interests,
the North and the South have been so
closely drawn together, that it is now
possible, perhaps for the first time, for
Northern and Southern men to discuss
this subject upon Southern ground, apart
from the past prejudices of either sec
ton, and in the interest of results which
may secure the larger welfare Of all
the quarters of our common country.
"Distinctively and especially, however,
our Conference is intended to represent
the sentiments and the thought of
Southern men. l have tried to explain the
value of such expression even to the
North | have tried to show the signifi-
canoe of Southern opinion, not only to the
South, not only to the student of thought,
not only to the negro in our midst, but to
those here and everywhere who would
deal with the fortunes of the negro in re-
lation to the actual working conditions of
his life. / have contended, and / hope
justly, that there can be no real or per-
haln
presses a defiance of the sober and re-
sponsible opinion of the South, and that
he will be helped most vitality and deeply
by those forms of aid that receive local
sympathy and support from the dominant
tendencies of Southern thought. If this
be even measurably true, then this Mont
gomery Conference may well receive the
appreciative interest of Northern men.
AS an open parliament of ideas within
the South itself, for the expression of the
convictions of the South in relation to
the ost vital of Southern problems, it
must be of incalculabe significance.
What will such a Conference reveal?
/ should say, rather, what will such Con-
ferences declare for we must not ask
too much of any movement which is in
the beginning of it's days. What will
prove from year to year to be the
dominant tendencies of Southern thought
What, in relation to the several aspects
of this problem, are the ideas of the
characteristic Southern man? If l VEN
ture to speak in answer to such a ques-
tion, l must again warn you that | can
at last give you only what l personally
think these tendencies to be. The South
ern man who speaks at the North too
often forgets that the difficulty and COM
pexity of the problems with which he
deals, involve, under the varying condi-
lions which l have already mentioned,
certain divisions of opinion within the
South itself. l can speak, therefore, with
authority, for one man only. But l can
try frankly to tell you what l seem to
see"
The Conference will be convened on the
evening of May Sth, in the Auditorium of
Montgomery at o'clock, the Hon. j. B.
CASTOR acting as temporary chairman.
The program is as follows:
At p. Montgomery Welcome to
the Visitors and Delegates" by the Hon.
E. B. Joseph, the Mayor of the City.
At S:15-"The Welcome of Alabama, F"
by the Hon. Joseph F. Johnston, Governor
of the State.
2. 20-"Tha Jdaa apd u;ctorv IF 10