The colored American., 1900-05-19
PROGRESS OF THE RACE
Register Lyons Points Out What We Have
Gained in Educational ana Wealth-Ef-
fectiveIy Contradiets Charles Dudley
Warmers Mistaken Estimate.
(Eyening Star, May 10.)

In the course of his address yeSter
day Mr.. Judson w. Lyon, register o
the treasury, said 3,O39, 10 of the col
ored people are engaged in gainful pur
suits, and only 1884 are in the pro
fessions. The professional class in
cludes 1853 clergymen and 15,OOs
teachers, leaving just a little over 6,OO'
following other callings listed as pro
fessiOns.
In the matter Of education he show
ed that the colored people had made
marvellous progress to which there il
no parallel in the annals of time. He
asserted that when Governor Merriam
fOots up his returns this year it will
be discovered that 5S per cent. of the
colored people can read and write,
whereas thirty-five years ago not three
per cent. could do so. He said that
colored men seek education on all lines
because it is the American custom, and
not to do it would argue one not a
good American
He well knew, he said, that the lot
of nine-tenths Of the people would be
labor that produces sweat of the brow.
He said if more cOlOred men are CON-
victed of crime in proportion than
others it must be remembered that, be-
ing Of the prescribed race, it is just
possible-indeed probable-that the
same equal and exact justice may not
be deliberately measured out to them
as to others. 1t is unfortunate for the
cOlOred man in the north, he argued,
that he can not readily and easily con-
meet himself with the labor organiza-
tions. This being true, perhaps, in pro-
portion, more of them are out of em-
ployment than would otherwise be, and
as there are laws against vagrancy they
may be convicted fer not working
when they can't get work, and so for
this offense the statistics of crime
would be swelled against them.
One of the chief difficulties in the
South, he said, is due to the uncer-
talnty of the law in some places.
Wherever you find a county with an
established reputation for law and Or
der and the strict enforcement of con-
tracts you will find that the colored
people remain on the farms, old and
young, and the landlord finds his DOS
sessions approaching yearly and the
income therefrOm increasing under
tenantry that does not change every
Christmas, but is stationery, prosper
GUS and contented.
1.-THE prosperity of last year." said |
Mr.. Lyon, '.has been a great thing in |
many ways. Its blessings have not all |
fallen into the Golfers Of the much
abused trusts and giant corpora tions.
The sun of plenty and comfort has
shown in many a home heretofore
darkened by the gloom of mortgages
and lack of sufficient returns from
arduous toll to make life happy.
"A reference to the production of the
staple in which our people exercise al
most monopoly will not be uninterest-
ing in this connection. 1t is popularity
supposed that the colored people plant,
cultivate and harvest s. per cent. of
the cotton crop. SuppoSing, therefore.
the crop for last year to have been
bales, their share would be
S,5OO,OOO bales, and then at 500 pounds
per bale, we would have 4,25OOOO,OOO
pounds, and this sold at an average of
cents we would have the colossal
sum of $34O, 100000. This same cotton
at an average Of 5 cents per pound a !.
year or so ago sold for S212, 500, 900.
thus making a difference in favor of :
the farmer of $127, 100000. Segregat- /!
ng this amount among the 100000 J
,f colored citizens, we have $12.75 for
every man, woman and child over
md above their realzations for the
asst previous few years." 6
AH,