The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-30
KISSED THE RACE PROBLEM

Mr.. Washington was introduced n, AZ.
Si .a,. ~ ousley, VINO spoke AS follows.
o,rI gel,ow CitiiEens OF Houston; It is rare
man or In the life Of any people thai ~
business men OF a community should To
assembled to listen to words Of wisdom,
from a member OF race which has hna,,
IN bondage TO these people. but n IL nnt
given TO us to analyze the cause OF M
circumstances. Sufficient Il is 10 t,n,,
that somehow, and Il Is a comfort to inc
10 believe That II was through A sneriai
providence, this great man has been rpoIsad
up to lead his people out OF nrea,,'r
bondage than they endured under non,in,i
slayery, and, as Southern man, il is n
honor Of this occasion and to acknoN,Ied,e
IN this presence and under all circun,
stances the greatness which he has nchieea1
for himself aud the good he is doing for
his race" s io'
Mr.. Washington began by thanking the
citizens for the honor which they had done
MIN and expressed appreciation of Tho an.
alenSe assembled 10 hear him. 81 was born
of It. was born In the State OF virginia.
and am proud Of that The negro hns
some disadvantages In this country. but.
Mt the same time | believe, as A rane ans
or two advantages. In the n st place the
negro race IL the only one lnhabltinp this
country Mt present that ever came 10 n
by reason of having q very special ana
very pressing and emphatic Invitation 10
come here Qaughter) Your race came her
against the protests OF the leading cltIgens
Of America in 1902 Canghterl, and for 8 me
reason you all thought so much OF our
race as to send for them. Some people 8re
bold enough to suggest Tint way to settle
what has sometimes been termed the lacr
problem Is for the negro to depart 10 Az.
RIGA, the land of his forefathers. You know,
as rule, that we are a polite, obllging
race. and, after putting you to so much
expense to get US here, II would mot / a
KIND or proper upon our part not to obligG
you by STAYING here Oaughter). Tn prob.
lens that have arisen viii be settled bv
the people here, I he negro Is not going
to Africa or any other country, and Oh
don want him TO go tapplausD. There
to live in the South without the negro
and the mule. / believe f. tails country
there Is wisdom enough, patience enough,
forhelrance enough and common sense
enough to enable us to live here side II,
side end work out the problem In justice
to both races concerned
~ have studied the history Of our people
to some extent, not only in this country,
but in every other section OF the world
and when you take into consideration their
! industrial, their mental, their moral and
! their religious progress you can not find
| 100000 of the African race who can equal
| them IN these respects. Notwithstanding
what slavery may have done for US, we are
ahead of negroes in other parts Of the
| world. Slavery was curse In many re.
| spects to my race, and, | speak frankly,
| in the providence of God we received a
! great benefit out of slavery"
Mr.. Washington then told Of how every
! large slave owner made It point to edu-
! cate the negro TO master some trade, or 10
| become extremely proficient IN the lines Of
| agriculture thereby enhancing bis vilue
! as a slave, and making such education Of
J the negro profitable to the slave owner.
Mr.. Washington related story of the old
! negro man who wanted TO take banjo les
| sons, and upon being told what the scale
! of prices was, wanted 10 take the last les
| son first He stated that that was the
| trouble and the temptation OF great
/ many Of his people. They wanted TO get
| the last lesson IN civilization first.
The negro, like any other race" con.
tinued Mr., Washington" vii! have 70 get
upon his feet by making himself useful in
! the world. He has got to begin at the bot
! tom and gradually climb up by doing the
; little common things Of life we'll For that
I reason | have advocated and do now ad-
| vocate, the training of our people along all
| the lines of industry, especially do lay
emphasis upon agricultural education. "
| He complained that enough attention was
! not given to agricultural affairs. He stAted
| THAI Mt Tuskegee he started with one hoe
| and an old blind mule, while now there
| were over 800 acres Of land in cultivation
there, being cultivated entirely by students.
| They were taught To cultivate the land sue
cessfnlly, scientifically and intellgently.
| They were also taught how to raise poul-
| try. 81 mean poultry In the day time
| said the speaker, which eNinced consider
| able laughter. The speaker referred TO the
| great work being done at Tuskegee for the
| uplifting of the race, and stated that the
| learning of useful trade was the salvation
| of the race. The fact that men and women
| were taught to use their bands as well as
| their brains was the case at that institute.
| The white man would respect the negro II
| he evinced n desire to do what was right,
| and would assist him IN his endeaYors IN
| that direction, He stated that the negro
! ought to own his own home and till the SOIL.
| There were no crimes Of any character
| committed by this class of negro, the shirt
less, worthless kind who frequented me
cities being the great offenders. BE stated
that the white man could not get along
without the negro, and that even IN hades.
as an old darkey related, the white man
used the negro to shield him from the hre-
| The speaker referred to the work being
done in this State at Prairie view, under
the management of Prof. u. l.. Biacksnear,
and EXPRESSED much pleasure at the results
which would be attained there.
The speaker held the interest or MS au'
| ditors throughout, and the address was
most interesting one. .,
After finishing his address MT. Wasnlpe,
ton was surrounded by large numner VI
his audience and fully hundred represeh
tatiye white citizens shook his hand ana
congratulated and encouraged him III MS
purpose
TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH RECEP
TION.
After leaving the Cotton Exchange INV
Nnr