The Van Buren press., 1904-04-02
sumed the truth of the axiom that

! Eumpd the truth or tne axiom lndJ
exceptions do not prove the rule.
81 try to keep myself open to
conviction. 1t would be great
! ioy to me if the criticisms of my
utterances which | read and hear
were calculated, by reason Of the
convincing facts and arguments
which they contain, 10 materially
change my views. But so far as
the Boston press is concerned 1t
has seen fit, with one exception,
to contine itself to more or less
harsh denunciatiOn of myself and
the South, andsu denunciations,
unaccompaned by well-supported
reasoning, cannot, | am afraid, &C
complish much in the way OF
modifying what | and many of the
North as well as the South believe
to be well-grounded opinions to
which | have given expression IN
the broad congratulations OF my
lecture.
There are manifestly two views
which may be taken Of the lecture.
This is evident from the widely
d fferent senses in which 1t has
been understood. 1t has been
delivered publicly in Washington
and Boston. The congregation in
both cities was composed for the
most part of the same class of
people, except that at Washington
there were no negroes present.
The Washington auditors listened
to it with every mark OF approval,
and there seemed to be no one
who WAS not more or less fully in
accord with il. Those who heard
the lecture in Boston received 1t
with every mark Of disapprovaI,
aud there seemed to be no one
what was not more or less fully
out of accord with It. In Washing
ton, where the lecture was first
delivered, it was very easy for me
to proceed, because many express
sion Of approval warmed ne up to
my uncOugenial task. In Boston
! it was very hard for me to go on,
because Of the equally numerous
sigus Of disapproval which chilled
me.
"May not this impressive differ
ence in the reception of the lecture
be due to the fact that 1t is fairly
well balanced aud impartial treat.
mcnt Of the great subject with
which il deals,aud to the difference
in the point of view of the two
audiences, rather than to the re.
prehensible character attributed
to my utterances by the good
people Of Boston !
"Many press criticisms Of my
lecture are being sent to me, and
while some Of them naturally seem
to me to he u little unjust and in
consderate, am preserving all
of them, aud AZ soon az can
command the requisite leisure
they will receive most respectful
aud careful consideration. Good
people are also favoring me with
books, pamphlets, letters and
manuscripts. | hope that when |
have finished the study Of all this
Literature | shall find il necessary
to revise, TO some degree NJ least,
those parts of my lecture which,
unfortunately, have given so much
offence. If such should be the
case ! shall be happier man than
am at present, for 1t Ia u real
sorrow to me that, up to this time
| Rm obliged to hold opinions
which are so pessimistic aud so
widely condemned 10y many per.
sous who, 10y their culture, Chris
tian character and noble philan'
thropy challenge my profound
admiration,
$50 far ~ my intentions are
concerned, mean TO be IA good
n friend TO the Southern negro IN
he has, | am expecting toattend a
conference Of educators and phil
nnIhropists, who are especially
| interested IN the Southern negro,
| II is to be held IN Montgomery,
| Ala, In April, In July the South.
eru bishops are 10 have u confer
cucc NJ Scwance, Tenn, NJ which
. the appeal of the Colored Associa'
/ ton of Church Workers for bis
hops Of their own and other mat.
tiers relating to the work of the
Episcopal church among negroes
will he fully considered, ! nm IN
favor of aud expect to vote for the
granting of the appeal providing
/ 1t can he done without involving
u breach of ecclesiastical unity, |
have felt II to be my duty to tell
the truth Ms ! understand It about
the negro, bu, think that before
another year has passed the col
orcd clergy aud people OF the
Episcopal church will recognize
the tlct TINT my pesslmislu does
not mean cnmly,'