The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-08
BOOKER WAsR|NGToN's GOOD ADVICE
He Discusses Race Problem Like
a Sensible Man.
Timely and Truthful Remarks Made by
Negro Who is Working for His Race.

Louisville, July Before an i'm
mense audience Booker Is Washing
ton, head of the Tuskegee institute,
tonight delivered an address. He said
that recent regrettable events in con-
necticn with the race question went
to show that the lynch law is not con-
fined to any one section of the coun-
try. These events, be said. tend to
simplify the race problem by making
it national. He appealed to the ne
gro to be calm and to exercise self con-
troll.
Among the other speakers was W.
81. Lewis, assistant district attorney
of Massachusetts,, who was appointed
several months ago by President
Roosevelt.
Principal Washington said in part !:
In the present season Of anxiety and
almost of despair, which possesses an
element OF the race, there are two
things wish to say as strongly as l
may;
come discouraged or hopeless. There
are in this country, north and south,
men who mean to see that justice is
meted out to the race. Such a man
is Judge Jones of Alabama, to whom
more credit should be given for blot
ting out the infamous system OF peon-
age than to any other man.
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 and trials and persecution.
IS No one should seek to close his
eyes to the fact that the race is pass
ing through a very serious and trying
period of its Development, a period
that calls for the use Of our rlpest
thought and sober Judgment.
Let nothing lead us into extremes
of utterance or action. 1t is, in the
long run, the race or the individual
that exercises the most patience, for.
bearance and self control in the midst
of trying conditions that wins its
cause. Let nothing induce US to de-
seend to the level Of the mob. In ad-
Yocating this policy am not asking
that the negro act the coward: We are
not towards. The part we have play
ed in defending the flag Of our coun-
try is sufficient evidence of our cou-
rage.
The outbreaks Of the mob emphasize
two lessons, one for our race and one
for the 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 influence of parent,
school or pulpit is concerned. no effort
be spared to impress on our own peo-
pie that idleness and crime should
cease. We should let the world know
on all proper occasions that we con-
slider no legal punishment too severe
for the wretch of any race who at
tempts TO outrage woman.
ssThe lesson for the other portion OF
the nation 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 man.
There should be meted out equal
Justice to the black man and the white
nan. Whenever the nation forgets,
or is tempted to forget, its basic prin-
ciple, the whole fabric of government
for both the white man and the black
man is threatened with destruction.
This is true whether it relates to con-
ditions in Texas, in Indiana or Della
ware. It is with nation as with an
individual; whatever we SOW, that
shall we also reap. If we SOW crime
we shall reap lawlessness.