The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-06-04

ton of our people are engaged in some
form of agriculture, are engaged in the
cultivation of the soil. Since the bulk
of u people are to live out of the soil,
are accustomed to agricultural life, it
Is my opinion that agriculture should
be made the chief industry of our co.
pie, at least, for a long period of years.
The negro should be encouraged to
own and cultivate the soil; IN q word,
as a rule, should be encouraged to re-
main in the country districts. The
negro is st his best in most cases when
in agricultural life; in too many cases
ne Is at his worst In contact with city
life. or course, out of agriculture,
the fundamental industry, will grow
most, ii not all, of the most skilled oc-
equations with which, [ understand,
this conference is now specifically deal
ing.
In order that the negro may be in
duced to remain III the country dis
tricts we should see to 1T that life is
made not only bearable and safe, but
attractive and comfortable.
II there is any ono thing, at the pre-
sent time, that should give us more
serious concern than another, it is the
large idle class that fingers about the
sidewalks, bar rooms and dens of sin
and misery in our large cities. The
negro boy should be given such an idea
OF the dignity and beauty of agricul-
tural life that rather than yield to the
temptation of going to the city he will
return to his fathers farm, and there
raise 90 bushels OF corn on an acre of
land by reason of his intelligence and
skill, where only 25 bushels and less
were growing before. If it be sug.
gested that the white boy is not always
thus dealt with, my answer is that the
white man is three thousand years
ahead Of US, and this fact we should
face now as later. The white man at
one stage of his growth, in Europe and
in America, has gone through every
stage of development that L now adj
.vocate for my race.
Our knowledge must be harnessed
to the things of real life. L would
much rather see a young colored man
graduate from a college and go out and
start a truck garden, a dairy farm or
conduct a cotton plantation and thus
become a first, hand producer of wealth
than a parasite living upon the wealth
originally produced by others, seeking
uncertain and unsatisfactory livelihood
in temporary and questionable posi-
tons. L repeat, do not seek positions,
but create positions. All people who
have gained wealth and recognition
have come up through the soil and
have given attention to these funda-
mental, wealth.producing industries.
The young man who goes out in the
forest, fells d tree and produces a wa
gon is the n who has added some
thing to the wealth of the community
in which he lives.
L emphasize the ownership and cul.
tivation of the soil again because land
is cheaper in the South than it will
ever be again, and if We do not get
hold of a portion of the sol! and use il
in laying a foundation for II civlliza-
ton now l fear we will not get hold OF
1T in the future. In the country the
negro and his children are free, as 8
rule, from the temptations which drag
so many down in the large cities. The
negro is there always free, too, from
the severe competition which, in sc
many cases, discourages and over
masters him.
In the case of the negro artisan W.
should be careful to follow the same
course as in regard to agriculture
We should find out the kind of skilled
labor in which the negro is most likely
to find employment, the kind of skilled
labor in greatest demand. After W.
find out the kind for which the negro
is best fitted and the kind which Offers
the greatest encouragements, | SHOULD
say emphasize in that direction. L
the greatest demand is In the Director
OF iron work, emphasize iron work. i
in some form of leather work, empha
size leather work. If in brick masonr,
or plastering, emphasize these.
Many of the trades which were
formerly in our hands have In to,
large a degree slipped from us, not be
cause there was a special feeling agains
: II working at these trades on tn,
part of the native Southern white man
but because, l fear, we failed to fit our
: selves to perform the service in tn,
very best manner. We must not onl,
have carpenters, but architects; w,
must not only have persons who cal
do the work with the hand, but person
> at the same time who can plan tn,
work with the brain.
Go into the North or South and asl
to have pointed out to you the mos
prosperous and reliable cOlored man il
. that community. and in the majorit,
OF cases l believe You will have pointed
out to your a negro who has learned
trade; and, in many cases, you will
find that this trade was learned durin!
the days of slavery.
: If we are wise and patient we cal
use all forms of service in a way no
only to lift ourselves up, hut to bint
us eternally In fellowship and goot
/, will to the Southern white man b,
/, whose side we must live for all times
DEATH OF DIR. B. M. PALMEE