The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-01


somewhere and settle that question among
yourselves" Another story was told 10 i'm
press upon the colored people the fact that
they must acquire means This was the
story or c0lored ferry boat operator, VINO
refused to loan white man the money TO
pay his transportation across the river, on
the ground as he expressed II, that "a
white man who amt got the price of ride
over de ribber is just as well OF on dis side
as on de odder" BY way of further i'm
pressing this upon his hearers. Professor
washington told of young colored man
IN Washington who started in the boot
backing business with no capital but
well-stocked brain, and who now owns sew
eral stands in the national capital THAT
young man." said Professor Washington,
does not care whether the Republicans or
the Democrats or the Populists are in pow
er in the national administration. He has
way to earn livelihood" This was the
speakers only allusion to the subject of
politics.
Professor Washington said. in part:
III ever race needed supreme faith,
calmness, unity and invincible determine
ton, these qualities are needed by the black
race in America at the present time. when
IL Is passing through season of trial and
testing such as has seldom fallen to the lot
OF any race In the history of the world
But beyond and above ALL we must not
lose hope and courage.
In our case the world should be con-
stantly reminded that the problems that
nave grown out of our presence as a race
In this country are not of our seeking or
making. White Americans should always
pear In mind that their duty towards
the American negro is unique one Yea,
more than that, it is sacred obligation.
The black man was not only brought 10
TINS country without his consent, but In
the face of his most earnest protest. Every
cry, every wall, every Iloan of anguish OF
the broken-hearted heather mother, as she
saw her child forced aboard the slave ship,
every suicide and every groan and every
pleading in the middle passage that marked
the journey OF the negro from the shores
or Africa to the shores of America was an
earnest plea for the white man not to desc
crate the soil of America by ENGRAVING
upon 1t the serious problems which are to-
day demanding solution.
Il am convinced that nothing can be
gained but much lost to the cause of the
negro by time spent in the mere badinage
OF words of blame and cenSure between the
white man North and the white man South.
In the same spirit would add that the ne
gro cannot make stronger his cause py
aimless ratings against the Southern white
man. neither can the Southern white man
assist much I'm the solution OF the difficuty'
which is so vital to him by mere condemna-
ton OF the negro.
FOUNDATION OF CITIZENSHIP.
1.-THE foundation of citizenship. it seems
to me, rests upon the intrinsic worth OF
each individual or group of individuals No
law can push the individual forward when
he is worthless; no law can hold him back
inconvenienced, but never defeated. In all
history of government do not believe that
in any large degree any race has been per-
mitted to share in the control of govern
ment till a large number OF the individual
members of that race have demonstrated
beyond question their ability to succeed in
controlling successfully their own individ-
ual business affairs.
MY own belief is that the time will
come when the negro in this country viii
secure all the recognition to which his mer-
It's entitle him as man and citizen, but
such recognition will come through the
natural law of evolution. In a word, we
have got TO pay the price of everything we
get, the price that every civilized race or
nation has paid for its position, that of be-
ginning gradually, naturally at the bottom
and working upward toward the highest
civilization. What am most anxious about
is that the negro shall be himself, not a
second or third rate imitation of some one
else.
There is no more sad sight I'm Chris
tendon than to see a young colored man
who is minus bank account, minus foot
of real estate, minus a home for himself or
parents, minus the saving habit, spending
all he earns and, too often, more than he
earns, in the mere vain attempt TO deceive
the world by superficial show. But the
world has way Of not being deceived, and
ir the long run rates every. individual and
every race at it's true worth. For a num-
Der of years l have tried to advocate the
advantage of industrial training for the
negro, because 1T starts the race off a
real, sure foundation, and not upon false
and deceptive one.
ION this industrial foundation will grow
habits of thrift, the love of work, econ
omy. ownership of property and bank
tons. will grow classical education. posi-
tons of public responsibility Out of 1t
will grow moral and religious strength
Out of it will grow that wealth that brings
leisure and with it opportunity for enjoy
ment OF literature and the fine arts. In
the words of the late Hon. Frederick
the sledge hammer, welded by a sable
arm, is a powerful blow in support of our
cause. Every colored mechanic is. by vir-
race. Every house built by black men is
a strong tower against the allied hosts of
prejudice. 1t is impossible for us to at
the subject. Without Industrial develop
ment there can be wealth; without
wealth there can be no leisure; without
leisure, no opportunity for thoughtful re-
Election and the cultivation of the higher
arts
:" would set no limitation on the
attachments of the negro in arts, letters or
craftsmanship, but, my friends, the surest
and speediest way to reach these ends is
by. laying the. foundation in the little
things of life that are Immediately at our
door. The man who has never learned
how TO make money to pay his debts is
not the one to be intrusted with the duty
Il.
Again Ii Is asked, would you limit or
circumscribe the mental development of
the negro boy? Emphatically / answer with
q hundred noes. i would encourage the
negro TO secure all the mental strength, all
the mental culture, whether CLEANED from
science, mathematics. history language or
literature, that his pocketbook and crcum-
stances will enable him TO pay for: but I
repeat, with all the emphasis of my soul.
that the negro's education should be so
directed and controlled for years to come
that the greatest proportion of the mental
strength of the masses will be brought to
bear upon the everyday practical affairs of
life, something that is needed TO be done
do in the community where they reside.
AN ERROR POINTED OUT.
From the beginning of time agriculture
has constitutes the main foundation upon
which all races have grown useful and
| strong. In the present condition OF our
race IL is grave error to take a negro boy
from a farming community and educate
him in about everything in heaven and
earth, educate him into a sympathy with
everything that has no bearing upon the
| life of the community to which he should
| return, md out of sympathy with most
| that concerns agricultural life, The result
of this progress is that, in too many cases
the boy thus trained fails to return 10 his
fathers farm, but takes I'D his abode in
| the city and falls. in too many cases into
the temptation Of trying to live by his wits.
without honest productive employment
And. my friends, IL there is one thing at