The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-19
President Council Of Normal
Gives His Views
LETTER TO PROF. PARKER
counoill Has contended for a Long
Time That the colored People of
the South Should Avoid
Political Organization.


NAL Ala, recognized as one of the fore
most colored educators in the south, has
written the following letter:
Normal, Ala, December 16,19O2.
Prof. D. W Parker, Principal Hard
School, Bessemer, Ala:
My Dear Sir-I have your valued let
ter of the 18th inst. asking me to call
conference for the purpose OF discussing,
ways and means for the amelioration of
the condition of the negro for the peace,
harmony, and concord of all men as God
would have him." I wish to thank you
for your thoughts along these lines, and
for the confidence you manifest in me-
and proper advice of the conduct of our
people.
More than a quarter OF a century ago.
gave advice to the race which was
then refused by the masses but has since
been shown to have been good advice
then advised the race to pull away from
its political habits and would eschew
politics altogether, or go with a better ele-
ment of southern people. Rarely does
man live to see the triumph of his own
principles in reference to the life of a
people, and yet I have lived to see every
prophecy which I made touching our
people come to pass. l told them more
than twenty-five years ago, that politics
was a loosing game, unless the race could
divide its voting strength between the
parties in the country. l knew and pro-
phesied that the negro would utterly fail.
unless he threw himself in a large meas
ure to the stronger element of southern
people. l stuck to this principal with
answering faith and devotion for more
than quarter of a century. II is need
less for me to tell here of the unpopular
ity and hardship which it brought to
me.
However, I have never regretted my
advice and action and I have no re-
grets now. L would not only advocate
but l voted for such men as Judge
Thomas G. Jones and Judge T. r. Roul-
hac, in those days when it tried ne
gro's soul to be suspected of being for
such men. 1t is an easy matter now
when the principles for which those men
stood and for which 1 was prosecuted,
have triumphed; for men who tried to
defeat them then to praise them now.
These men do 1t now only when they
see themselves defeated and not because
they love the principles of good govern
ment
Stay Out of Politics.
do not think my advice would be
taken now on these subjects with any
more favor than it was twenty-five years
ago. Men usually serve the present If l
would advise at ALL l would say to the
negro what l said twenty-five years ago,
stay out of politics. From no negro
republican party or negro democratic
party, or negro any other kind of party.
Hold themselves in readiness at all times
to vote if they feel that they must vote
for their best friends regardless of party.
The formation of any, party of negro
men will be made by another party of
white men. Also the going of the negro
enmasse into any political party viii not
only excite prejudice against that party,
but show that the negro desires to stand
together against white men. However,
desirable it may be for the success Of
the race along all lines, still, such
policy would be suicidal. I would adj
wise that the negro would stick to those
who will make him industrious, intel
ligent, law-abiding, truthful, upright
and friendly with all men, with whatever
political persuasion. And l say, that
while he may be strong by aIlying HIM
self to political parties with the best
element of his friends, he will be strong
est by leaving off politics altogether.
There is nothing in 1t for him, 1t mat
tiers not what party is in power. This
present revival of negro political sub
iects will be nipped, blighted, and resist
ed inside of four years, and the ranks
of the white politician of the south will
be closed to them and the lines will
be drawn tighter than ever against the
negro in politics. Really all of this pres
ent seemingly advantage the negro has
in politics will be surely drawn against
him with disastrous effects. Now, am
quite sure, that these conditions will be
received no more favorably now than
they were twenty-five years ago.
Industrial Education.
Fifteen years ago 1 made a suggestion
= 70 To- a
gomery where ! advocated principles of
Industrial education. All the leading edu-
Gators in the state were there, and half
a dozen or more of the negro orators OF
the state pronounced my suggestion error
and a stab to the negro race. AS / now
remember, the suggestion was so unpopu-
lar only one person dared to say any
thing in defense of it, and that person
was a white woman. Now II we were to
call that same convention together, it
would bs hard TO find a member who
would oppose industrial education. The
Montgomery Herald, the only negro paper
in the city, the Chattanooga Dispatch
and other negro papers denounced my
suggestion as unwise and against the
race The suggestion was published and
circulated by the national educational
bureau, and today there could not be
found man In the entire negro race who
would not indorse every word of 1t. l do
not mention this for any laudaton, but
simply to show the stubbornness with
which our people cling to their own ways.
1t is more easy to go with a popular tide
than it is to undertake to educate the
populists. 1t is better for us all to do
our duty in our own day and genera
ton, in the fear of God. with a high
regard for the uplifting Of mankind, than
to beat around working for popular adj
vancement and to do ana say things to
bring forth the applause of the populace.
Yours very truly.
w. II. COUNCILL.