The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-30

.. i
not unmindful of the fact that your race
is poor and weak and without the in
fiuence of the dominant race and that,
therefore, in proportion to actual crime
committed a few more are indicted than
would be if you were rich and powerful
and with the influences which tend to sup
press indictments. But eliminating this
unimportant factor as one may we'll do in
a just State like this, the proportion OF
| crime in your race is startling and dam
gerous and one which ought to evoke your
most earnest consideration. Before you
can ever take your proper place in the
world you must learn first obedience to
law. This ought to be with you a matter
of constant instruction in the home, in
! the school, in the church, on the high
| way, wherever two or more of you may
! gather until it becomes a part of your
| very existence and grows into your ma
ture. The great strength of the white
man has been his love of home, and the
! consequent love of those industries which
secure to him his home. 1t will be we'll
| for you and for your race when you shall
have learned that your strength is found
| ed upon industry and economy and that
! your Importance in the State will increase
with your growing wealth. This Fair,
therefore, which to some extent, but ade-
| quately, illustrates your industries, is a
matter of Importance to you and to the
State. 1t shows what you have done and
encourages you TO do more.
1t may not be inappropriate for me up
on this occasion to express to you the
hope that recent events occurring in the
Nation may not unduly excite you and
that you will still remember that your
best friends are those who live in your
State. What you wish, what you need
more than recognition by the President or
other people in authority, is the establish
ment among yourselves of society
founded upon culture, intelligence and
virtue and in no wise dependent upon
those of different race. The law which
separates you from the white people in
the State socially always has been and
always will be inexorable, and it need
not concern you nor me whether that law
is violated elsewhere, it will never be
violated in the South It's violation
would be to your destruction as we'll as
to the injury of the whites. No thought
full, conservative and upright Southerner
has for your race aught but the kindest
to see you grow into the highest citizen
ship of which you are capable and we
are willing to give our energies and best
thought to aid you in the great work
necessary to make you what you arc
capable of, and to assist you in that ele-
walton of character and of virtue which
tends to the strengthening of the State.
But to do this it is absolutely necessary
that each race should remain distinct and
have society of it's own. Inside Of your
own race you can grow as large and broad
and high as God permits, with the aid, the
sympathy, and the encouragement of your
white neighbors. If you can equal the
white race in achievement, in scholar
ship, in literature, in art, in industry, and
commerce you will find no generous mind
ed white man who will stand in your way,
but all of them in the South will insist
that you shall accomplish this high and
without social intermingling and this is
well for you; it is we'll for us; it is neces-
sary for the peace of our section, it is es-
sential to the education of your children
that you shall accomplish this high end
upon this point. I am sure that you
agree with me in what 1 have said and
in the spirit of one who is the Governor
OF the whole people without regard to
race l bid you Gods speed in the great
work of upbuilding our State, of multi
plying her industries, of increasing her
commerce, of educating all her children.
l find no little encouragement in the
friendly cooperation of the men and Wo-
men of your race in the task which we
have undertaken to do, that of educating
all the children, and l pray you that in
this great work we shall not be retarded
by misunderstandings
! now formally declare, with best wish
es for your success, this Fair open
The reception of the speech was ex-
traordinary. Time and again was there
applause, and often came the words,
Good, good" "hear, hear from his au-
dience. When the Governor touched upon
the episode of President Roosevelt and
Booker Washington this was especially
noticeable. AS he said, "Your best friend
lives in the South" a wave of chats it,
swept through the hall. His reference to
the standing Of the social laws in the
South no matter what was done else
where was applauded with the words,
Let it stand. Answering to every word
he spoke against an attempt at social
Equality yesterday Tic cOlOTeu poOpl0
who heard him emphasized his declara-
tion by applause and words. When he
had finished large numbers came forward
to shake his hand and endorse his posi-
tion.
Commissioner Patterson was next In
troduced. He expressed his qualification
at the exhibits and endorsed the words Of
the Governor. He urged upon the people
who heard him the necessity for raising a
food supply at home, saying that agricul-
ture was their best hope and that with
its growth would come a spirit of inde-
pendence. II
More music was followed by short adj
dress by DR.. Dixon, who, after a humor-
Gus allusion to his being pressed into :
service and the advice he had to offer. !
the people upon the credit |
able Fair. and the evidence of thorough |
work. He also congratulated them on |
having no Midway and pronounced the |
one at the State Fair of last week as |
being "a disgrace to civilization and the |
State, an exhibition that brought the
blush Of shame to every virtuous and