The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-03
THE PROBL EM
 IS NNlONAL
 -S- Washingte Talks of
 lslchings. RACES SERIOUS PERIOD The Negro Leader Urges Patti ence and F0rbearance. Pays High Tribute to Judge Jones of Alabama and Says There are
 Hosts in South Like

Louisville, Ky. July 2.--Before an au- dience which crowded Macauley's Theatre to the doors Booker T. Washington. head of the Tuskegee Normal School, tonight delivered an address In which he said that recent regrettable events in connec- tion 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 ad- mitted that the race was now passing a very serious and trying period of de- velopment and appealed to the negro to be calm and exercise self-control. Among the other speakers was W. H. Lewis, Assistant District Attorney of Massachusetts, who was appointed sev- eral 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, 1t can be stated that re- cent events, as regrettable as they are. have tended to simplify the problem in one direction at least The events to which 1 refer show that the questions | pertaining to our race are each day be- coming more and more national rather | than local and sectional ones. When we can carry the question up into the att mosphere where men of all races, North and South, will discuss 1t with calmneas, | with absence of passion and sectional l feeling, believe we shall have made distinct advance.
 Tn the present season of anxiety, and almost of despair, which possesses an | element of the race, there are two things which I wish to say as strongly as may. | First, let no man of the race become discouraged or Hopeless. Though their voice may not be often or loudly lifted, there are In this country. North and South, who intend to see the negro pro-
 tected. Such man ls Judge Thomas c. l Jones of Alabama, to whom more credit l should be given for plotting out the in ] famous system of peonage than to any other. Judge Jones represents the very highest type of Southern manhood, and | there are hosts of others like him. | Each Race Has Struggle. Second, let us keep before us the fact that, almost without exception. every race or nation that has ever got upon its feet, has done so through struggle | with trial and persecution, and that out of this very resistance to wrong, out of the struggle against odds. they have gain ed strength. self-confdence and experi- ence.
 And not the least of the blessings of
 such struggle is that 1t keeps one hum | ble and nearer to the heart of the Giver of all gifts.
 No one should seek to close his eyes | to the truth. that the race is passing | through a very serious and trying pe- | riod of it's development, a period that calls for the use of our ripest thought, l our most sober judgment and frequent
 calls to Him who has promised strength | to the weak.
 l During the season through which we | are now passing I am going to ask with | all emphasis that am able to com
 mand that each individual of the race
 keep a calm mind. and exercise the
 greatest degree of self control: and that l We all keep a brave heart. Let nothing 1 lead us to extremes of uterance or ac-
 ton. By this method of procedure we
 shall be able to justify the faith of our
 friends and confound our enemies. l "In the affairs of a race, as with great
 business enterprises, it is the individual
 of few words and conservative action | who commands respect and confidence l Vastly more courage Is often shown in l ones ability ot suffer in silence, or to keep the body under when sorely tempted.
 than in acting through the medium of a mob.
 Patience and Self Control.
 "In the long run 1t Is the race or indi- | vidual that exercises the most patience, | forbearance and self-control in the midst
 of trying conditions that wins its cause | and the respect of the world. Let noth-
 ing induce us to descend to the level of | the mob. but rather direct our course in | dignihed atmosphere.
 Tn advocating this policy, I am not asking that the negro act the coward: | we are not towards. The part which we | have played in defending the flag of our
 country in every war in which we have
 been engaged is sufficient evidence of our l naIfhTPlka
 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 l noted that the work of the lyncher Is
 not confined to one section of the coun-
 try.
 The lesson for us is that we should
 see to 1t that so far as the influence of | parent, of school, of pulpit and of the
 press Is concerned. no effort be spared to | impress 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 pun
 ishment too severe for the wretch of any
 race who attempts to outrage a woman.
 ''The lesson for the other portion of the
 nation to learn is that both in the nnak- ing and in the execution the same law 1 should be made to apply to the negro as l to the white man. There should be meted | out equal justice to the black man and
 the white man. whether it relates to cit-
 izenship. the protection of property. the right to labor or the protection of human life.
 Entire Fabric Threatened.
 "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 to conditions in l Texas. Indiana or Delaware
 | '"To show how far we have already been | led astray by those who would disregard
 the majesty of the law and would insult
 governors and judges. by those who would | uphold the law in one case and trample
 1t under foot in another. We have but to
 call attention to the lamentable fact that
 the most careful and systematic investi-
 gation into the subject. of scnching hat l has ever been made in this cyua6rY sn6ws