The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-22
Mrs. B. G. Francis StirS
National Council of
Women.
Is CAUSE OF THE NEGRO
Wants All Factories and
Workshops Thrown Open.
LIFT SUBMERGED RACE
seeks AN Open Market for the Col
ored Observation-Disclosures His DcVo-
ton and Loyalty to the Country
Uumorcd Change in officers.

ton and Loyalty to the Country
Rumorcd Change in officers.
The programme of the National Council
o. Women last evening was devoted 20 a
discussion Of The Ethics of Race Re
lationship." The opening address was
made by Mrs. Bette Francis, who pre-
scented an earnest plea for justice to the
colored Americans. She said:
of the many perplexing questions that
claim the attention of the Americans to-
day. with the exception of the Indian, the
so-caned negro problem is the Oldest,
and, in all probability, will be the last
settled.
The Cuban. Porto Rican, Hawaiian.
Philippine. and Chinese questions, all OF
hut 4 few years growth. are, judging
from the forensic eIoquence that is being
brought to bear upon them through every
possible medium. in the halls Of Congress.
in the pulpits. and through the press.
soon to be settled. But the settlement
TLS, the so-caIled negro problem which
re- aNed the maturity age long ago. in
,rte absence OF any great oratorical eff
-=fort. seems 4 long way OF.
Like Banquo's Ghost.
1t is ever with Us. and. like Banquo's
ghost. viii not down. Unpopular though
il be it is impossible to get away from
it. With every intelligent man and wom-
an the question. is not. Shall I concern
myself about it. but in what way shall
that consideration benefit all concerned
AT no time in the history Of our
country has the political. industrial. and
social status Of the colored man claimed
so much attention. Symposiums in the
leading papers by the thinking men and
women of all sections Of our country
upon the subject have been held. Views
widely different on many points We're
expressed The majority. however. stood
for education as the best means of ele-
Walton.
The better element of coloTed people
have held this opinion for years. An
earnest OF their faith in it has
been proven by their hearty cooperation
with the missionaries of the South in
their efforts to establish schools. The
educational work that the missionaries
initiated long ago has not been permit
ted TO diminish, but is being carried on
steadily and heroically by the educated
men and women of the race
No Excuses 10 Make.
Il am making no excuse for the poor.
ignorant class, whom We all know exist in
numbers far too large. The cause OF that
- ig
sufficient 70 know that it exists
What / do make is plea for your
sympathetic cooperation with the better
class OF colored people, men and women
Of education, culture. and refinement. in
their herculean task of uplifting the sub
merged class.
There seems to be a shrinking away
from the colored man as he advances that
is discouraging. Many who were his
friends in the past may have begun to ar
que that it is time that he stood alone.
but they should remember how short the
tine since he was made a man.
Z What is thirty-seven years in the his
tory OF race? Not sufficient time to real
ize its existence. To be detached in
thought, feeling. and action from the age
in which We live, or from the people
among whom We live. is to sever the tie
that binds the individual to society, and
make him an outcast.
My plea is that the colored men and
women of this country be helped to avoid
such a calamity. Under all our longings
and strivings. underlying every definite
ectivity, there runs stream Of medita-
ton on the conditions that surround us.
on the inequalitieg of justice that are
meted to us on every hand. This instinct
i've meditation is largely responsible for
our activity in establishing every possible
means Of helDfulness.
An interesting chapter in the spiritual
history OF the race might be written by
bringing together the report OF the expe-
Iiences of the earnest men and women
who are helping in this great upbuilding
By the formation Of clubs whose influence
for good is patent wherever they exist.
Mother Chief Factor.
We find the mothers of every race to
be the principal factors in the equation
of social order and regime. AS they sub
serve every interest to that of their chill
dren, as they cherish and hold fast to
principles of right living and correct
thinking that their children might inherit
the same. as they urge them on to the
schoolroom with sympathetic interest in
their studies. and guide and assist in
planning their future, so do the mothers
Of the better class of colored people.
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 eff
fort was to secure nest-a home. Side
by side with her husband she does what
ever her hands find to do.
Material needs and wants press her
for every moment OF her time, but the
mother love, which is implanted as deeply
and as strongly in her breast as that of
other races. finds time to administer to
the wants of her children. The children
are now OF an age when their education
concerns her. She is not as competent
through her efforts teacher is secured,
and out of the miserable pittance that she
and her husband earn she manages by
stiating and saving to have her share of
the teachers money ready when due.
Gives Up Last Penny.
ITO meet this one obligation the last