The age-herald., 1900-07-12
WISE WORDS OF WASHINGTON
 TEACHING FREEDOM, DUTY, LOVE
IContinued From First Page.l

man should always remember that he owes a peculiar and sacred duty to the negro that the negro has a claim upon the con science, sympathy and generosity of the Anglo-SaXon that no other race can have. In all discussion and legislation bearing upon the presence of the negro in America we should not forget that we are dealing with people that were not only forced to come here against their will, but in the face of most earnest protest. But in spite of this the black man has earned his right to the title of American citizen by obedience to law, by patriotism, by tidel- ity, and by the millions of money which his strong arm and willing hands have added to the wealth of this country. Every white man and woman in the north and in the south should consider it not only a duty, but a high privilege to assist in the elevation of the negro. The time has come, l believe. when the wealth and cul- ture of the white south going to take hold in whole-souled manner to lift the negro up in religion, morals, education and industry. No race can oppress or glect weaker race without degrading itself. No race can lift up a weaker race without elevating and strengthening itself. Oppression degrades assistance elevates.
 The negro can afford to be wronged, the white man cannot afford to wrong the weakest or meanest member of any race without the proudest and bluest blood in the white mans civilization being degrad- ed.
 The Ne2ro's Worth
 More and more l hope the white people of this country will learn to measure the worth of the negro by the types, the best types of the race, and not by the worst. In a larger degree We should judge by those in the school room, not by those in idleness in the streets: by those who have bought homes and are taxpayers; not by those in dens of crime and misery; by those who have learned the laws of health and are living; not by those who have broken health and are dying.
 The Negro's Deserts
 Every white man in America should make an especial effort to deal justly and generously with the black race. In doing this you will not only help the negro, but you will help yourselves. It is easy to treat those who are our equals in wealth. intelligence and social standing with justice, generosity and politeness, but the time to find the worth of nindividual is when he is in contrast with an unfortunate individual or race. Anyone can stand for the right when the world applauds, but real courage is tested in standing for the right when the world condemns.
 No race can ever be redeemed through any form of oppression-by withholding or withdrawing opportunities. It should be our central idea to extend and broaden privileges as fast as the race shows itself capable of rightly exercising them
 But the negro also has a duty to per form to himself and to the white people among whom he lives.
 The Negros Future
 In the midst of the present agitation bearing upon the negro race in this coun- try it is important that the race keep a steady balance and not suffer itself to be- come discouraged or turned aside from essentials to non-essentials or be deceived into believing that we can elevate our selves by any short cut or artificial methods, however inviting and alluring they may appear. No matter what adverse criticism is made, no matter who prophe cies defeat mo matter haw many temp tations are held before us, what we as a race must be sure of day by day is that we are making real, tangible, indisputa- ble progr ess In the face of such progress all that is said against us will be harmless, without such progress all that is said in our favor cannot help us One of the hardest lessons for a race, like an individu- al, to learn, is that the way to permanent success is the mastering of the little every day commonplace opportunities that are right about our si,oor, and the using of these as ste..ping stones to more important positic -s. The race, like the individual