The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-07
BOOKER wAsHINGToN's SPEECH.
He Recognizes the Fact That Lynch
ing is q National Evil and Is not
Patience and Gives His Race Some
Wholesome Advice.

Louisville, KY, July 2.-Before an
immense audience Booker T Washing
ton. head Of the Tuskegee Institute,
tonight delivered an address. He said
recent regrettable events in connection
with the ace question, went 20 show
that lynch law is now not confined to
any one section of the country. These
events he said, tend to simplify the
race problem, by making it national.
He appealed to the negro to be calm
and to exercise self control.
Among other speakers was W. H.
Lewis, assistant district attorney of
Massachusetts, who was appointed sew
eral months ago by President Rcose-
welt.
Principal Washington said in part:
In the present season of anxiety ard
almost of despair, which possesses al
element of the race, there are Two
things 1 wish to say as strongly as I
may:
First, let no man of The race become
discouraged or hopeless. There are in
this country north and south, men who
mean to see hat justice is meted out
to the race. Such a man is Judge
Jones of Alabama, to whom more
credit should be given for blotting out
the Infamous system of peOnage than
to n other man.
Second. let US keep before US the
fact that, almost without exception,
every race or nation that has ever got
upon it's feet. has done SO through
struggle and trial and persecution.
NO one should seek to close his eyes
to the fact that, almost without eXcep-
ception, our race is passing through q
very serious and trying period of its
development, a perid that calls for he
use of our ripest thought and sobe r
judgment.
Let nothing lead US into extremes of
u~tterances or action. 1t is, in thel long
run, the race or individual that eXer-
cises the most patience, ~forbearance
and self control in the midst Of trying
conditions, that wins its cause. Let
nothing induce US to descend to the
level of the mob. In advocating this
policy 1 am not asking that the negro
act the coward; we are not towards.
The part we have played in defending
the flag of our country is sufficient evil
dence of our courage.
The recent outbreaks Of the mob
emphasizes two lessons, one for our
race and one for other citizens Of our
country. south and north: for it is to be
noted that the work of the lyncher is
not confined to one section of the
country.
The lesson for us is that We should
see to it that. so far as the influence
of parent, school Or pulpit is concerned,
no effort be spared to impress on our
people that idleness and crime should
cease. We should let the world know
on all proper occasions that we consid-
er no legal punishment too severe for
the wretch of n rae who attempts
to outrage a woman.
The lesson for the other portion of
the nation is to learn is that both in
the making and in the execution, the
same law should be made to apply to
the negro as to the white
There should be melted out equal JUS
tice to the black man and the white
man. Whenever the nation forgets or
is tempted to forget it's basic princi-
piles, the whole fabric of government
for both the white and the black man
is threatened with destruction. This is
true. whether it relates to conditions
in Texas, Indiana or Delaware. 1t is
with a nation as with an individual:
what ever we SOW. that shall we also
reap. If we SOW crime we shall reap
lawlessness."