The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-02


defended him. and as Governor / have fire.
quentiy protected him. I would not have
the white people forget their duty to the
negro. We must seek the truth and pur-
sue it We owe an obligation to the man
in black we brought him here; he served
us well; he is patient and teachable; we
owe him gratitude; above all we owe him
| justice. We cannot forget his fidelity,
and We ough. not to magnify his faults,
neither can we ignore his service. No IN
divldual ever rose on stepping stones OF
dead others to higher things and no
people can. We must rise by. ourselves,
we must execute Judgment IN righteous
ness; we must educate not only ourselves,
| but see to it that the negro has an OPP
portunity for education. As white man,
| am afraid of but one thing for my race,
and that is that we shall become afraid to
give the negro a fair chance. The first
duty Of every man is to develop himself
70 the uttermost and the only limitation
upon the duty is that he shall take pains
10 see that in his own development he does
no injustice to those beneath him. This
is true of races as well as Of individuals.
Considered properly, it is not a limitation
but condition of development; the white
man in the South can never attain to his
fullest growth until he does absolute JUS
tice to the negro race. If he is doing that
now, it is well for him. If he is not doing
it, he must seek to know the ways OF
truth and pursue them. My own opinion
is that so far we have done well, and
that the future holds no menace for us, if
We do our duty which lies next to US,
training developing the coming generation
so that the problems which seem difficult
to US shall be easy to them
End. That we advocate the religion Of
Christ, as the only safe rule eor each man
and woman's habit of life, as the only true
solution for what sens the greatest q
Americas problems.
3rd. That we sincerely appreciate our
States stand for universal education, and
we are confidently expecting that led by
North Carolina's school authorities all the
children in the near future, regardless OF
race will be given a fair chance to walk
out from under the gloom of illiteracy into
the MONDAY glare of an enlightened cit
izenship.
And for the missionaries, teachers and
schools, made possible by charitable and
philanthropic friends, we have nothing
but hearts full of gratitude, and with pc
culiar pride we point to thousands whose
lives have ben made noble by these
means.
4th. That we condemn crime in every
form. We would encourage peace with
our white neighbors ar.l even an extra
effort TO show them thar we wish them
we'll.
We appreciate the friendly feeling that
exists in this State between the races, and
desire this feeling to grow.
At this time and in this presence it is
proper that we give expression to our
hearty endorsement of the position taken
by President Roosevelt in behalf of equal
civil and political rights of every class OF
American citizens. The President but ad-
heres to and upholds the great principles
underlying our free institutions, and out
of which came emancipation and the Thir-
teenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
ments to the Constitution Of our country.
Fifth That we commend to ourselves
the following: (a). To live Cody lives,
both in the homes and elsewhere
OBJ. To see to it that we ourselves and
our children, when not in school, are reg
ularly employed at some honest labor.
(c). To be quiet; not to disturb our
neighbors but attend each to his own bus
ness.
Id To stand unqualifiedly for a righ-
teous life, pure manhood and protect
ed womanhood protesting for and de-
handing clean and equal accommodations
on the railroad cars, and the right to
vote, and to receive the rewards and
emouments therefrom according to our
several abilities.
(e) To economic and save more, TO
buy homes and farms, to combine our
means in order to engage in business en-
terprises for the employment of our young
men and women.
Apperciating more kindly spirit shown
our people by the press of the city and
State by their unreadness to present us
at all times in the worst light, we enjoin
our people to so conduct themselves at
all lines as to merit the respect and con-
fidence of all the people, knowing that
truth and justice will in the end triumph
Respectfully submitted James H.
Young, Chairman; E. A. Johnson, H. b.
Delaney, J. E. King, N. F. Roberts, A.
w. Pegnes, C. N. Hunter, w. E..
Walker.
After this an excellent, beautiful and
original poem was read by Mamie Rob
erts. 1t was heartily enjoyed and round
ly applauded. The reading was most CON-
mendable.
The Proclamation Of Emancipation was
well read by J. P. Williams, of the Bap-
list Sentinel. This was followed by a
chorus, "Send Out the Light" by chap
ter from st. Augustine School
The orator of the day, Rev. H. c..
Mabry, d. D., was next introduced and he
delivered an address full of encourage
ment and hope for the race and COUNSEL
ing peace with all mankind His remarks
were interspersed with many sayings of
peculiar benefit to his race.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year: President, w. M
Graves: Secretary, A. J. Rogers; Treas
urer w. j. Latham.
A vote of thanks was rendered the Of
ficers for the aid given in making the eel
ebration success and to the press of the
city for favors shown.
The chorus ''Ha Helm ia h. wac c,1n0 apd