The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-12-01
The Negro Educators Downfall.
harlotta Observer.
The Washington Post saws:

The Washington Post SAYS:
The announcements day or two
ago. that Booker Washington. Jr., son
OF the colored educator had filed an an
pllcatiOn for appointment as paymaster
in the army must inevitably have an in
furious effect upon the Tuskegee Institute
and its head Prof Washington is con-
Quoting college in Alabama. and is in
! debted to that State not only for the
dOmicile thereof and for annual aDpro-
priations from the public treasury for it's
! support. but for the popular good will
and approval which make the successful
prosecution of his work possible. If he
forfeits this moral support his activities
| Will come to an end so far as concerns
Alabama. or, for that matter. the whole
/ South. Hence we venture the opinion
above expressed
! The POST goes on to say that it's
information from the War Depart
| ment Is that "BoOker WASHINGTON,
Sr-, has approved and formally en-
dorsed his sons application. and
| that 1T is fair to assume that he is
personally urging it with the Presi-
dent. who is his friend and admirpr."
/ Tie paper quoted therefore comes to
/ tie conclusion that Booker Washiny-
ton teaches one lesson with his lips
and another with his acts. and asks.
How can he. or any one else. eX-
pect that the country will longer put
faith iii his sincerity or look OF him
Tor further uSefulness?" Continuing,
! the Post says:
! As it happens, the army law enacted
| by the last Congress prohibits the ap-
Pontment OF civilians to the staff CORPS
/ The ambitions OF the Booker Washing
tons, therefore. are not likely to find
realization save through some illegal ex-
! erclSe OF pOwer-a communication not
at all probable. But if it be true. as the
semi official indicates, that young Booker
| " ashington has. with the senior Booker
ashington's approval. applied for a
paymaster place in the army. it will
be very difficult to make anyone believe
henceiorth that the Tuskegee Institute is
conducted and inspired as its head so
noisily pretends'
The Post is right in the above. as it
Is on most questions of this kind. but
1t Is perhaps little behind the time
us regards the likelihood of Wash
lngtOn : loss OF influence in the South
at large. The fact is. he is largely
dlSrredlted now by many Southern
people who formerly looked upon
him as the hope of his race. Being
negro, 1t was perhaps only natural
that he should fall victim to the
characteristic vanity of his people
when he was fetpd by the President
and dlned by white people at the
North. His action in this respect.
while disappointing to the white
people OF the South-those who wish
the negro we'll at all timeS-was not
surprising. twill always be so; that
Is the way the negro was created. no
matter If the one in question does
impress q man OF Senator DepeW's
ability rs one OF the greatest men in
the world. The effort to have his son
made paymaster in the army is on
a par with Washington action in
sending his daughter to q white
school and in himself accepting invi-
tations to dine with white people. |
Booker Washington can never regain
the confidence Southern people once
reposed in him, and his influence with |
his own race is largely lost for the |
same reason.