The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-01

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Then why did he by name except General
Lee? And why did he call Booker great
christian statesman? Prof. Bassett may
think so-(and we pity his judgment if
he does)-that Booker Washington is a
greater man than Braxton Craven, che
big Drained and many sided founder of
Trinity College. If so, he will find no
man in North Carolina who will agree
with him. Will the friends OF Trinity
College applaud the statement that Book
err Washington Is a greater man than
Craven, It's great founder: Duke, it's gen.
erous donor; and Kilgo, its eloquent pres
ident? Suppose, without naming over
thousands of illustrious men in church and
Estate who are as far greater than Booker
Washington as an electric light is more
brilliant than the tallow candle. we ask tn
men most competent to pass judgment 10
say whether the Alabama negro teachu
is greater than Venable, Taylor, Smith,
Kilgo, McIver and other presidents OF
North Cardinals chief educational IN
stitutions. and greater than all the pro-
fornd scholars and teachers the South
has produced for an hundred years Who
would think of placing him in tie same
class with the Souths great preachers
Pierce, Marvin, Hoge, Palmer Broadus,
Atkinson and score more of men who
Ihave made the Southern pulpit honored
for an hundred years? Is there man
Incgrophoba, who would say that Booker
Washington is in any way the equal of tnc
three foremost men under forty-five Mort n
Carolina has produced-Charles B. Ay-
Geek, Charles D. Mover, and Edwin A.
Alderman
The absurdity of the statement, the
fulsome eulogy of smart negro. s
seen whether reference is had to the NTH
of the era that produced Calhoun, Badger
and jefferson Davis; the era that pro-
dCced Stonewall Jackson and Robert r.
Hoke; Or the era that produced the pres
ont able young statesmen and educators
of the South. There is no Period of time.
no group of Southern leaders that Prof.
Bassett can cite to give even a scintilla
Of foundation for the attempt to make a
capable negro educator even approach the
homage which the profession seems to
render Booker. Does he pray with his
face turned toward Tuskcgee?
The Southern people are just and fair.
Booker Washington, born in slavery, has
achieved position as a leader of his
race. that he could not have attained
without ability. He has SHOWN his capac-
ity to organize the greatest negro school
in the world. He has on the platform
shown that he is an effective speaker. Flo
has SO lived as to gain the assistance ut
the best white people of Alabama. whoss
State Treasury has contributed in soma
part toward the building of his success
full school. He visited Raleigh last week
to speak at the Negro Fair. Many white
ministers, teachers and others went out
to hear him. He made q sensible and
practical speech, full of wise counsel, to
his race 1t is calculated to do them
good and nothing but good Such speeches.
delivered by man of his position in race
leadership, will do much toward advanc'
ing the negro along right lines. But no
body who heard that speech regards Book
er Washington as ''the greatest man born
in the South" He is not a great scholar,
a great orator. profound thinker. To
call him 4 Statesman" is to belittie thac
word. He is Il practical and successful
educator. a good speaker. and a negro
of uncommon power. But he is, when
comparisons are made by men who can
take the correct measure of men, COM
pared with other negro leaders. And there
he looms up above all others. TO place
him On the pedestal where P,of. Basseti
would enthrone him is but to make li;a
ridiculous and to do him grevious wrong.
When Booker Washington reached Raj
eigh he found that he was in Southern
communicated in Hamlet, where Senator
Bacon and other white folks were made
to eat in a side room to give Booker ana
his associates the dining room. He was
entertained here by lawyer of his OWE
race who has amassed property and who
holds an office under Roosevelt. He was
introduced by a negro educator who en-
joys the confidence OF both races. HIS
speech was to his own race, and many
of the best white people heard it and APP
proved the practical advice it contained.
They stand ready to assist him and all
other negroes who are trying to make
their race more slxlful, more industrious,
more moral. But the Raleigh white folks
did not, Ia Roosevelt invite him 20
dine with their families, because they De.
lieve in complete and perfect race separa
ton. and oppose inter-marriage between
the races. That will surely follow the
breaking down OF social barriers, and
therefore any Southern white man who
does not frown down upon its first appear