The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-12
LARGE CROWD TO
HEAR WASHINGTON
g
Negro Educator Speaks
On His Own Race,
HE MUST MAKE MONEY
Accumulate Property and Cultivate
Z Friendship Of Whites.
STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE.
Nothing to Discourage, but aIuc!: to
Encourage Those who Arc
Interested in the Welfare
of the Black Man.
Many Prominent
People Present.
STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE.

iDupfNct hN'tSiiIiIzttiir LiAN sSt1A-ii7 -.A'~'A
Of the negro race in the whole world, ad-
dressed a splendid audience at the Acad-
emy last night.
The orchestra floor was nearly filed
with whites There were many of the
leading members of the Legislature pres
enr. Colored people occupied the galleries,
The best clement of that race heard
Washington.
Booker Washington is a born orator,
He is a qnan whose personal appearance
would not attract any attention from
those who would pass him on the streat.
lie is a brisht-skinned colored man Of
about the average stature.
Washingtonls earaey,ass5 Vi Purpose
impresses an audience at the outset Re
is at aimcs i'll his remarks eloquent
pathetic. arg. .:nentatiyc and humorous.
His illustrations are nearly an new
Last night there were on the stage
judges James Keith, y. r. Wexford, Jr,
and Z. &. Minor and a number of leading
coiored men. including Rev. ". L.
Graham, Rev. DR. ~ Binsa. of Man
chester, John IL Scnyth John Mitchell,
.Ir.. and others Giles 3. Jackson was
master OF ceremonies. Giles was in his
glory. lie was largely instrumental in
having Prof. Washington come here TO
make q speech.
Booker Nashinston's address might be
summed UP in these words: He advised
lhe colored people TO try aud accunlmu-
late property and to cultivate the most
friendly relations; With the. white people
among whom they live
BORN IN VIRGINIA
Rev. W. T. Graham presided, and Giles
Jackson introduced Prof. Washington IN
Il, tg.--
referring To the fact that he vas bon
in Virginia. and felt a pride III his l&tlye
state, said III part:
-'When we take ar broad, generous view
of Developments in this country during
LfTs- -furty ycsiYs 4 fIfcS rclatc 20 tie
negro. / think the North, the white South
and the black man have no reason TO
become Respondent because conditions are
no better. but every reason TO congratu-
late themselves that the entire situation
is so hopeful and satisfactory. Within
lie last six months il has been my priVi-
lege TO examine by personal YiSi; into
the condition OF my race in nearly every
Southern State / have seen them in
their homes on their farms in the shop,
in the factory, in tie mines, in their
stores. in the schools. in the churches, in
the jails. in the penitcnIiarieS. and ] have
talked with the white people who were
once their masters and now their neigh
bprS. Alter lfilS Inspection tOIltlLeu
with my experience ana observation in
The heart OF the Black Belt of the
South covering a period of nineteen
Years ! have no hesitation III asserting
that there is constant progresS-proSreSS
that is tangible, visible, indisputable. ANY
one who has had daily opportunity OF
STUDYING the race at first hand cannot
fail to gain the impression that there are
indisputable evidences that the race is
settling down to a hard, earnest. common
sense view OF Iife-that it is fast learning
that a race like IN individual. must pay
for everything that it gets-the price of
beginning at the bottom OF the social
scale and working up gradually natural-
~ to the highest civilization. The eEag-
gerated impressions that the first years
OF freedom naturally brought are giving
way to an earnest, practical view of life
and its responsibilities.
THE RACE PROBLEM.
During the past thirty-tive years the
question has been constantly asked, have
we-are we pursuing the wisest policy in
trying to solve the problem? Three plans
have been advocated with more or less
seriousness-deportatio colonization on
American soil, and absorption into the
general population with View OF losing
racial identity. None OF these policies
have met with general favor All three
seem TO those who have studied the mat
ter most closely TO be visionary and inn
practical The trend OF events seems to
point conclusiVely to the fact that the
negro is TO remain in America aud the
great bulk of them viii remain in our
Southern States where they at present
reside Al The moment there is danger
in two directions: There is ground to
fear that the race may become discour-
aged ard give up hepsi and the other
ground for fear is that too large a proper
y, -g.,,, .F.,E1t
into the cities, and especially the cities
of the North. With all the emphasis thar
j can command 1 would warn every
friend of the race to use his influence TO
keep the negro out of The large cities of
our Northern States
Let US see to 1t, my friends that we
teach the negro to make himself a part
of the community where he lives, and
that in every straightforward honorable
manner he make friends with the white
man who is his neNt-door neigh6or
WORK WITH HANDS.
In the present condition of the race it
is most important that whether we give
The negro youth classical education, COM
mon school education, or technical edu-
cation. that in some way we urge Il large
proportion of these individuals TO bring
10 bear the force, the power Tor their
education upon the commSn everyday.
fundamental occupations that are at his
door in the community where he lives.
We must teach the negro youth 10 Go Il
common thing in an uncommon manner,
10 do a Ihin;. so well that no one can inn
prove upon il. There is no longer any
question as TO the ability OF the negro to
absorb knowledge or 10 perform all the
processes of mental gymnastics that the
white man performs, but the main prob
lem is TO teach him 10 apply his mental
equipment 10 harness it 10 the material
-. xg.zl \, 10
If the negro student is TO reside in an
agricultural districts. teach him to excel
in all forms of agriculture. II mechanics
is The main industry in his community,
teach him TO excel in that. If poultry
raising is IN demand in the neighborhood
,n.harn tho nn-rc, Lcir. &c q reside teach