Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-29
NEGRO LEADERS VIEW
GEN. HENDERSON RECALLS THE
READY WIT OF LINCOLN.
Who s.Mother Goose" Was and When
She Lived-Enormous Shipments
of Apples to England.
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.

Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
NEW YORK, May "a. 1896.
Referring to the recent discussion In these
letters of the condition of the negroes in
the south. Mr.. Thomas jesse Jones. cor
responding secretary of the Hampton negro
conference, said the other day:
1.-THE constitutional Acknowledgement
of the negro in the south is highly aues-
tionable procedure. There are some things
to be said in it's favor, but those who be-
leve In the principles Of democracy cannot
hold that the disfranchasement of any
citizen capable of voting is a good thing.
In so far as the negro is capable of exer-
cising this privilege 1t seems to me that he
should obtain it. There is no objection to
dis reimbursement any men who cannot
wisely use that right.
Economic independence Is certainly one
of the primary aims which the negro should
keep in mind at his present state of de-
velopment. Until he is able properly TO
feed and clothe himself he cannot wisely
exercise many higher rights. At the same
time it is necessary to be very sure that no
citizen of a democracy shall be discour-
aged feeling that he is subject to a caste
system The danger of constitutional dis
.franchisement as well as of emphasis
upon the economic side to the total exclu-
sion of the political side, is that the intel
ligent and ambitious negro should feel that
he Is not properly treated
How large are the opportunities for ed
ucated colored men in the south?'
There is room for colored doctors, law
yers, teachers and preachers in the south,
especially those who are well educated. Ac-
cording to the last census there Is a larger
proportion of colored ministers to the col
ored population than there Is of white
preachers, but the number of these preach
ers Is composed SO largely Of the unedu-
Gated and the unfit that there is plenty of
fnr ha -aIl tod nd III.
trained. A similar statement can be made
of other professions. This is not to say
that the opportunities for men in these pro-
LESSONS are to be compared with those in
the industries. Every race must apply 1T
self first to its economic welfare, and the
negro is now in that state of development
which requires great deal of attention to
material things; and so while I say that
the opportunities in the professions are
good yet they do not begin to compare
with the opportunities for mechanics and
domestic servants.
"Colored people employ doctors and law
yerS regardless Of COLOR" continued Mr..
Jones. II do not mean to say that this
is universally true, but as a rule the col
ored people will employ man who shows
the greatest ability and Is willing to serve
them on terms within their means. 1 do
not know as to the difference in the
fees charged by the colored professional
man and the white man, but daresay the
former is smaller on the average"
What proportion of the colored preach
ers are educated menu
THE proportion Is larger than is ordi-
narily supposed and the number Is increas-
Ing rapidly. though by no means as rapid
ly as we should like to see. Colored teach
ers of all classes are much needed Well
trained farmers and mechanics are more
needed than the professional men, but
would not say that the professional men
are not needed. The ratio of hometown
ers is increasing every year and the in
fuence of industrial schools Is quite ap-
parent