The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-26

lating property every year, and who are also educating their children at Booker Washingtons school and in the public schools of the county. These thrifty, eco- nomical industrious colored people pay very little attention to politics; in fact they seldom go to the polls, are highly respected in their sphere, both white and black and enjoy the friendship, eonh- dence and protection of the white peo- pie.
 great many of the colored people you met on my plantation, the day you spent there. have lived as tenants of my land Tor the past twenty years, and have lived comfortably, but have been extra vagant and thriftless, and have never ac- cumulated much property.
 Booker Washington's schools has done a great work for the colored people in that section. in stimulating and encourage ing them to secure homes accumulate property and educate their children.
 Lent Them Financial Aid. l have learned since Mir Thompson's death that his modesty would not permit him to state in a personal letter, and that is, that the larger portion of these "colored citizens" were indebted to him Tor the financial aid and business advice that enabled them to become good citi- gems. entitled to and receiving the re-
 
 lived and wrought
 In this noble work, I conceive he was dlscharging the highest duty of American citizenship and for 1t he is entitled to the most unreserved commendation It Is a splendid object lesson of what may he accomplished by practical common sense methods. One of Mir. Thompson's most striking characteristics was his accurate knowledge Of human nature and the cer- n txs{fh fh xxr1t t,1.
 who were worthy of help and would not abuse his confidence He has the encom- tum of Dean Swift, who declared that
 Whoever could make two ears of corn. or two blades of grass to grow upon a spot or ground where only one grew be- Tore, would deserve better of mankind and do more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together"
 no can render greater service to his country, than he who demonstrates tba possibility of making useful citizens of q race which under proper conditions of educational development should nrova and will prove the south's most va1ua Die agricultural and industrial resource Hlghtly and wisely utilized it will be the most potent factor in the developmant of that agricultural, industrial and material greatness which is the God given birth risht or that land of brave men and fair and virturous women.
 Have Accomplished Much.
 where are the Anglo-Saxons who with .iIe same opportunity, struggling against the same disadvantages, that can show the same achievement and success ina nave attended the efforts of James Whit Io"' Mose Green, Anthony Griffin, Charles DaVls and twenty or thirty other colored citizen aided by such men as MT Thompson. Given enough of such colored men, and enough such men to aid them. ana the race questoin will when time ehoush snail have elapsed for the proper operation Of these legitimate forces. work out its own soluton
 The establishment of home to shelter ms Whe ana children, the education of his eiiiureh, teaching the gospel of honest toil, and the accumulation of property adequate for their comfortable main tenance and support are essential feat ures In all true American citizenship. Ihese possessed and all other essential elements follow, as the night the day.'' To these noble ends Mir Thompson unsel- llshiy bent his best energies with most gratifying success He was not only the friend and supporter of every good work. but he was especially interested in and enlclently supported the magnificent work being done by Booker T. Wash ington in the Tuskegee institute
 He was firm believer in its great utility, beginning as it does at the bottom with practical industrial education lay ing the firm foundation, without which no enduring superstructure can stand. That his work in this direction was thor onughly appreciated by the colored peo- pie no one could fail to see who wit messed the great outpouring of that race as they gathered at the funeral exercises and followed his body to the grave with sincere, pathetic and unobstrusive mani festations of profound sorrow.
 Lose Firm and Faithful Friend.
 True it is that they have lost a firm and faithful friend. his town it's fore most and well-beoved citizen, and his state and his country a broad lberal- minded, catholic and progressive Chris tian statesman. May we not express the belief that his progressive, enlightened and patriotic spirit was in truth and fact in harmony with the prevailing senti- ment of the aw-abiding patriotic, God fearing people of his beloved south land.
 That without antagonizing, or attempt- ing to eradicate ideas that are the re- suit of generations of development, ed ucation and heredity, in opening the door of opportunity to race recently emerged from barbarism. and lSndling the flame of hope in the breast of the lowly, he cor recty voiced the higher and nobler sen- timent that Is perhaps slowly but none the less surely pervading the land of the orange and the palm.
 If we are justified in entertaining this belief the time cannot be far distant when under the blessing of t--- God of nations, our fathers God and our God, we shall witness the full fruition of the scripture. saying For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face"