The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-30
THE DARK PROBLEM. "
Henry Watterson to His Critics ON the
Dining Incident.

me louisville courler,Jo urnal)
p,.,,ne the Courler-Journsls observa-
't. ~, the Booker Washington incident,
!, our newspaper brethren in cities
N us have put themselves 10 the
- trouble Of interviewing thereupon
.,. nersons whose opinions are locally
49, 20 he of value and TO carry
N, Az consequence we find our
/ ". SEATED TO a variety. not TO say a
'., assortment Of critical misinterpreta-
We are accused Of making an at
\, anon the president" and of "sneer-
:, Rocker Washington" A gentleman
IL 4. name Of Calhoun In the Chicago
,,s POST takes us to task with so
IA feeling and particularly that we
,.,nted TO make a few remarks In
ssIodsr. We quote from the report of
!, esteemed contemporary:
g road Mr.. watterson's jocular and
....,Iar article In regard to the presidents
Rf Ts.sian 10 Booker r. Washington to
wv, The criticism Is a superficial one
s..sTIs not worthy of serious consideration.
~ T Washington is one of the great
p.h' l, his day He not only possesses
~, shiljty and thorough education, but
I. I man of high aspirations, lofty Ideals
"a noble purposes. -, s,..,.,
,.sout feeling a thrill of admiration for
u. mans heroic struggle from dire pow
~ and ignorance to the point where ne
\. been recognized as one of the able
y, n the day. He is great In the large
~. that Is, not only great In INTELLECT
x IN his aspirations and in his IRE S
sa,t He comes to his people MS prophet
!, teacher. holding up to them high stand,
"a. d industry, sobriety, education anu
Tr Washington has taught them that
,Aelr hope in the future Is not III hoidlhs
sIifIeal office or in attempting to force
s,msslyes upon white people on terms oil
ssisi equality, but in making themselves
Twthy OF the cultivation of the higher
sIftuss Of life. ne.
Locking over this mans wonderful life;
/ lei Ike taking my hat OF to MN ana !
sisder II Mr.. Wattersop or any of MS can
sow life as full of good deeds as can
Bcoker T. Washington.
aThe presidents invitation Is character
Isc Of the man--frank, open-hearted,
r,nerous and quick to recognize a man S
sSsrth Irrespective Of his color or his so
4 huow men. aud measures them by none
II me artificial standards of society. Iln-
ioubtedly he recognized that Mr.. Washing
,on vas doing a great work for his people
Id for his country, particularly In the
socth. and the slight courtesy he paid Mr..
Washington was in recognition Of these
bets. Mr.. Washington is modest. earn
N man. with a great purpose In life, he
Nil pursue his way, hght his battle anu
Nd his victories, Notwithstanding the
,seSs and jeers of those prejudlced against
im
The president will not be hurt, either,
! the minds of good people who appre-
lite the fact that Booker I. Washing
w Is doing more than any other man
D work out what is called the negro
roblem on right lines.
Nothing is said Of Booker Washington In
be foregoing which has not been often
I'D 10 these columns. Mr. Calhoun does
ot touch the real point at issue. He falls
ven to conceive 1t. That white man
hay be all that Booker T. Washington is,
1t receive no invitation to dine en- famille
/ the White House. could not he made
be occasion Of comment The president
not bound to ask to his table every col
Ice president, or professor, who happens
. be doing an admittedly good work In
be cause Of education. Under all clrcum-
tsnces such invitations are marks of dis
melton. II he had wanted In some Pc
ulsr way to distinguish Booker Washing
on hs had better waited for state din
c where the presence of all sorts of of
cials would have diversified the scene.
I is, In going out of his way to call a
ian Of color, albeit a college president,
ITO his counsels. to proclaim this college
resident an influence in the disposition of
ppontments to office, and then to take
In by the hand and to lead him, into the
osom of his family, that theTpresldent,
say the least Of 1t, makes a startling de-
arturo from establlsheGSSssage.
With what purposel He does the cause
education no manner of good, because,
omlng fast upon his somewhat osteuta-
ously heralded new Southern policy, the
Renaissance assumes q quasi political
ompezion, and with unthipking people
articularly with unthinklng blacks
likely TO prove misleading 1t does
BOXER Washington a positive injury by
aisng an issue having more or less of
ncton to 1t among the people upon whom
must chiefly rely for practical sympathy
nd support In the development of the
uskegee institute. Except that the presl-
eat meant to make 1t the signal for the
onieratlon OF the color line in domestic
az social relations, and to throw the
Ieigrt of his great office in the scale on
PAT side Of the contention, 1t is difficult
divine any adequate motive foSssO rude
nq radical a draft upon the customs Of
pe time and the preconceptions and predi-
lftons of an overwhelming majority of
= white fellow citizens, both North and
entn In any event, he has done a griey-
Is wrong to the black people Of the South,
70 all their real friends.
out he has also wronged himself. If
mad no other purpose than the honorlng
good man, II, as Mr.. Calhoun says,
theodore Roosevelt loves to know men
NJ measures them by none of the artlh-
~ standards Of society" then he Is
'Aoiy exceptional, a dangerous thing In
ehlet magistrate, who, aside from being
uank, open hearted and generous, quick
recognize mans merit regardless of
y color or Bclal standing should be
IeuMspeet. The president should never
s'se' that each word and act Of his are
.sn ana heard afar, and that each sinks
,sp IN the public mind.
40 man can Afford 20 ,,,ot.o .-oort,.. d. =. .