The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-03
Advises the CoIOIed Race to bs
 Calm in a Trying Period STRUGGLES GIVE STRENGTH
Present Ordeal VIII Raise the Black to a Higher Plane and North and South Will See Justice
 Done.

ence which crowded MacauleyS theatre to the doors, Booker T. Washington, head of the Tuskegee normal school, tonight delivered an address in which he said that recent regrettabie events in connec- ton with the race question only went to show that lynch law was not confined to any section of the country These events, he said, tended to simplify the problem by making 1t national. He admitted that the race was now passing a very serious and trying period of development and appealed to the negro to be calm and ex- ercise selfcontrol
 Among the other speakers was W. H. Lewis. assistant district attorney of Mas sachusetts, who was appointed several months ago by President Roosevelt.
 Principal Washington said in part;
 Washington Speaks.
 "In the midst of the present deep in- terest growing out of matters connected with our race, it can be stated that recent events, as regrettable as they are, have tended to simplify the problem in one direction at lesat The events to which l refer show that the questions pertain ing to our race are each day more and
  and sectional ones When we can carry the question up Into the atmosphere where men of all races, north and south, will discuss 1t with calmness, with ab- sence of passion and sectional feeling, I believe we shal have made a distinct ad- vance.
 ''in the present season of anxiety and almost of despair, which possesses an ele. ment of the race, there are two things which I wish to say as strongly as l may
 Il Let no man of the race become dis couraged or hopeless. Though their voices may not be often or loudly lifted, there are in this country, north and south, men who intend to see that justice Is meted out in all the avenues of life. Such man Is Judge Thomas c. Jones of Alabama to whom more credit should be given for plotting out the infamous system of peon- age than to any other. Judge Jones repre- sents the very highest type of southern manhood and there are hosts of others like him.
 ''2 Let us keep before us the fact, that almost without exception, every race qr nation that has ever got upon its feet, has done so through struggle and trial and persecution; and that out of this very resistance of wrong. out of the struggle against odds. they have gained strength, self confidence and experience.
 And not the least of the blessings of such a struggle is that 1t keeps one humble and nearer to the heart of the giver of all gifts.
 Race Passing a Trying Period.
 "No one should seek to close his eyes to the truth that the race Is passing through very serious and trying period of its development; a period that calls for the use of our ripest thought our most sober judgment and frequent calls to Him who has promised strength to the weak
 During the season through which we are now passing 1 am going to ask with all the emphasis that l am able to com- mand that each individual of the race keep calm mind and exercise the great est degree of self control; and that we all keep a brave heart. Let nothing lead HIS to extremes of utterance or action. By this method of procedure we shall be able to justify the faith of our friends and confront our enemies. In the affairs of race, as with great business enter prises 1t is the individual of few words and conservative action who commandsre- spect and confidence. Vastly more cour- age is often shown in ones ability to suffer in silence, or to keep the body under control when sorely tempted, than In act ing through the medium of a mob. In the long run 1t is the race or individual that exercises the most patience forbear- ance and self-control In the midst of try ing conditions that wins its cause and the respect of the world. Let nothing induce us to descend to the level of the mob. but rather follow our course in dignified at- mosphere.
 Do Not Act Coward.
 Tn advocating this policy am not ask ing that the negro act the coward: we are not towards The part which we have played in defending the flag of our coun- try in every war in which we have er- gagged, Is sufficient evidence of our cour- age. The recent outbreaks of the mob emphasize two lessons one for our race and one for the other citizens of our country, south and north. for 1t is to be noted that the work of the lyncher Is not confined to one section of the country.
 .'The lesson for us is that we should see to 1t that so far as the influence of par ent of school, of pulpit, and of the press is concerned, no effort be spared to im- press upon our own people, especially the youth, that idleness and crime should cease, and that no excuse be given the world to label any large proportion of the race as idlers and criminals. We should let the world know on all proper occasions that we consider no legal punishment too severe for the wretch of any race who attempts to outrage woman.
 "The lesson for the other portion of the nation to learn Is that both in the mak- ing and in the execution the same law should be made to apply to the negro as to the white man. There should be meted out equal justice to the black man and the white man. whether 1t relates to the citizenship the protection of property. the right to labor, or the protection of hu- man life. Whenever the nation forgets or is tempted to forget this basic principle, the whole fabric of government for both the white and the black man Is weakened and threatened with destruction. This is true whether 1t relates 70 conditions in Texas Indiana or Delaware.
 Result of Mob Violence.
 'sTo show how far we have already been led astray by those who would disre- gard the majesty of the law and would in- suit governors and judges; by those who would uphold the law in one case and trample it under foot in another, we have but to call attention to the lamentable