Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-21
REV. DR.. GRAHAM
BLAZES THE WAY,
toontinued from FRS. Page)

an answer TO every slaaderous asser-
tion against the fitness of the race to
mansge safely and successfully great
institutions: President J. Hugo John
ston, one Of the greatest men of our
Baptist denomination, with the efi-
cient and noble faculty associated
with him in the conduct Of the Virgin
10 Normal & Collegiate Institute 10 . re
buke to every sssnderer who would say
Negro leadership is untrustworthy.
Our stats governments has the highest
confidence in him in his management
Of that great school. hanv thousands
of dollars are entrusted to the manage
ment OF this school every year and not
q soul is sent to watch it with q suspic
ious eye. Now that being true is it
not possible for the Negro Bsptists OF
this state and OF the Southland to so
conduct their sH airs "a to gain similar
confidence from those in high places =?
/ think so.
Rest assured 80 long IS we are not
IN position to control anything, just so
long will we be justly criticised 50 be-
tion for who wants to see ten millions
of people begging all the time and
never getting into shape to keep them
selves from begging2
But to get in shape to keep from
begging that which we should be able
to conduct must be ours. Il is there
fore in the third place very necessary
for as to prove our worthiness by own
ing that which we seek to conduct.
There u ust be q noble and prsisewor
thy method OF coming in possession Of
what we own. We feel that we should
not wait for benefactors to use every
r.. Aalr,
ourselves aud then in turn demand
their machinery, their lands, their in
situations
THE NoBLKR Way
The nobler way is to create, formu-
late and perpstuate something OF our
own-even il it is on q small scale. Ia
Roanoke, Va, there il foundry OF
some considerable importance owned
by q company OF gentlemen who them
selves were once day-latorers in an
other larger concern, but feeling that
they should be their own proprietors,
they rented an old building, began in
. small way before giving up their po-
sitions, working betwe cen times and at
night until they had made q name for
themselves Honesty, plusk and push
opened the markets to their skillful
productions aud to-day they have q
large establishment managing and di-
recting their own FAIRS, employing
many workmen.
So the Negro Baptists, though weak
and inexperienced must grow strong
and wise in the cond uct of their own
affairs by making . beginning which
must absolutely be theirs and under
their direction.
NO ANTAGONIST TO FRIENDS.
This does not mean, nor does il i'm
ply, or even hint at antagonism to ex-
isting institutions owned by our
friends, carried on for our benefit; but
since the most of US who are leading in
this manly, noble and Ohristlike effort
to help ourselves are educational pro-
ducts of the benevolent institutions
run by our friends, it seems TO us that
the best way Co demonstrate the Wis
dom of the establishments of such be-
neyolent institutions ia for the benefi-
Charles TO prove themselves men aud
women able to step cut in LIES battle,
make q way for themselves, help their
people to independently, and hand
down q glorious record to nborn gen
erations. Bus some oae may say indie
pendent institutions are not needed
Such an assertion is all bosh. You al
rented houses, on rented farms, in
landlords back yards, ought not to en-.
deavor to get homes for themselves
for certainly citizenship that Carries
not with it ownership in ali the ave.
nues Of civilized life cannot be respec-
tAbIy regarded. Gan q man who has
nothing demand equal recognition
with the man that has all the necessa-
ries fitting him for the highest walks
OF life Or can race OF people hav-
ing but charitable consid GRAFTON, mis-.
sionary respect, and ward relations 20
Others ever hope to be equally respect
ed with she races that have. in thei-
grasp all the facilities of respectable
snswer themselves.
ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL,
Now there is room for every institu-
tion of learning brought into existence
among our people. What proof is
there Of thisf L. not Hampton crowd
ed to overflow Is not our great Vir-
ginis Normal aud Collegiate Institute
at Petersburg crowded ? Are not all
the Pedo Baptist UNCONVENTIONAL
schools and non sectarian christian
schools crowded Is not Virginia Un-
ion University lackiog for room al.
ready to acconImo ate applicants ?
And is it not fact that our own Vir-
ginia Seminary finds herself to-day
unable to accommodate one-fifsh of
the students who desire to go there
If to day we had room for q thousand
students they would ind their way
to Virginia Seminary. Ii is q fact, the
harvest ia great, the fl slds whitening.
the laborers few; who dares to stand
up and ignorantly, hesthen-hke, klu
klHxlike. throttle, strsngle and murder
the bre or ambition that burns In the
BLACK mans heart to lift himself Co an
eminence commanding and demand
ing the respect OF the world?
THAT BURNING REFERENCE.
Gan any one be guilty of such saye
an Aaron Burr, q b n sdict Arnold, a
midnight assassin, "a Barn Burner
that would betrAy to his foes, q martyr
Maceop God forbid. As for my part.
am determined that history shall NOT
l.