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

worthy citizen OF the Repnblir see'''"'
lion. Edgar Watkins then presented Tho
orator orator Of the day 10 the following appro.
OF the two races 10 the South tbere arc
ABOUT half as many negroes as whites
Ihe prosperity Of our section OF this srcat
iyo.uintry depends very largely upon the re.
no Intelligent man Of eithN recc familiar
with the conditions In tho S0nth exneefs
OF desires anything like social equality
JEW oeoween tnese dinetent races Of people. but
nnu prays for an luduatrial harmony that
VIII promote the happiness and prosneritv
~ each. This being true, every work nnd
every institution which tends 10 nronfnfe
ms harmony deserves to receive tho com.
incubation and help Of all good people,
NC nave With us this evening person
VINO, by his life and the work Of an lnsti,
ergy. and intellect. has done and ia doing
Snch 70 bring about that condition OF nj
Ialrs which VIII add to the happiness moi
ony 81 his people but the whole South.
aud In behalf Of tho people Of Houston
welcome 10 our city tho great leader and
educator, Prof. Booker r. Washington OF
the Tuskegeo institute
AS Washington arose he was erected nv
prolonged applause. His address was IN
terspersed with witty anecdotes and bright
remarks lie proceeded according TO sam
Zones famous theory Make Your hearer
err and You have an opportunity "a drop a
big brickbnt Of truth down his throat 9"
washington did this in his own effective
way. He said, In part as follows;
The foundation Of cltsenshIp. II seems to
me. rests upon the intrinsic worth of each
Individual or group Of individuals. 30 law
can push the individual forward when he
Is worthless no, law can hold him hack
when he Is worthy. The worthy may be
inconvenienced. but never defeated
No praise on the part Of ourselves or
Trends can help us II We are mcrltless.
10 abuse from any quarter can permanent
~ ln1nrc MS II we possess intrinsic worth
IN MI the history Of government do not
believe that in any large degree any race
mas been permitted 10 share in the con
tgoi Ok government while a large number
OF individual members Of that race have
Demonstrated beyond question their ability
TO succeed In controlling successfully their
oTn lnd'v'dnal business affairs
wv own belief ia that the time will come
whom the negro IN this country VIII 50
cNrH AZ Tho announcement which his
moT''f cntltlc him IN ms man md MS
citizen, hut such RECOGNITION win some
through the natural law ~ evolution In
4 word we have got IN nav III, nrlcc pr
eeyCrTthlnG we rot the nrice that overy
clvi,tHeh rnee or nation he's mid Tor its
urally, at the bottom and working nm to.
words the highest civilization. what am
most anxious about is that the rsvro shall
ne lluSelI, NOT second third rnta
lmltntlon Of some one else
There IA no sight more snd IN rhr1steu-
nom tnan "a see Young colored man who
IS minus bank account. minus foot NJ
real estate; minus home FOR himself or
parents minus the saving hahlt. sncndinr
All ne earns, and too often more than no
earns, IN the mere vain nttemnt to deceive
the world by sunerhciaA chow But the
% oT d mas as ? way Of not being deceived
ana IN the long run rates every individual
ana every race at its true worth
tor q number Of wears I have tried 10
n, D tao advantages of Industrial train
Ing ing lo g me negro because Il starts the
race on on. real. sure foundation. and not
upon false and deceptive one
lev, years ago when In England ! Oh
Sg5erd H., IN III! hsrm,ineham, London and else
mat thousands of men and women vrere
neing trained in the trades that cover work
N Garth, In metal. wood. tin. leather. cloth
lonn preparations and whatnot
Nhen ! asked S-hy do Won give +bis
man or this woman training I'm this or that
lnanstry' the answer came that when these
stunehts come 10 us. we ask I'm each case
r wnrI are Ile prevailing occupations Of the
neopIe IN the community whore the student
ives IN a word II Is found out what
L9e student can tind to do in his immc-
99iate community. not what he ought TO
S 4ntI 10 90, not what tho. Instructors might
desire MIN 70 ind 10 do, hut what tho
economic md other conditions prevailing
N MS neighborhood VIII actually permit
0lln 10 90,
with this KNOWLEDGE obtained the stu.
dent was trained, for example, IN work
| IN leather. because Mt his home That was
the prevailing industry that was the oc-
cnpation at which De could md immediate
and profitable employment The same log
teal and common sense principle should be
applied to our own race. For example,
the great bulk OF our people live directly
| or indirectly by work In the soil This
gives a tremendous advantage in the way
! Of q foundation
From the beginning of time. agriculture
/ has constituted the main foundation upon
| which all races have grown useful aud
In The present condition Of our race. It
! Is grave error to take q negro boy from
| a farming community and educate him
about everything in heaven and earth
! thing which has no bearing upon the life
| OF the community to which he should re
| turn, and out OF sympathy with most that
concerns agricultural lfc, The result OF
| this process is that in too many cases the
! hoy thus trained fails to return to his
fathers farm, but takes up his abode IN
! the city, and falls, IN too many cases
into the temptation AZ trying to live by
/ his wits, without honest. productive en-
And my friends, II there is one thint
az the present time that should give VI
more serious concern than another. II II
tine large Idle class Of our people thai
llnger about the sidewalks. barrooms auC
dens OF sin and misery Of our large cities
Every influential man and woman shout
make IL part Of his duty 10 reach th'
individuals NJ this class and either se'
that they ind employment in the clte
| or are scattered to the four Winds Of th'
! earth In agricultural communities whPrI
they can mike an honorable living ant
| where their services are needed.
n II be suggested that the white bo,
| IL not always thus dealt with. my answe
is Ny friends. the white man Is 300
years ahead Of us. and this fact we nigh
! as we'll face now az later. and that at on
| stage Of his development either In Eu
rope or America he has gone through ever,
stage Of development that now adyo
c1te for nv race. No rnce can he llfte'
L mi lis mind Is awakened and strength
enpd, nv the side NJ industrial trainln
should always 60 mental and moral traiu
ing But the mere pushing Of nhstrac
knowledge into the head, IN II IS to en-
Al that. means little. We want more thai
the mere performance Of mental gymnas
tirs our knowledge must he harneSse
10 the things Of renl life.
Again. II Is asked, would you limit q
cirrIluscribe the mental development q
NE negro hoy? Empnatically I answer. M
would encourage the negro 10 secure a.
INC mental strength, All tho mental Gu
,,,re whether CLEANED from science. math
emstics history. language or literature
tbat MID pockethook and circumstances WI
nerrnit him To pay for, but ] repeat wit
ait me emphasis OF my sonl, that the M
gro's education should ne 80 directed an
Centralized for years 10 come that tho great
- nronortlon If the mental strength Z
INA mosseg viii he brought 10 bear upo
| Nc every day. practical affairs Of III
! unon something that Is needed 10 pc don
and something that they are permitted [
+ do I'm the community Where tnef r'siu az
II, nur race needs and must have.