The colored American., 1903-04-25


my friends, that | had gone no fur
ther. Realizing, therefore, that know
| but little about the great work of edu-
cation, L shall approach my toast with
proper precautionary respect. But TO
be serious. This function means in
f1nitely more than the mere breaking
of bread and drinking of wine. 1t
means that the representative men Of
the race in this community desire 10
honor one who holds the highest place
in their regard. 1t means TO the guest
OF the evening that in his work of edu-
eating our youth ana pleading our
cause before the great tribunal of the
civilized world, the colored men of
New York are with him. We have no
It:es nor dignities TO bestOw, no arch
of triumph, no Order of Bath, Garter,
or Golden Cross, with which to re-
ward those who have rendered us
signal service We have nothing but
our thanks,-'thanks, the excheQuer
OF the pOor'-and a simple God-speed
10 offer.
This is the sentiment that is on
every lip and in every heart tonight
IL Is not my intention, gentlemen, TO
praise Dr. Washington He needs no
praise from me, for the world knows
,Is worth and work by heart. Yet
simple truth. In him there is nothing
TO explain, nothing to conceal, nothing
10 be ashamed of, and nothing TO apollo
slZe for In short, his hands are
clean, and clean hands are essential in
leader, whether he leads a race
movement or cotillion.
Some bright mani don't recall
whether it was Sydney Smith or ST.
neon Ford-in speaking of Lady Mac
b5th, said she might have been a lady,
bit she couldn't prove it by her con-
duct. L am pleased TO say that Dr.
Washington has justified his reputation
by his conduct My friends, il is an
inspiring thing for a race to have such
a leader.
Among his many other titles to pub
tic contidene, the guest OF the evening
has the saving grave of sanity-the
genius OF common sense. In him. COM
mon sense seems to have budded into
life and blossomed into fame. He is
both modest and dignified The
prOudeSt prince of the royal blood has
not more real dignity, the humbIest
laborer in the cotton fields of his be-
loved Southland, has not more true
humility
You do well to pay him the well-earned
compliment of a dinner, for he came
times were restless just before his ad-
vent Old questions were being re-
opened and half forgotten charges
against the race were being warmed
into life. Most of our friends of
other days were dead-the others were
dumb Just at this time, when many
OF us were becoming discouraged
there arose out of the darkness and
fog of disussion of the race question,
clear cut against a southern sky.
strange new figure. who strayed into
the camp Of the people and proclaimed
TO them the doctrine of hope patience
and industry. He told them that il
was easy TO be peSsimiStic when opti-
m1sm meant hard work He advised
them 20 waste no time in striving after
the impossible and to squander no
strength in throwing stones al the
s-ars- He reminded them that hone
and industry would win a thousand
time where tears and despair would
Ta1I- He taught them the lesson that
all things come 10 him who waits. if
ne hustles while he waits. and he has
lived TO see the thinking men of his
race rise up and call him blessed.
Let US tnen not be DISCOURAGED. No
race need be doubtful about a fair fin
ture when IL can produce such a man
as Dr. Booker T. Washington. And
after all, fifty years is but A second