Evening star., 1902-02-22

Roosevelt during the illness of her son
apd declared that all hearts turned to her
in sympathy. She gave the incident of a
Michigan boy who became i'll in the Ph l.
ippines, how his mother receiving word
of his illness left her home to journey to
his bedside, but without knowing it passed
his dead body coming home on the Pacific.
But did that mother. on learning the
sad news in Manila, break down? No she
Immediately went to a hospital near where
her own son had died, and began the work
of nursing other mothers sons and home
sick boys. Blessed Mrs. Mootes there to-
night is white ribboner' doing good duty.
She has started a W. c. T. U. mission.
and is reclaiming men. Our duty to the
women of our new possessions, as the COM
ing of Christ has made place for our own
wearied feet, is, God helping us. to lend a
helping hand to our sisters. that they may
sec the true Christ We want these Fill
pine women to see we hate war; that we
want peace
The Colored Race.
The colored race received a large share
of attention at last nights meeting, there
being several speakers of that race and a
large number Of colored persons in the
audience.
Mrs Bette S. Francis in "A Plea for
Race Ethics" speaking in regard to the
negro problem. said:
TT is ever with us, and. like Banquo's
ghost, will not down. Unpopular though it
be, it is impossible to get away from it,
With every intelligent man and woman the
question is not, Shall l concern myself
about it, but in what way shall that consid-
Grafton benefit all concerned?' The condi-
ton Of the cOlored people in this country
makes it imperative that the majority Sc
cure industrial training. Education and
industry have been the chief bulwarks In
this grand civilization. BY them, and them
alone. will the great mass of Ignorance and
poverty of a race be elevated. trust | am
not too liberal in stating that the colored
race in this country is doing well as any
other race would do under similar circum-
stances. With so many avenues of en-
ployment closed against him, | often Won
der that he Is doing SO well as he is.
Last to Be Settled.
"Of the many perplexing questions that
are claiming the attention of the Americans
today" said Mrs. Francis, with the eX-
ception of the Indian, the so-called Negro
Problem is the oldest and in all prohabi
ity will be the last to be settled The Cuban,
Porto Rican Hawaiian, Philippine and
Chinese questions. all of but few years
growth are, judging from the forensic elo-
quence that is being brought to bear upon
them through every possible medium, in
the halls of Congress. in the pulpit and
through the press. soon to be settled. But
the settlement of the so-cailed Negro
Problem which reached the maturity age
long ago. in the absence of any great ora
torical effort, seems long way off. 1t is
ever with us, and like Banquo's ghost, will
not down. Unpopular though it be, it is
impossible to get away from it. With every
intelligent man and woman the question is
not, Shall l concern myself about it. but
in what way shall that consideration bene
fit all concerned?
"At no time in the history of our coun-
status of the colored men claimed so much
attention. Symposiums in the leading
papers, by the thinking men and women
of all sections of our country, upon the sub
ject have been held. Views widely differ
ent on many points were expressed. The
majority, however, stood for education as
the best means of elevation.
"The better element of colored people
have held this opinion for years. An earn
estness of their faith in 1t has been proved
by their hearty cooperation with the mis-
sionaries ,:e OF the south rl in their efforts to
that the missionaries initiated long ago
has not been permitted to diminish but is
being carried on steadily and heroically
by the educated men and women of the
race.
Assistance in Avoiding Calamity.
my plea is that the colored men and
women of this country be helped to avoid
such calamity. Under all our longings
and strivings, underlying every definite ac-
tivity, there runs a stream of meditation
the inequalities of justice that are meted
to us on every hand. This instructive medi-
tation is largely responsible for our activ-
ity in establishing every possible means of
helpfulness. The efforts of our men and
women in the way of organizations have
proved Pactolian's dream, enriching and
ennObllng their race as they steadily
climb An interesting chapter in the spirit
ual history of the race might be written by
bringing together the report of the expe-
riences of the earnest men and women of
building by the formation of clubs whose
influence for good Is potent wherever they
exist.
I'VE find the mothers Of every race to
be the principal factors in the equation of
social order and regime. AS they subserve
every interest to that of their children,
as they cherish and hold fast to princi-
that their children might inherit the same;
as they urge them ON to the school room
with sympathetic interest in their studies.
anG guide and assist in planning their fu-
ture. so do the mothers of the better class
of coiored people.
Efforts Of the Mothers.
Follow me for few moments in mark
ing the efforts Of the colored mother.
Thirty-seven years ago set free. as free as
the birds Of the air, with neither home nor
shelter for her brood, her first effort was
to secure q nest, home. Side by side with
her husband she does whatever her hands
find to do. Material needs and wants press
her for every moment OF her time, but the
mother love which ID implanted az deeply
and a. strongly Ia her breast As that ~