Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-26

Presbyterian church to the doors assem-
Lied to hear this colored man who. ac-
cording to Mr.. Smiths theory would
he better off as a slave. What he said
was a direct answer to the claim MIR.
Smith and his supporters to the AFFECT
that the negroes had made little pro-
eress since the abolition of slavery. \
portion 'of his address was as follows:
| have been through nearly all of the
southern states for the purpose of get
ting accurate knowledge as to the gem
eTal condition of my race, and to OBJ
serve the attitude of the white people
toward educated negroes. l saw the
actual life of my pc ople on their farms,
III their shops and in their schools and
churches. as we'll as the life of those
confined in the prisons. With very few
exceptions l found that the race had
been touched by outside influence. and
that great Improvement had taken place.
Where the race is as yet untouched their
condition is almost stationary.
In Virginia. where the race has re-
g ived for almost thirty five years the
benefit of the Hampton Institute. the
result is almost marvellous. There the
colored people own already one-twenty-
sixth of all the real estate. In two
counties they own one-seventh, and i'll
cne county they own one-siNth. In
i exas l found one negro who has
bought and paid for 500 acres of fine
lie nd during the last five years. In Geor
sa. Alabama and Tennessee l found the
same tendency where the race had been
properly taught.
The negro just now has the greatest
opportunity in the direction OF business
DEVELOPMENT There is less opposition
to this than in almost any other direc-
ton. In Montgomery Ala there is a
colored man who owns and operates one
If the most successful dry goods estab-
;shments in the city. and in Blrimng-
ham We find negro savings bank
" hich has been in operation for twelve
years. In the same vicinity colorei
persons own and operate coal mime.
and also a large brickyard. In all these
enterprises the white people seem to
take pride in the progress of the negro.
The best and most helpful work is being
cone in our country districts by the
graduates of our larger schools, who
are teaching the people what they have
learned.
Taking the whole South into considera-
alton. l do not think that there is any
Increase III the bdu iEtlillS DtlNteli tiis,
IWo races. We must bear in mind that
we always hear of the worst that has
taken place and not the best. The coll
ored people are not devoting themselves
To politics, but are striving to get edu-
cation. property. and character. with
the idea that when they come into pos
session of them there will be no opposi-
ton to their expressing their wishes at
tn ballot box.
| have never been one to cover up tha
weak points of my race. he said. and
never lose an opportunity to study its
real condition. l have no hesitation in
81 wing that materially, industrially.
mentally and morally the negro
throughout this country is making
steady progress. No man can live
among our people and keep his eyes and
ears open without agreeing with me in
this statement. We have found the
| ay to solve this great problem Of edu-
! Ga ton but we need the means to do it,.
| In proportion our larger institutions
in the South are generously supported
will the negro question be worked out
to the satisfaction of the whole country.