The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-20
ADVICE To NEGROES
GIVEN By BOOKER WASHINGTON
AT NASHVILLE.
MARCH BRAVELY FORWARD.
HE TOLD THEM, IN SPITE OF ALL
OBSTACLES.

To Emphasize Opportunities, Not
Grievances, He ExhOrts Them.
Negro Will Win Confidence and
Esteem as He shows Himself
Valuable to a COmmunity-VOte of
No Man Who Is Large Tax
payer Is Feared, whether White
or BInck-NegrO Not Ungrateful
for BENEFITS Received from
Whites.
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 19.-Some 1900
negroes representing almost every Sec
ton of the country, assembled in the
House of Representatives at the State
Capitol this morning, the occasion be-
ing the opening of the fourth annual
convention of the National Negro
Business Mems League. The sessions
will continue until tomorrow evening.
Booker T. Washington, the Alabama
educator and president of the league,
was the central figure of the conven-
ton, and his address tonight attract
ed a large audience. Prof. Washing
tons speech was the feature of the
night SGSSAOIl dllO Was ICCCANN0 win
evidences of warm approval. He
said:
WashingtOn's Address.
1.-The National Negro Business
League established here constitutes,
1 think 1 am safe in saying, the larg-
est and perhaps the most representa-
tive secular organization among our
people in this country. Its growth
during the five years since its first
organization at Boston has been at a
very rapid rate.
More and more, am glad to see,
the black man is beginning to appre-
ciate and take advantage of the OPP
portunities for commercial and bust
ness development in this country. 1t
is much wiser for US to emphasize
opportunities than appearances. The
world soon gets tired of the man or
the race with a grievance. We must
learn to be bigger than those who
hold up our heads, and march brave
ly forward. in spite of obstacles and
discouragements.
How to Win Esteem.
1--WE shall succeed in winning our way
into the confidence, and esteem of the
American people just in proportion as
we show ourselves valuable to the COM
munity in which we live in all the
common industries, in commerce, in the
welfare of the state, and in the mani
festation of the highest character. The
community does not fear as a rule the
vote of the man, no matter what his
color, who is a large taxpayer. 1t is
not the negro who owns a successful
business, or works at trade, who is
charged with crime. Every house own
Cd 70 n111tiUa al
bank account, every store operated,
every tax receipt, is one influence
which will operate tremendously in our
favor.
1.-THE negro is not ungrateful for all
the benefits he has receiVd at the
hands of the white people of this coun-
try, and should on every proper oc-
casion never fail to express this graft
tude in no uncertain language. But
the mere fact that we are not easily
satisfied, and seek still further OPP
portunities of advancement, is an in
dication of the value of the race. Peo-
pie who are easily satisfied are peo-
pie of few wants"
At the opening this morning the sing
ing of jubilee songs was followed by
prayer and an address of welcome by
Mayor-elect Albert S. Williams and
President Collier, of the Chamber OF
Commerce. After the addresses, the
convention adjourned until tonight.
The league put itself on record to-
night in reference to the recent dis
turbance at the Boston meeting which
was being addressed by Prof. Wash
ington. The evenings programme was
suspended, and by rising vote Book
er t. Washington was reelected pres
ident of the league. The seconding
speeches by ]. c. Napier of Tennes-
see and S. Laing Williams of Illinois
were emphatic in expression and
a aroused emf hI1Sia SIN