Evening journal., 1902-04-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE

TO the Editor Of the Evening Journal
Sir: One hears many things inI
these days about the race problem and
how to solve It. Pulpit and platform
are usually graced or disgraced with
its mention whenever a member or
friend of the race is the speaker. The
catalogue of solutions is increasing
daily. Booker T. Washington has
been given the credit of fnding,at least.
positive solution in the idea of in
dustrial training. In this, everybody
is bound to say that he is right But
there remains to be brought forward
negative solution. Our people must
cease to be patrons of saloons and
slaves to strong drink. There are
hindrances to their freedom and pro-
gress, which they did not cause nor
can they very soon avoid For this
reason all fair-minded people will sym
Dathize with them. and Go what they
can to bring their fellow creatures to a
better state of life But the curse of
strong drink is self-imposed and the
victims thereof are more to be blamed
than pitied Our people may be en-
titled to some apology for living in al
leys and riding in Jim Crow cars,
but there is no apology for whiskey
drinking. No drunken people can
rise. even when they are blessed with
equal chances in other respects. 1t is
simply impossible for a race whose
way has been made rough and difficult
bv the havOcs and consequences Of
slavery. to make much progress in life,
staggering under the influence Of
! liuuor Besides the damage done to
the body and soul, our people are
giving to the saloons the money which
they so badly need for home, social
and business purposes. Here and there
may be found persons otherwise dis
posed. but the majority of white peO-
pie are not our enemies. They delight
to see MS happy in our homes. prosper
Ous in business and sober on the street.
This they have proven by voice, by
pen and by gifts. Let me place before
You some of the possibilities within
our grasp if we could but save the
money spent by our people for uncalled
for and needless strong drink in one
year. am told that the colored popu-
lation of this city Wilmington is
about $4,000. Suppose 5000 of that
number spend money for strong drink
to the extent of five cents each every
day. Is that putting the ratio OF
drinkers too high? If that many per
sons do not actually drink, enough
money is spent by Qua people to make
the above average The aggregate Ol
this would be. if | count correctly, S25C
a day. 1850 a week, 81 600 n month
and $4,000 a year. With this larg,
saving in one year we could soon hav,
much needed home for our bad girls
a respectable hotel for the accommo.
dation Of our people and many othel
features of improvement / do no
wish to say or infer by the figures
above that the colored people drinl
more whiskey than white folks, but
do say that they (the cOlored people
are less able to stand the results. lie
us stop finding fault and start in I,
help ourselves. We have produce
some fine specimens Of man and wo
7 manhood in the few years of our free
dom life. This nobody will attempt t.
! deny They are crowding. l regret T.
= say. into three spheres of activity
! school teaching. preaching and poll
! tics We are badly in need of farmers
u blacksmiths. wheelwrights, house car
: penters and the like.
l. takes a sober man to climb
=. The twentieth century hill;
= A trained hand and cultured mint
= Must both support the will.
c. Albert Tindley