The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-06
in BEHALF OF NEGROES
ADDRESSES BY BISHOP POTTER AND
BOOKER It. WASHINGTON.
Strange Utterances of Senator Till
man acknowledgements the
Salvation of the Black Man.

NEW YORK, March 5.-Bishop Potter
was chairman and Booker T. Washington
the principal speaker at a meeting held to-
night at Carnegie Hall in the interest of
Hampton and Tuskegee Institutes. The
meeting was held under the auspices of the
Armstr Association. Robert c. Ogden,
president of the Armstrong Association,
introduced Bishop Potter. who said in
part:
1--WE must deal with the black man as
a problem, not in fragments. but as
whole. In doing this we must be pre-
pared not to meet with a great deal of
sympathy from certain quarters. | must
confess that the first man who entered my
mind as L entered this hall was the senior
senator from South Carolina. Some time
ago, in Boston. he said what these institu-
tions at Hampton and Tuskeegee were
doing was to educate the negro so TO
enable him to enter the trades and crowd
out the white people. This is a peculiar
discrimination TO make just as we have
begun to elevate the colored men and wom-
en-. We ought to realize that the main
thing that divides the negro from the white
is the lack of culture, and that by Civ
ing him this culture we will ennoble him
and raise him to a level of intelligence and
creative citizenship"
Mr.. Washington was introduced by
Bishop Potter. who said that after the
President had entertained Booker Il. Wash
ington as his guest he telegraphed him
as follows: Il congratulate you upon your
guest. He was a guest at my table last
winter, and never entertained a worthier
one" Some how or other" continued
the bishop, my message became public
and since that time L have received numer-
Gus letters from people south of the Mason
and Dixon line. entreating me not to show
myself in their neighbOrhood, as their citi-
zeus had no desire to entertain me"
Mr.. Washington was received with great
applause. He said in part:
with the negro, with every weak
and inexperienced race, II is important
that he be taught that his salvation is in
learning to own and cultivate intelhgentIy
and skillfully the soil. To the negro just
now this is the wheat; all else is chaff
Agriculture will prove our salvation, and
the race should be slow to abandon the
farm. Just now large proportion of the
race needs that education which will make
the youth return to the farm and produce
fifty bushels of corn where only twenty
five grew before, rather than yield to the
temptation to go to a city and attempt to
live by their wits. Those who would help
save my race should use their influence to
keep the negro out of the large cities, eS-
pecially the cities of the North. These are
some of the lessons that Hampton and
| TUskegee Institute constantly teaching.
| The time has come when We must see to
it that all the people in the South have
/ the fullest opportunities for the very best
education. All must be educated without
regard to color. Out of her poverty the
South has done well, but the tremendous
demands upon her for the education of two
/ races should enlist your hearty interest
/ and support. Providing for education in
the South is not matter of giving aims
or more philanthropy. 1t Is a matter Of
/ business that concerns the whole country.