The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-15
WHITE MEN Of THE.
SOUTH MUST HELP.
The Negro Problem Discussed by
Famous Men With Praises for
Booker T. Washington.


Grover Cleveland was the principal speak
er at a meeting in the concert hall OF
Madison Square garden last night, in the
interests OF the Tuskegee Normal ana
Industrial institute.
Among those -on-thc- platform with
Mr.. Cleveland We're Mayor Low. who
presided Booker T. Washington. Edgar
G. Murphy. DR.. Lyman Abbott, President
Nicholas Murray Butler. Dean j. Van
Amringe OF Columbia. W. II. Baldwin,
Chancellor McCracken OF New York uni
versity. John Dewitt Warner and George
f. Peabody.
Mrs Cleveland sat In the gallery with
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, who ar,
Mr.. Clevelands hosts while ne Is in the
city
Mr.. Cleveland. who was greeted with
prolonged applause as he was intro
duced by Mayor Low, said in part:
MR. CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
Ladies and Gentlemen have come
here tonight az sincere friend OF the
negro. and l should be very sorry To sup
pose that my good and regular standing
In such company needed support at this
late day either from certificate or con-
fession of faith. lnasmuch. however. as
there MAJ be- differences OF thought and
sentiment among those who profess 10 Ne
friends q. the negro. I desire 10 decls Q
myself as belonging 10 the Booker WASH
ington- n-Tuskegeo section Of the organizl-
tion. believe that the days Of UntIe
Toms Cabin are past.
Il believe that neither the decree that
made the slaves free no- the enactmen.
that suddenly invested them with tht
rights OF citizenship any more purgg
them OF their racial and slavery bI "a
ard deficiencies than Il
changed the color of thei- skin. ! be
lieve that among the near.y 1900, 600 ne I
groes who have been intermixed with our
there is still a grievous |
amount OF laziness and thrif.lessness.
Il am thoroughly convinced that the |
efforts OF Booker Washington and the I
methods OF Tuskegee institute point the /
way TO safe and benefcent solution OF
the vexatious negro problem at the south. |
and | know that the good peopls at the !
north. who have aided these efforts and |
methods have illustrated the highest and |
best citizenship and the mos. Christian |
and enlightened philanthropy.
II cannot. however. keep out OF my /
mind tonight the thought that, with all |
we OF the North may do, the realization |
mainly depend-except so far as 1t rests
with the negroes themselves-upon the
sentiment and conduct of the leading and
responsible white men OF the South. and
upon the maintenance of n kindly ana
helpful feeling their part toward
those in their minds. who so much need
their aid and encouragement.
SCHOOLS ARE PLENTY
IL need waste no time in detailing the
evidences that this aid and encouragement
has thus far been generally forthcoming
Schools for the education OF negro chill
dren and institutions for their Industrial
training are scattered all over the South
and are literally assisted by the Southern
public and private funds So far as 1
am informed the sentiment in favor or
the largest extension and broadest infiu-
ence at Tuskegee institute and kindred
agencies Is universal. and / believe that
without exception the negroes who fit
themselves for useful occupations and
service finl willing and cheerful patron
lge and employment among their white
II do not know how IL may be with
other Northern friends OF the negro. bur
have faith in the honor and sincerity
of the respectable white people OF the
South I'm their relations with the negro
md his Improvement and we'll being.
y OF the race and they make no false
)retence In regard to IL. That this does
rot grow out OF hatred OF the negro is
very plain.
1T seems to me that there IL abundant
'entiment and abundant behavior among
he Southern whites toward the negro 10
make US doubt the justice OF charging
his denial OF social equality to prejudice.
~ We usually understand the word, Per-
laps IL is born OF something so much
leeper and more imporious than prejudice
ls to amount to a racial instinct.
Whatever II is, let US remember that
{ has condoned the negro's share in the
humiliation and spoilation OF the white
nen OF the South during the saturnalia
" reconstruction days. and has allowed
kindly feeling for the negro TO survive
he time when the South was deluged by
perilous food OF indiscriminnte. unin-
eligent and blighting negro suffrage. i
Let us try to be tolerant and con-
'iderate Of the feelings and even the
prejudice or racial instinct Of our white
elbow countrymen Of the South. who in