The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-15
NEGRO PROBLEM AGAIN
It Cannot Be Solved Without the
Cooperation and Help of the
Southern White Man.

Southern White Man.
New York. April 15.--Former President
/ Grover Cleveland was the principal speak
err at a meeting held in the concert hall
Of Madison Square Garden in the interests
of the Tuskegee normal and industrial in
sttute. ~
Among those on the platform with Mr..
Cleveland were Mayor Low, who presided;
Booker T. Washington, Edgar G. Murphy,
DR.. Lyman Abbott. President Nicholas
Murray Butler and Dean J. Van Amringe
of Columbia. Mr.. Cleveland said in part:
The Help Of the South.
''I have come here as a sincere friend
Of the negro. Inasmuch, however. as
there may be differences of thought and
sentiment among those who profess to be
friends OF the negro, desire to declare
myself as belonging to the Booker Wash
ington -Tuskegee, section of the orga MIA
tion. l believe that the days Of Uncle
Toms Cabin are past. I believe that
among the. nearly 100000 negroes who
have been interrnixed with our citizenship,
there is still a grievous amount Of ignor-
ance a sad amount of vciousness and a
| tremendous amount of laziness and thrift
leSsneSs
II believe our fellow countrymen in the
south and late slave holding states, sur
rounded by about nine -tenths or nearly
100000, Of this entire negro population,
and who regard their material prosperity,
their peace and even the safety Of their
civilization interviewer with the negro
problem, are entitled to our utmost con-
sideration and sympathetic fellowship. I
am thoroy convinced that the efforts of
Booker Washington and the methods of
Tuskegee institute point the way to a safe
/ and beneficent solution of the vexatious
| negro problem at the south, and I know
| that the good people of the north who
have aided these efforts and methods have
| illustrated the highest and best citizen
| ship and the most Christian and enlight-
ened philanthropy.
! II cannot, however, keep out Of my
| mind the thought that all we of the
| north may do, the realization Of our hopes
! for the nego must, after all. mainly de-
| pend-except SO far as it rests with the
| negroes themselves-upon the sentiment
| and conduct OF the leading and RESPONSE
| BILE white men Of the south, and upon
the maintenance of a kindly, and helpful
| feeling on their part toward those in their
midst who so much need their aid and en-
| coura cement.
| Il need waste no time in detailing the
| evidence that this aid and encouragement
has thus far been generously forthcom-
| ing Schools for the education Of negro
| children and institutions for their indus
| trial training are scattered all over the
| south and are literally assisted by the
southern public and private funds. So
| far as I am informed the sentiment III
favor Of the largest extension and broad
| est influence Of Tuskegee institute and
| kindred agencies is universal, and I be-
| lieve that without exception the negroes
| who fit themselves for useful occupations
| and service find willing and cheerful pat
ronage and employment among their
| white neighbors.
Social Equality.
IT do not know how it may be with other
northern friends Of the negro, but I have
faith in the honor and sincerity Of the
respectable white people of the south in
their relations with the negro and his
improvement and well-being. They do not
believe in the social equality of the race,
and they make no false pretense in regard
| to it. That this does rot grow out of
hatred Of the negroes is very plain. 1t
| seems to me that there is abundant senti
ment and abundant behavior among the
southern whites toward the negroes to
make us doubt the justice of charging
this denial Of social equality to prejudice.
as we usually understand the word. Per-
haps it is born Of something SO much deep
er and more imperious than prejudice as
to amount to a. racial instinct.
"Whatever it is, let US rem ember that
1t has condoned the negro's share in the
humiliation and spoliation of the white
men of the south during the Saturpalia
of reconstruction days, and has allowed
a kindly feeling for the negro to survive
the time when the south was deluged by
perious flood Of indiscriminate, unintel-
ligent and blightihg negro suffrage. What
ever it is, let U.S. try to be tolerant and
considerate Of the feelings and even the
prejudice or racial instinct of our white
fellow countrymen Of the south, who. in
the solution Of the negro problem. must.
md in hn
heat of the day and stagger under the
weight Of the white mans burden.
| ''It is folly for us to ignore the inpor
| tance Of the ungrudging cooperation on
the part Of the white people Of the south
| In this work. Labor as we will, those who
do the lifting of the weight must be those
| who stand next to it. This corporation
cannot be forced: nor can it be gained by
gratuitously running counter to firmly
fixed and tenaciously held southern ideas
| or even prejudtces.
I'm summing up the whole matter. there
! is one thing Of which we can be absolutely
and unreservedly certain. When we aid
Tuskesee institute and agencies like it
striving for the mental and manual edu-
cation Of the negro at the south, we are
! in every point Of view rendering him the
best possible service. Whatever may. be
his ultimate destiny. we are thus help
ing to fit him for filling his place and bear
ing it's responsibilities. We are sowing
well in the soil at the bottom Of life the
seeds Of the black mans development and
usefulness. These seeds will not die but
will sprout and grow; and, II 1t be within
the wise purpose Of God, the hardened sur
face Of no outward sentiment or preju-
dice can prevent the bursting forth Of the
blade and plant Of the negro's appoint
ed opportunity into the bright sunlight OF
cloudless day."
DR.. Lyman Abbott, who followed, said
that the south deserved great credit for
taking up as it had an untried problem,
in helping the negro to help himself.
And the north,'' he said. has given her
scant credit"
:! Booker Washington's Speech. i.
Mr.. Washington said in part:
! General Armstrong was one Of the
great seers and prophets who realized that
| the task of the nation was not fulfilled