The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-04-21

| PioJ'eiSo3 no W. uouoiiy uuIdIStdu(
the word. Perhaps it is born out O
something 80 much deeper and more
imperious than prejudice as te
amount to racial instinct. What
ever it is, let us remember that it has
oondoned the negroes share in the
humiliation and spoliation of the
white men of the South during the
saturnalia of reconstruction days,
and has allowed kindly feeling to1
the negro to survive the time when
the South was deluged by periloue
flood of indisoriminate, unintelligent
and blighting negro suffrage. What
ever it is, let us try to be tolerant
and considerate of the feelings and
even prejudiced racial instinct of our
white fellow countrymen of the South,
who, in the solution of the negro
problem, must amid their own sur.
roundings, bear the heat of the day
and stagger under the weight Of the
white mans burden.
There are, however, other conbid-
orations relating to this feature of
the negro question, which may be re.
garded as more in keeping with the
objects and purposes of this occasion.
As friends of the negro, fully believ,
ing in the possibility of his improve
ment and advancement, and sincere.
ly and confidently laboring to that
end, it is folly for us to ignore the
Importance of the ungrudging CO.
operation 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 co oper-
alton cannot be forced; nor can it be
gained by gratuitously running
counter to firmly fixed and full en-.
joynlent Of Civic advantages, or even
prejudices. We are not brought to
the point of doing or overlooking
evil that good may come, when we
proceed upon the theory that before
reaching the stage where we may be
directly and practically confronted
with the question of the negro's full
enjoyment Of civic advantages or
even of all his political privileges,
there are Immediately before us and
around us questions demanding our
immediate care, and that, in dealing
effectively with these, we can con-
fidently rely upon the encourage
ment and assistance of every thought
ful and patriotic citizen of the land,
wherever he may live and whatever
may be his ideas or predictions con-
cerning the more remote phases of
the negro problem. These questions
that are 80 Immediately pressing
have to do with the practical educa-
ton Of the negro, and especially with
fitting him to compete with his white
neighbors in gaining decent, re-
spectacle and remunerative liveli.
hood. Booker Washington, in
speaking on the conditions and needs
of his race, hae %isely said: 'Tt is at
the bottom Of life we must begin,
and not at the top; nor should we
permit our grievances to overshadow
our opportunities"
In summing up the whole matter,
there is one thing Of which we can be
absolutely certain. When we aid Tus.
kegee Institute and agencies like it,
striving for the mental and manual
education of the negro at the South,
we are in every point of view render
ing him the best possible service.
Whatever may be his ultimate des
tiny, we are thus helping to fit him
for filling his place and bearing it's
responsibilities. We are sowing well
in the soil at "the bottom of life" the
seeds of the blackman's development
aud usefulness. These seed will not
die. bpt will sDr0ut and GROW. and If
it be within the wise purpose of God
the hardened surface of no untoward
sentiment of prejudice can prevent
the bursting forth Of the blade and
plant Of the negro's appointed op,
portunity into the bright sunlight of
cloudless day.