Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-15
Great Mass Meeting at New
York, Last Night.
EXPIRES. Cleveland and Booker T.
Washington Principal Speakers.
Earncst Pleas for Betterment of the
Negroes Condition.

Concert hall of Madison Square Gar
den, tonight, in the interests of the
Tuskegee Normal and, Industrial In
stitute. 5a ~
Among those on the platform with
Mr.. Cleveland were Mayor Low, VINO
presided, Booker 7. Washington, Edgar
u. Murphy, DR.. Lyman Abbott, Presi-
dent Nicholas Murray Butler, Dean j.
van Amringe of Columbus, w. H.
baldwin, Chancellor McCracken of
New York University, John Dewitt
Warner and George f. Peabody. Mrs.
Cleveland sat in the gallery with Mr..
and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, who are
Mr., Clevcland's host while he is in the
CITY. a
Mr.. Cleveland, who was greeted with
prolonged applause as he was intro
duced by Mayor Low, said in part:
ladies and gentlemen I have come
mere, tonight. as sincere friend of the
negro. and should be very sorry to sup
pose pose that my good and regular standing in
day either from certificate or confession
OF iaith Inasmuch, however, as there
nitiy be differences of thought and senti-
ment among those who profess to be
friends OF the negro, | desire to declare
myself as belonging to the BookerWash-
ington lTuskegee section of the organiza-
Toms Cabin are past. l believe that
neither the decree that made the slaves
Tree, nor the enactment that suddenly in
vested them with the rights of citizen
snip, any more purged them of their
racial and slavery-bred imperfections and
deliciencies than 1t changed the color of
their skin. believe that among the near
~ Fine millions of negroes who have been
intcrmiXed with our citizenship, there is
still grieyons amount of ignorance, a
SAD amount of viciousness and a tremefl-
dous amount of laziness and thriftless-I
iss:: l am thoroughly convinced that the
efforts of Booker Washington and the
methods of Tuskegee Institute point theT
way to a safe and beneticient solution Off
the vexatious negro problem at the South,
North who have aided these efforts amt
methods, have Illustrated the highest and
best citizenship and the most christina
and enlightened philanthropy. ~
L cannot, however, keep out of my miilsisf
tonight, the thought that. with all we M
the North may do. the realization of our
Eopes for the negro must. after all, naiilas
~ depend-except so far as 1t rests with
the negroes Reconsideration the sentf-g
ment and conduct of the leading andfrcss
sponsible white men of the South, and
upon the maintenance of kindly and
helpful feeling on their part towards those
IN their midst who so much need tneirI ard
y time in detailing the evidence that Bbis
aid and encouragement has thus far l$SEn3
generously Forthcoming. So far as ! am
informed, the sentiment In favor of thU
largest extension and brOadest influence
of Tuskegee Institute and kindred agen-
ctes Is universal and / believe that with
out exception the negroes who fit them
selves for useful occupations and service
find willing and cheerful patronage and
employment among their white neighbOrs.
II do not know how it may be with other
Northern friends of the negro but / have
Faith in the honor and integrity OF the re-
spectacle white people of the South in
their relations with the negro and his i'm
provement and well being. They do not
believe In the social equality of the race,
ND huU lra M al nra n 4
to 1t. That this does not grow out OF
hatred of the negro Is very plain. 1t
seems to me that there Is ! abundant sen en-
Southern Whites toward the negro to
make us doubt the justice of charging this
denial of social equality to prejudice, as
we usually understand the word Per
haps 1t Is born of something so much deep
or and more imperious than prejudice as
to amount to a racial instinct. Whatever
1t is. let us remember that 1t has con-
doncd the negro's share in the humiliation
and spoilation of the white men of the
South during the saturnalia of reconstruc-
tiondays, and has allowed n kindly feel
ing for the negro to survive the 1ln@
when the South was deluged by a perilouS
flood of indiScriminatc, uninteliigent ara
bghting negro suffrage. Whatever it is
let us try to be tolerant and considerate
of the feelings and even the prejudice or
racial instinct of our white fellow country.
men of the South. who in the solution OF
the negro problem must, amid their own
surroundings bear the heat of the day
and stagger under the weight of the white
mans burden.
There are, however other considera-
tons related to this feature of the negro
question. which may be regarded as more
In keeping with the objects and purposes
OF this occasion. AS friends of the negro,
fully believing in the possibility OF ms I'M
provcmCnt and advancement, ana sincere
lS and confidently laboring to that end
it is folly for us to ignore the importan.hGo o
Of the ungrudging cooperation on the
part of the white people of the Soutn IN
this work; Labor as we VIII. those WHO
Ito the lifting of the Wesh h,s must ne
cannot be forced: nor can it be guided bS
sratuitously running counter to hrmis
fixed and tenaciously held Southern ideas.
or even prcjudices. The questions imme-
diately pressing have to do with the prac-
teal education of the negro and especiaia =.
white neighhors in gaining a decent. re
spectacle and remunerative hvchEo1 gu,
Hooker Washington In speaking OF Wy
conditions and needs of his race, has WISE
ly. said: nc, 600 ,oust no.
gin and not at the top; nor should we per
NIT out grievances to overShadoW our up
portunities. =. .. .,os,
''In summing up the whole matter there
is one thing of which we can VIM w i've we
aid Tuskegec Institute ana ageneluS III ~, :
it, striving for the mental ana mar,, 1 80 70
in every point of view offering him the
best possible service. Whatever may nc
his ultimate destiny, we are thus ne,p y !
it's RESPONSIBILITIES. We are soWinS VIZ :.
the soil at the bottom of lite the see ecu
OF the black mans development anu u u,
fitness, These seeds will not dle ~. W. NV
sprout and grow; and. Il 1t be witnin s III.
wise purpose of God, the .harueneu s",
face of no untoward sentiment OF use3'th ~,
dice can prevent the bursting 1ortn u i,,, tna
blade aud plant of the ncgroes ap lp;s, ~,
opportunity. into the bright sunshine vi
AT the conclusion Of his address MT
Cleveland introduced Edgar q IA. i9
who spoke briefly. tSts -. 80
DR.. LYMAN Abbott. who followed
said that the South deserved gfea'
credit for taking up as 1t had on u,'-
tried problem, in helping the negro &c
hedplng the negro to help himseH
And the Nerth" said he. has giVe'
her scant credit The South has givef
the negro schools that the North mas
refused him. and done many otne'
things towards his future that th'
North never thought of"
DR.. Abbott next spoke of the grea
work of Booker 4. Washington ane
..a.s A;,,, IN k1o hioheSt terms. de