Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-22

Institute in Alabama, an organization
established for the purpose of instruct
, ing negroes in branches of knowledge
!, that will make them self-supporting,
independent, respected citizens; quail
flying them for positions as teachers,
ministers, farmers, mechanics, carpen-
tiers, masons and in other callings. AS
a negro boy Booker T. Washington, by
the hardest kind of toll, self-denial and
study worked his own way through
college. Realizing the advantages of
education and the bitter need of the
! people of his race for it's helps, and
that schooling and training of the
southern negro for practical work
would do more to ameliorate their con-
dition, and to solve the race problem
of the south, than all the penal and ad.
ministrative laws that could be enact
ed by congress during the reconstruc-
ton period, or by the states in seeking
to adapt themselves to the social
change following the freeing of mil
lions of slaves--realizing all this and
the very great Importance of it,
Washington shortly after coming from
college set to work to establish train
ing school to meet the problem From
few acres of land on which was sit
uated the rude cabin in which he was
the sole instructor, Washington, by his
devotion, level-headedness intelligence
and careful business management has
inspired persons of wealth throughout
the country to contribute lands, build
ings and endowments until the institu-
ton nowowns and Occupies hundreds of
acres of well developed soil cared for
by students; many permanent and
modern buildings constructed in large
part by the students; invested funds
sufficient to maintain large corps of
able teachers. All this has he accom-
plished and opened for the poor but
deserving young man and wo-
man who is willing to avail
themselves of the opportun-
lily. 1t is generally conceded that he
has done more for the improvement of
the American black man than any 9TH
er person.
| Mr. Washington accepted President
Roosevelt's invitation, which it is safe
to say the strenuous man extended to
the guest, not because he was a negro,
nor because he was Booker T. Wash
ington, but simply by reason of his &C.
complishments and the good he has
done and to make recognition thereof,
and because the spirit of our laws has
provided there shall be no distinctions
on account of race.
But the incident has aroused the Sc
iyerely unfavorable criticism of the
southern press, who say the "Presi-
dent has committed blunder that is
worse than crime, and no atonement
or future act of his can remove the
self-impfinted stigma and also that
THE most damnable outrage which
has ever been perpetrated by any citi-
zen of the United States was commit
ted by the President when he invited
negro to dine with him at the White
| House"
We admire the good work accom-
iplished by the President of Tuskegee
institute; the greatest need of the
southern states is to emulate and ex-
tend it; we believe the President of the
United States was within his right
and carrying out the spirit of our al
tered times when he extended tn invi-
tation, and that if there be some who
cannot approve of his action they
should have kindness of heart and di-
plomacy enough to prompt them to re-
main quiet, and not add strength to
race prejudice, the skeleton in Amer-
can history.
1t is indeed difficult to read the ut
terances of the southern press on the
subject with equanimity. Booker T..
Washington is one of the great men of
the day in what he has done and is
now accomplishing in constructive,
civilizing and building up work. Presi-
dent Roosevelt did honor to his own
manhood and respect to the great of
flee which he occupies by the invita-
ton which he extended to Mr.. Wash
ington. There is positive discourage
ment in the rawlings Of the southern
press over this matter. 1t would seem
as if the. southern people were still
deeply enthra]led by false sentiment
and false ideas. Are we to be forced
to believe that their case is hopeless?
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