The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-04-22

siderate OF the feelings and even preju-
diced racial instinct of our white fell
low countrymen Of the south, who In
the solution OF the negro problem
must, amid their own surroundings,
bear the heat Of the day and stagger
under the weight Of the white mans
burden.
There are, however, other consid-
erations relating to this feature Of the
negro question, which may be regarded
as more in keeping with the objects
and purposes of this occasion. AS
friends Of the negro, fully believing i'm
the possibility of his improvement and
advancement, and sincerely and con-
fidently iaboring TO that end, it is folly
for us to ignore the Importance OF the
ungrudging cooperation on the part Of
the white people OF the south i'm this
work. Labor as we will, those who do
the lifting OF the weight must be
those who stand next to it. This CO.
operation cannot be forced: nor can it
be gained by gratuitouSly running
counter to firmly fixed and tenaciouSly
held southern idea or even prejudices.
We are not brought to the point of do
ing or overlooking evil that good may
come when we proceed upon the theory
that before we reach the stage where
we may be directly and practically
confronted with the question of the
negro'S full enjoyment OF civic advan-
tgeS or even of all his political privi-
leges, there are immediately before us
and around us questions demanding
our immediate care and that, i'm deal
inn .fG G.,ltt nly In
| tdently rely upon the encouragement
and assistance OF every thoughtful and
patriotic citizen of the land, wherever
he may live and whatever may be his
ideas or predictions concerning the
more remote phase of the negro prob
lem These questions that are so i'm
mediately pressing have to do with the
practical education Of the negro and
especially with fitting him 70 compete
with his white neighbors in gaining
decent. respectable and relnunerative
| livelihood Booker Washington, in
speaking on the conditions and needs
of his race, has wisely said: 1t is at
the bottom Of life we must begin and
| not at the top; nor should we permit
our grievances to overshadow our op-
portunitieS.'
In summing up the whole matter,
there is one thing of which we can be
| absolutely certain. When we aid Tus-
kegee Institute and agencies like it.
striving for the mental and manual
education of the negro at the south,
we are In every point OF view render
ing him the best possible service.
Whatever may be his dIimrUe de5ciuy
we are thus helping to fit him for fill
ing his place and bearing its RESPONSE
bilities. We are sowing we'll I'm the
soil at the bottom Of life the seeds of
the black mans development and use
fulness. These seeds will not die, but
will Sprout and grow, and if it be
within the wise purpose OF God, the
hardened surface OF no untoward SEN
timent OF pejudice can prevent the
bursting forth OF the blade and plant
OF the negro's appointed opportunity
into the bright sunlight of cloudless
day"
OTHER SPEECHES.
AT the conclusion OF his address Mr..
Cleveland introduced Edgar G.. Muir
ply, who said: Il think that wise
men everywhere are recognizing In the
principal OF Tuskegee one OF the great
est moral assets in the life OF our
country today. The south has not ap-
plaudcd him with undiScriminating
agreement or with monotonouS,
thoughtleSS, profitleSs acclaim. The
south has sometimes blamed him. But
the south is too fair to him and to his
race to allow these occasions OF dis
| tn HiSfnrt hn
Spective in which she has viewed and
appreciated that arduous public ser
vice through which, for 20 years, in
cheerful patience and unaffected
modesty, he has labored for the up
building OF his humble and untutored
fellows. He has greatly done a great
work In response to great need.
| North and south there have been
those who have seen perial I'm the ne
gro's progress. But If the progress OF
the negro bring peril with 1t that
peril is nothing IN comparison with the
perils attendant on the negros
| failure"
DIR, Lyman Abbott, who followed.
said that the south deserved great
credit for taking up as 1t had an un-
/ IiIeu plOOieIH' Ill IlelplnR Jilc negro 10
help himself. And the north" he
said has given her scant credit.
She has given him schools that the
north has refused him and done many
other things towards his future that
| the north never thought Of"
DR.. Abbott next spoke Of the great
work OF Booker II. Washington and
! praised him in the highest terms, de-
claring he had done as much for the
white race as for the cOlored race His
work had really brought about the
union Of north and south in the work
that ne had taken up as his life task
Quoting a remark made by Henry
Ward Beecher, to the effect that we
should make the negro worthy first
and then give him suffrage" DR.. Alb
bOtt said: We made the mistake of
giving him suffrage first and the un-
fortunate negro has had to suffer ever
since. What the negro wants is edu-
cation. 1t all depends upon education
whether the negro will be a Shackle to
our feet or wings to our BODY