Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-06-05

NAL College, delivering his annual ad
dress to his graduating class, took oc
casion to turn from the discussion OF
'The Scholar" to indicate the duty
of the negro scholar with reference to
the negro question. Among other
things he said:
But these, you say are general
principles, touching the duties OF
scholars in the abstract. We would
know something of the attitude which
the five, graduating tonight, are ex-
pected to assume toward living prob
lens. In view of the national interest
in the question, in view of the gravity
of the relations between the whites
and blacks in the United States, tell
us, you beg, what contribution these
are expected to make to the answer.
ing of the question: "How can two
races live together wholly united and
yet eternally eparate-entirely sep
arate and yet united?"
with great reluctance we touch
this question here. In many ways it
were better that the so-called negro
problem were never discussed; in as
fanny other ways it is imperative that
such discussion be had. And since
the schools and churches are being
looked to for guidance in this connec.
tion, 1t is eminently fitting and proper
that these have some well-defined pol
icies with reference to the question
and that these policies be given pub.
licity for the benefit of the parties
concerned.
IF | were addressing a graduating
class in which were young negroes
and whites who honestly wanted to
have pointed out to them place from
which they might begin working for
a better adjustment of the race ques.
tion. l should advise that they get in
the habit of dealing with individuals
and not with races as wholes. This
institution expects that when its
graduates go forth they will carry
the olive branch of peace and THAI
they will not deal with our brothers
in white as with race, but will take
them one by one and by the power
of clean and useful lives prove the
integrity Of the colored man and the
purity of the colored woman
would beg the little band which leaves
us tonight not to waste their ammuni.
tiOn, but to concentrate their fire.
1t is not required that they solve the
negro problem-it is too big for them;
but they are asked to make friends
out of every negro and every white
neighbor with whom they come in
contact and show them as only God
fearing and intelligent men and wo-
negro's life; they must constitute
themselves committees of one and
wait on every white man with whom
they come in touch and tell him by
their attitude by their department.
hat we ought to be friends, not en-
amies and that we are willing to go
more than half way if he'll only help
is apply the surgeons knife to this
'estering sore in the side of the body
oolitic-if he'll only help us bring the
white man and the black man up to
hat high ground where neither will
encroach upon the prerogatives of the s
'ther, and where peace must exist. l
'By the last census there are in {
ound numbers seventy-five millions $
II whites and eight millions of ne 6
,roes, exclusive Of the Chinese. Japan =
,se and Indians. If every negro will ,
make friends out Of nine whites, we
hall soon have that whole race on
'ur side. But whether we adopt this
Ian or not. one fact stares us in the
ace and that is that no legislation.
lther of state or federal government.
an make permanent peace between
wo races which seem sworn 70 mis-.
Understand each other | am thank.
III for every kind word that has ever
'een said in congress for the negro:
| am grateful for every kindness and
violence of good will shown the race
i, :
" the state legislatures | am glad to I
now that friends in MANY quarters /
re begging that my race be given the