The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-07

be found as grocers or traders in dry goods,
and in four cities colored men own and oper-
ate banks. One of the largest of these banks
is in the city of Birmingham, Ala, and
has been in successful operation for four
teen years; 1t is not only patronized by the
colored people but by the white people
and has the confidence of the business ele-
ment in that city.
while race prejudice shows itself in
certain directions, / repeat that when one
comes TO business pure and simple stripped
OF all ideas of sentiment, the negro is given
almost good opportunity 10 rise as is
given TO the white man.
For number of years I have advocated
the industrial development of the colored
people, not with view of in any way
cramping them or hindering their develop
ment in other directions: on the other hand,
l believe in the most thorough education of
our people. AT the same time / believe that
while the head is being educated. the hand
and heart should also be trained, and es-
pecially do i believe in the training of the
hand to do well the things that are right
about US. In proportion as the negro learns
to do common thing in an uncommon
manner, in proportion as he learns to do
a thing better than somebody else will he
find an opening for his talents. and 1 do
believe that in proportion we get upon
our feet in a material direction that other
opportunities will be afforded us. All races
that have made progress have done so
largely by laying an economic foundation,
and the negro can be no exception to the
rule.
AGRICULTURAL TRAINING.
"At the Tuskegee Institute, in Alabama
from the first we have laid especial en-
phasis upon agricultural training. We have
done this in the first place because IS per
cent. of our people in the Gulf States live
by some form of agriculture, and believe
that in the education of any people especial
stress ought to be laid upon the main in
dustry out of which they get their liv-
ing. We began by teaching agriculture in
1881 with one hoe and a blind mule That
industry has gradually grown until our
students now cultivate quite 1900 acres os
land. We not only emphasize agriculture
for the reason that it teaches the people
how to get their living, but in proportion
as they learn to love agricultural life.
in the same proportion will they be
kept out of the large cities. / be-
lieve. that with their present state of
development our people are at their best
when owning and cultivating the soil in the
country districts, and in too many cases
they are at their worst when in contact
with the severe competition and tempta-
tions of city life. If people can be
taught to remain upon the soil until they
get strength. experience and intelligence, in
this way they will lay a foundation for
their growth. which will result i'm their
getting permanently and safely upon their
feet 1t has got to be through the slow,
safe evolution along these lines that we
must look for permanent success No
race can begin at the top and succeed Our
progress must be up through the soil, up
through commerce and education to the
highest and best things in life.
Wherever our people have been given
proper instruction through teachers that
have been sent out from the larger institu-
tons in the South. evidences of progress
which they have made are in many cases
almost marvellous. AT the present time the
colored people in Virginia pay taxes upon
one twenty-sixth of the real estate: in the
counties east Of the Blue Ridge mountains
they own one-sixteenth of the land; in one
Nsr-e- 49,
can point already to many communities in
the South where the colored people own
their homes, are taxpayers. are educating
their children and are proving themselves
worthy, helpful citizens in their com
munity.
RELATIONS OF RACES.
when it comes TO questions bearing upon
the relation of the races may be in doubt
about some things, but of one thing I feel
perfectly sure. and that is that race hatred
and ignorance and poverty never proved a
solution to any problem on earth. 1 believe
in the blackman taking high position. Any
race that yields to the temptation of hating
another race because of its color weakens
and narrows itself. Whenever 1 can pro-
pose 10 teach my people to take high
ground. to teach them If others would be
little we must be great; if others would be
mean, we must be good: if others would
try 10 push us down, we must show a
broader spirit and help push them up.
II cannot subscribe to the doctrine that
the relations between the races in the South
are growing farther apart. When we con-
slider the tremendous economical and other
changes through which the South has gone
during the last forty years. think we have
every reason to feel grateful that matters
are no worse than they are and that there
are so many evidences of encouragement
We must bear in mind that you often hear
in the North of the worst that takes place
in the South and do not always hear with
equal certainty of the encouraging deeds
that take place.
THE solution of this question is not in the
abuse of the South by the North: not in
the abuse of the North by the South; not
In condemning the negro, nor in the negro
cursing the white man; not in colonial
ton; not in eXpatriation; not in amalgama-
ton, or determination, but ii is in honest,
sympathetic cooperation between the races
and between the North and the South.
'One farm bought, one house built one
home sweetly and intelligently kept, one
man who is the largest taxpayer or has the
largest bank account, one school or church
maintained. one factory running success
fully. one truck garden profitably Guilt
waited, one patient cured by a. negro doctor,
one sermon well preached. one life cleany
lived-these will tell more in our favor
than all the abstract eloquence that can
be summoned TO plead our cause.