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

at Roberts Park NJ. E. Church last night.
White and black. rich and poor, rubbed
shoulders eager to and hear the famous
colored educator. Not less than 1900 peo-
pie were crowded into the auditorium and
galleries of the church and standing room
was at a premium. The address was given
under the auspices of the Y. M. G. A, being
one of the regular lecture-course numbers.
AT least half of the audience was colored.
Many had hurried from labor TO get
chance to listen to the man that colored
people have come to hail the Moses that
will lead them from the bondage of ignor-
ance. Negroes of all classes were there,
and the delight they felt in the occasion
was reflected on their smiling faces.
Mr.. Washington was escorted TO the hall
by Bishop Abram Grant, of the African
NJ. E. Church, Willis Kersey George Knox
and others. He was introduced by Bishop
Grant, who said: II have the pleasure of
guished men of the times No less a person
than Andrew Carnegie. who recently placed
into his hands the sum of 100000 for the
Tuskegee Institute. declared that Booker
T. Washington must be regarded as one
of the foremost of the age. Others
have not hesitated to say that no one has
done so much for the cause of education in
the past quarter OF a century as this man
whom L am proud to call my friend.
Il have paid several visits to the school
at Tuskegee, Ala, which Mr.. Washington
has done so much for, and know exactly
what has been accomplished there by he
roic effort and what will be done in the
future. In the South they know what is
going on. and Southern people appreciate
Mr.. Washington'S heroic endeavor fully;
in the North not much is known, per-
haps. but people are hearing more about
1T every day. and good men are loosening
their purse strings to aid this wonderful
man to uplift his race.
This promises to be a wonderful CEN
come to the conclusion that Mr.. Wash
ington's labors will be but the foundation
for more splendid work in the next decade.
The nineteenth century saw the negroes
relieved from shackles. 1t gave us Lin
coin, Grant. Mckinley and other great
men who had the real interests of the col
ored race at heart The twentieth century,
1 feel, will give us men of no less states
manship and devotion to the cause Of hu-
manity."
MIR. WASHINGTON A SURPRISE.
While probably every person in the big
audience had read and heard much about
the Alabama educator, few, perhaps. were
prepared to see a thoughtful, polished
orator, man capable of expressing grace
fully, easily and powerfully strong
thoughts. Mr.. Washington spoke without
a trace of that accent popularity supposed
TO belong to the negro everywhere. His
RS were as plainly enunciated as those of
any speaker born north of Mason and
Dixons line. Every word was pronounced
with the utmost distinctness.
With all his seriousness, Booker L. Wash
ington has a keen wit and a happy sense
of humor. Before entering on the address
proper he told a number Of good stories
illustrating various points, which drew
hearty laughter and loud applause.
He alluded to the fact that he had al
ready spoken twice before during the day
and said that il reminded him OF his boy
hood schooldays when he used to pour the
two spoonfuls of molasses he received
every day for being good, out over plate
so as to make IL go farther. THAT is what
they have been doing with me-, he said,
pouring me out to make me go farther"
Passing to discussion of the race prob
lem Mr.. Washington said: There have
been many ways proposed of settling the
race problem that have been i'll considered
and thoughtless. Naturally they failed.
But that does not signify that conditions
will not in the end work out for the good of
both the white and plack peoples. Not
long ago. when GOO colored people took
ship and sailed for Liberia, some people at
once said: There, that is all right. The
race problem is beginning to settle itself.
The negroes are returning to Africa: In
short time ii will all come out right.
These people did not stop to think that
the very morning the 600 sailed for Liberia
there were 600 negro children born before
breakfast in the South. No, 1t cannot be
settled that way. Others have said that
the colored race is intermarrying with
other races and that in time ii will be COM
pletely absorbed. Did you ever stop to
think that If a man has only 1 per cent. of
negro blood in his veins he is universally
pronounced a negro? That the SO per cent.
of Anglo-Saxon blood he may have does
not count at all? Neither will this theory
do. The colored race will continue to null
tiply. 1t will not be absorbed.
RACE WILL NOT DIE OUT.
"Others have expressed the view that
the colored race will die out; that census
figures will come in time to show gradual
decrease in colored population, and that
in time there will be no colored people left
IL 10 hot hot
when we came here several centuries ago
there were only twenty OF and now there
are 5000. 900, and the rate of increase is not
slow. The problem will certainly not be
solved by that method.
my friends. there Is just one way TO
solve the race problem. 1t is for colored
people TO realize their needs and to work
earnestly and conscientiously 10 secure
emancipation from ignorance. 1t is for
white people TO assist in every way possible
the bringing from darkness of another
race. The two races will continue TO live
side by side in America, and in time earn
estly believe the problem will be solved
for the good of both races
Mr. Washington referred humorously to
the coming of the first white men to the
American continent and compared il with
the coming OF the first slaves YOU" he
said. ''if history tell the truth. landed here
against the protest OF the then leading cit
liens of the country. On the other hand,
We were invited to come In fact. We had
our passage paid. L may so further and
say that so anxious were you to have US
here that you sent and got us"
In the remainder of his address Mr..
Washington dealt largely with the progress
OF the movement to free his race from ig
nortnce, and told of the work accomplished
at Tuskegee Institute. He dealt with other
phases of the race question, discussing
them illuminatively and from the viewpoint
of one who has given lifetime TO the study
of the problem. He said:
TuskeEee IuStitute Work.