The Afro-American advance., 1900-05-26
EDITORIAL.
GREATEST NEED OF THE HOUR

GREATEST NEED OF THE HOUR
II is an established and well accepted
TACT that no nation can rise higher
than their women II ] were to state
what ! think the greatest need of the
hour-l would answer, exalted woman
hood. No race can afford 10 neglect
the enlightenment OF is mothers II
You would have a clergy without yir-
tue or morality. manhood without
honor. aud a womanhood frivolous.
mockinR and ignorant. neglect the edu-
cation oi your daughters, and discour
age and use all your power to coward
every intellectual high. ambitious
woman YOU meet The Yhite man uses
the lie oi supremacy TO intimidate
the negro. the negro uses the lie ot
apron string government" 10 intimi-
date their ambitious women; tell me
who Is the greater enemy 10 the race
White men educate, help and encourage
their women, they educate to make
powerful. help to make independent.
encourage TO make famous Hut it
seems that some oi our men never think
they are in their glory unless they are
always cutting al some women OF stern
qualities who are trying TO lit them
selves and by so doing lill their race
Why should Il be thought immodest for
q woman 10 practice medicine, plead
fIw edit journal. or In a word make
any legitimate pursuit Of lite. Let our
men learn what Il means 10 race 10
have women oi brain. pluck and virtue
and lCt them do as other intelligent ma
Iions; educate, help and encourage and
thus We Will inspire our young girls TO
aspire for high stations in life What
We need Is high cultured. intellectual
business women who have brains TO
think independently oi men. and with
virtue enough 20 compel men 10 respect
them. though they walk the highways Of
the business and professional world
The very reason that SO many oi our
young women quit school before com.
pleing the high school course say moth.
ing oi collegiate course, Il because
our men do not encourage them. or ap.
preciate them after they have become
competent Women ol mental power
will not sneeumb TO men their interiors
hence Il We would educate our girls and
encourage them 10 step out, not for a
husband, but for history, We would
IN this very act set standard ior our
young men, and thus the next genera
ton would be gilt To the race oi man.
~ men and w0manhond such as the
world has always admired and honofcd
Why should not physicians wife
know enough about medicine Ia not
only be in sympathy with her husband
but ~ be OF help to himi Why not have
clcTRyman's wives So efficient ia Bibli.
cal studies 10 be ul material help 20 her
husband 10 his study Lawyers wife
who can help prepare a brici journal
ists wives who can manage his papere
Why not have women prepared IN al
the professional walks oi lilcp
Despise your women. intimidatc them.
discourage them by your sarcasm Of
apron string" and ''petticuat" govern.
ment. bold them in bondage to ignor.
ance aud eowafdlee, aud twenty years
hence you viii reap harvest. greater
than you want oi vif,ueiess, frivolous
womanhood and dtshonnfablc. nntrust.
worthy, debased manhood
There are two things" said Soc.
rates. that the magistrates oi Athens
should be careful. 90 keep out ui the
city. ignorance aud idlencss Ignor.
ance because Il cneenders crime idle
ness because OF bAscness. both because
they become the parent al immortality
and revolution This should and can
be applied TO our day. Ignorance plus
idleness produce immortality. the enemy
that has destroyed many nations Intel.
ligcncr plus industry produce virtue. the
backbone ot any aud all nations. And
Just SO tar as we have intelligent. vtrtu.
oes. ambitious, progressive women. NC
are preparing tor the lutuIe strength ai
Our race
ids 'heoal''ta-p .wi1ilanns