The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-12
THE NEGRO CONFERENCE AT
ATLANTA.


session at Atlanta for the past week adj
journed on Saturday. There were some
foolish utterances by a few who sought
notoriety by sounding discordant notes,
but in the main the speeches and papers
were such as to commend them to
thoughtful men everywhere. The At
lanta Constitution, which is fair news
paper, writes thus in it's editorial column
about the Congress-:
'The presence in Atlanta of the sew
eral thousand delegates and visitors in
attendance upon the Congress of the
Negro Young Peoples Christian En-
deavor Society has served to draw atten-
ton to an object lesson which. while it
cannot be said to be new is ever worthy
of nohtice.
Atlanta is. because of its location as
the railroad center of the South the
scene OF many gatherings of members of
the negro race. There is one day in
each year especially given over to negro
excursionists, who flock here from all
over Georgia and the nearby States to
make their presence felt. Everybody is
familiar with the character of the
crowds that gather in Atlanta on the
Fourth of July to celebrate the ami
yersary of the nations independence in
their own peculiar way. While there are,
of course, some good people among these
eXcursionists, the visiting parties are for
the most part made up Of ignorant field
hands and laborers in other lines. peo-
pie fairly representative of the shiftless,
restless, irresponsible negroes of whom
the South has so many, who, in fact,
make up by far the greater proportion of
the races representation in this section
Many of them carry in their faces and
their appearance the suggestion of being
not very far removed from the heart of
Africa. Their visit to Atlanta is an an
nual orgie, which usually fills the police
station to overlooking and tends to raise
in the mind of the observer a doubt
whether all efforts at Improvement are
not wasted.
During the past few days we have
had the other side of the picture. At
lanta has been filled with representatives
Of the race who in themselves are the
best of illustrations of the possibilities
for the future. After seeing them, after
hearing the addresses of their leaders
and noting not only the earnestness, but
the intelligence, displayed in dealing with
the great problem of the elevation OF the
race, one cannot but be optimistic with
regard to the future. Earnest, God-fear-
Ing, intelligent men and women are de-
voting their best efforts to the betterment
of their race, and they show in them
selves what has been, and what will be
accomplished through education and the
practical application of the teachings of
Christianity
THE character of the crowd in at
tendance upon this Congress has been
most favorably commented upon ION
all sides. The verdict of Atlanta may
be said to be unanimous. The Young
Peoples Congress has made an i'm
preston upon this city at the heart
of the South, which cannot but be of
great value in aiding the great work
these people have in hand.
''They have been given a hearty earn
est welcome at the hands of the people
of Atlanta. They have in every way
been given such consideration as is ac-
corded all gatherings of earnest Chris
tian workers. While of course, their
entertainment has been in the hands
leading white citizens have aided, in
local committees. The white people
have given them right of way in the
same manner that it would have been
given other visitors gathered for
Christian purpose. The recognltlon'
10th of the work these people have to
do in upbuilding their race and Of their
ability to do it, has been complete.
IF there were among those who heard
Bishop Gaines opening address any VINO
doubted the truth of his assertion that
The white man of the South is ever Will
ing to respect and to assist the negro
who is endeavoring to make OF hlmsen
good citizen, or, having attained that
end, to assist in the elevation OF MS
fellows. that doubt has been removed
by the reception the Congress mas re-
ceived IN Atlanta"
The resolutions adopted were conser-
vative and will make good impression
upon the country. 1t is by this formal
EXPRESSION, rather by the voluntary ex-
preston of any delegate, that the ne
groes who participated in the Congress
are to be judged. The resolutions ought
to be widely read. They are as follows:
Our purpose here has been to deal
with problems which confront the re-
public in it's complex national life, but
more especially to deal with those PROP
lens that are essentially the negro's, ana
which in the very nature OF the case
must be virtually solved by him. Whlle
on the one hand we have had wrongs ana
grievances many, on the other hand we
have had opportunities and privileges IN
Vulnerable, and we are so deeply con-
vinced that to show ourselves worthy OF
the latter is infinitely better than to per-
NIT ourselves to be weakened and dis
couraged by the former Whatever OF
burdens we may still have to endure, OF
adjustments which are yet to be made,
we throw ourselves upon the justice and
fair play fthe American people, North
and South, and declare our unreserved
conviction that right in the end will pre-
vail.
OWNERS OF MILLIONS OF ACRES.
I'm spite of theorists and theories, both
before and after emancipation, we have
shown ourselves able to live and thrive.
~ IL Hoo