Evening star., 1901-12-21
APPEALS FOR HIS PEOPLE.
Booker r. Washington Speaks BefOr'
the Outlook Club.

the Outlook Club.
A dispatch to the New York Tribune from
Montclair, N. j., yesterday says:
Before the Outlook Club tonight one OF
the largest audiences that has ever attend
ed a regular session Of the club heard
Booker T. Washington. Mr.. Washington 8
subject VIZ The Citizenship Of the Amer
lean Negro. He said in part:
1t should always be borne in mind that
as a race the negro did not force himself
into this country, but was brought here In
the face Of his most earnest protest. This
fact alone gives the negro claim upon the
sympathy, the goodwill. the forbearance
and generosity Of the white man that no
other race can have. In the next place. ~
Is of the highest importance that the white
race appreciate the rare opportunity Whlcn
Is afforded 1t to lift Itself up by lifting
others. Ihave sometimes thought that one ol
the objects of the Supreme ruler IN placing
what the world calls weak and unfortunate
race in the midst of seemingly strong
and fortunate one Is to give the one the
opportunity to continually grow In breadth
of thought, in the spirit of tolerance ana
generosity Of purse. by assisting the other.
There Is no surer sign of advanced civiilza-
ton than the disposition to reach down
and help up the unfortunate OF another
race. But for the presence OF the lmpotent
and unfortunate in our midst, whose very
presence Is a constant call and reminder
that to do and to live for others Is greater
than a life centered upon self, 1 should
have great fear for the future of our own
land 1t is always easy for a race to yield
to the temptation of crushing and with
holding opportunities from weak race
to be deceived by the false doctrine that
it lifts itself up In proportion as 1t keeps
others down.
It is with a race as with an individual.
The central idea that / wish to Impress
this evening is that this nation will be
strong in its citizenship just in proportion
as in its growth 1t lifts up the nearly ten
millions of black people. 1t will grow weak
in proportion as 1t yields to the temptation
Of neglecting or degrading these people
Of African descent. Assistance elevates
the individual extending It; oppression de-
grades the Individual guilty OF 1t. If we
lift others we climb-the future is certain.
If We neglect others the future Is uncertain.
If we let love of money, commercialism,
luxury and selfishness tempt US to neglect
our duty to our less fortunate brother,
then it will prove now, as often in the past,
that pride cometh before fall" In q
word. the white man In this country can
use the African as a means for his eleva-
ton or he can use the African as a means
for his own degradation
But the white man not only has a part
and a responsibility in the making Of an
American citizen out of the negro, but the
most important part Is to be played by the
negro himself However powerful may be
the outside influences brought to bear upon
a race, the race itself cannot be perma-
nently lifted unless it has within itself the
elements Of progress and civilization. We
may guide, stimulate and assist a race, but
unless has within itself the inherent
power to respond to outside influences all
outside effort will count for little. What
lesson has the past ana present for US re-
garding the ability OF the race to develop
itself? In part answer. It Is hardly possi-
BILE for those In this generation to appre-
ciate the fact that less than one hundred
and fifty years ago negroes were sold as
slaves in the market place Of more than
years ago, because forbidden by law or Gus
tom, there was practically no school in all
our southland into which q negro child
could enter. Now there Is not single
county in single state where school
cannot be planted for the benefit Of the
blackest child in that county. In order
that this growth may be fostered, and the
feeling toward him on the part Of the white
race be changed for the better as rapidly
as possible, there are one or two simple but
cannot disregard. We must ever keep in
mind that our future recognition is largely
within our own hands. In all history no
race that has been able to continually con-
tribute materially, mentally or spiritually
to the welfare Of the world has been per-
manently left without reward and encour-
agement.
1t Is not what we say Of good concerning
ourselves. or what others may say Of evil
regarding us in the long run that is going
to hinder or help us. It is going to be
what we actually accomplish-by our fruits
men will judge us. AS a race we must
learn not to be deceived or discouraged by
the superficial or the temporary. The real
question with us as q race Is whether each
year we are gaining In property, intelli-
gence, high character and in the confidence
and respect OF our neighbors. black and
white.