The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-19
The Atlanta Negro Congress.
Of The Messenger:

Editor of The Messenger:
All thoughtful and aspiring negroes
who read your article on THE Negro
Congress at Atlanta, have, without
doubt had their very souls enthused to
the bottom. Articles of that kind pub
lished in our leading papers are of in
estimable service to our southland, and
in impressing The truth. that too many
il%literate negroes have not yet realized,
namely: the white man is
truly the aspiring negro's friend, such
articles tend to make more loyal and
law abiding citizens of my people in
this section. In thanking you for his
very helpful expression. i beg in his
issue to call the Wilmington negroes
attention to this good word published
lin your paper on August 9th:
These men should have the hearty
support and good will Of the white peo
pile of the south. Here is the negro's
home and here II will continue to be
despite emigration schemes and exodus
campaigns among the masses of the
lcolored, people. How m~uch-so-ever we
may have opposed ii, the negro Is now
a citizen and is going to continue a
fellow citizen Of The white people Of the
southern states. We have got to live
together and it is to our interests as
We'll as a moral obligation on US to ele-
vate him morally and place him upon
a plane of intelligence IN thrift above
that which he occupied as a slave"
The negro constituency Of Whining
ton should find high hope in such an
expression, and fired by the aim to be
something, do something inc get some
thing we should prove ourselves
worthy Of being fellow citizens" with
our southern white friends.
AS citizens We, as southern negroes,
should ever keep before us this all Inn
portant lesson. We carry with us a
great responsibility by virtue of the
position to which We have attained,
iand We 1--WE 1t TO the community I'm
(which we live, and of which we are a
part to make of that place the very
best spot on the face Of the globe. The
way by which We can best help TO I'M
Iprove the city II which We live is 10
begin first by improving ourselves in
diyidually, and then begin with holy
enthusiasm work pon the negro who
l~infests the slums and dives of our
lefty. As citizens the Wilmington peo-
lple cannot afford TO be selfish. I have
seen recently a laboring and tax-pay-
ing negro eating from his dinner pail
in one pf our city cars, and loud smell
ing cabbage at that 1 saw Thursday
might a eolored mar embracing wo-
man of h same skin on the front seat
of one of u cars. I often hear bois-
ferrous laughing and talking on cars.
These are high types of selfshness.
tSuch selfishness does not give popu-
slarity and prestige, but rather deprives
tef privileges otherwise granted. The
lmore fortunately trained and environ
led OF the Wilmington negro can not
sanord to separate himself entirely from
the mass of bis less fortunate brother
I'VE should always remember that he
himself can not rise higher than he
Ican lift the masses of a great weight
tiled about his neck. The quickest way
lup, therefore. IS to lessen the weight
land this must be done by contact with
it. Such work as the members OF the
lcolored congregational church Is do
ling in Dross Neck is a practical illus
I~tration OF how TO better our city and
lprove a worthy citizenship.
JOHN ADAMS.
lPaster Christ Congregational Church.