The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-25
COUNCILL'S VIEWS ON RACE QUESTION Advises Negroes to Keep Away
 From Politics. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT In Letter to Professor Parker of the Hard School of Bessemer He Ex-
 presses His Ideas On Mod
 ern Conditions.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

The following letter from Prof. W. H. Councill of the Councill school at Normal, in which he adviees the negroes to stay out of politics and devote their time to industrial development, was recently pub lished in The Age-Herald. It attracted much attention and is republished by re- quest, a few changes having been made in it by President Councill
 Normal, Ala, December 16, 1902. Prof. D. w. Parker. Principal Hard
 School Bessemer, Ala:
 My Dear Sir-I have your valued letter of the 11th inst, asking me to call a conference for the purpose of discussing ways and means for the amerlioration of the condition of the negro for the peacc 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 to give proper advice for the conduct of our people.
 More than quarter of a century ago, I gave advice to the race which was then refused by the masses, but which has since been shown to have been good advice. I then advised the race to pull away ITOIl Us Dbilitdi ntDAeS anu 0OHio eschew politics altogether, or go with "a better element of southern people. Rare ly does a man live to see the triumph of his own principles In reference to the life of a people, and yet l have lived to see every prophecy which l made touching our people come to pass. told them more than twenty-five years ago, that politics was a loosing game, unless the race could divide it's voting strength between the parties in the country. l knew and prophesied that the negro would utterly fail, unless he threw him. self in q large measure to the stronger element of southern people. 1 stuck to this principal with unswerving faith and devotion for more than a quarter of a century. It is needless for me to tell here of the unpopularity and hardship which it brought to me.
 However, I have never regretted my advice and action and I have no regrets now. l did not only advocate but l voted for such men as Judge Thomas G. Jones and Judge T. H. Roulhac in those days when 1t tried a negro's soul to be sus- pected of being for such men. It is an easy matter now when the principles for which those men stood and for which l was persecuted, have triumphed, for men who tried to defeat them then to praise them now. These men do it now only after they see themselves defeated and not because they love the principles of good government.
 Stay Out of Politics.
 do not think my advice would be taken now on these subjects with any more fa- vor than 1t was twenty-five years ago. Men usually serve the present. If would advise at all, I would say to the negro what I 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 ror- nation of any party of negro men will be met by another party of white men Also the going of the negro enmasse into any political party will not only excite prejudice against that party, but show that the negro desires to stand together against white men. However desirable 1t may be for the success of the race along all lines, still such a policy would be suicidal. I would advise that the negro would stick to those principles which will make him industrious, intelligent, law abiding, truthful upright and friendly with all men of whatever political persuasion. And I say that while he may be strong by allying himself in political parties with the best ele- ment of his friends, he will be strongest by leaving off politics alto gether. There is nothing in 1t for him. It matters not what party is in power This present revival of negro political oppor- tunities will be nipped and blghted in- side 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 pol itics. Really all of this present seemingly advantage the negro has in politics will be surely turned against him with dis astrous effects. Now, I am quite sure that these conditions win DC received no more favorably now than they were twenty-five years ago.
 Industrial Education.
 Fifteen years ago I made an address In the Negro State association al Montgom- cry, where I advocated principles of in- dustrial education. All the leading edu- cators In the state were there. and half dozen or more of the negro orators of the state pronounced my address error and stab to the negro race As I now remember. the address was so unpopular only ono person dared to say anything in defense of it, and that person was a white woman Now If we were to call tiisiA oetllle cOlNtllibI lDBeInET, IL would be hard to find any member who would oppose industrial education. The Mont gomery Herald, the only negro paper in the city, the Chattanooga Dispatch and other negro papers denounced my address as unwise and against the race. The ad- dress was published and circulated by the national educational bureau, and today there could not be found q man in the entire negro race who would not indorse word of if mo tl,t for any self-laudation, but simply to show the stubbornness with which our people cling to their old ways. It is more easy to go with the popular tide than 1t Is to undertake to educate the populace. It is better for us all to do our duty in our own day and generation in the fear of God, with a high regard for the uplifting of mankind than to beat around looking for popular admiration and to do and say things to bring forth the applause of the populace.
 Yours very truly
 w. H. COUNCILL.
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