Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-26

RI az i \ \ =!
moral tone of his life lowered Law
lessness in the United States Is not
confined to any one section; lynching
is not confined to any one section, and
there is perhaps no body of American
citizens who have deserved so well of
the entire American people as the pub
lie men, the publicists, the clergymen,
the countless thousands of high-mind-
ed private citizens who have done
such heroic work in the south in arous-
ing public opinion against lawlessness
in all its form and especially against
lynching. very earnestly hope that
their example will count in the north
as we'll as in the south. for there are
just as great evils to be warred against
in one region of the country as in an
other, though they are not in all places
the same evils. And when anybody in
a community stands bravely for what
is right, these men not merely serve a
useful purpose in doing the particular
task to which they set themselves,
but give a lift to the cause of good cit
izenship throughout the union.
Good Work at Tuskegee.
II heartily appreciate what you have
done at Tuskegee; and am sure you
will not grudge my saying that 1t could
not possibly have been done save for
the loyal support you have received
from the white people roundabout;
for during the twenty five years Of eff
fort to educate the black man here
in the midst of a white community of
intelligence and culture, there has
never been an outbreak between the
races, or any difficulty of any kind.
All honor is due to the white men of
Alabama, to the white men Of Tuske-
gee, for what they have done. And
right here, let me say that If in any
community misunderstanding be-
tween the races arises, over any mat
ter, infinitely the best way out is to
have a prompt, frank and full confer
ence and consultation between repre-
sentatives of the wise, decent, cool
headed men among the whites and the
wise, decent, coolheaded colored men.
Such conference will always tend to
bring about better understanding and
will be great help all around.
Blacks Must Help Themselves.
Hitherto have spoken chiefly OF
the obligations existing on the part of
the white man. Now let you rem ember
on the other hand that no help can
permanently avail you save as you
yourselves develop capacity for self
help You young colored men and
women, educated at Tuskegee must by
precept and example lead your fellows
toward sober, Industrious, law abiding
lives. You are in honor bound to join
hands in favor of law and order and
| to war against all crime, and especially
against crime by men of your own
race; for the heaviest wrong done by
the criminal is the wrong to his own
race. You must teach the people OF
your race that they must scrupulously
observe any contract into which they
in good faith enter, no matter whether
is it hard to keep or not. If you save
money, secure homes and lead clean
| decent, modest lives, you will win the
respect of your neighbors OF both
races.
Strive to Excel.
ttLet each man strive to excel his
| fellows only by rendering substantial
service to the community in which he
lives. The colored people have many
difficulties to pass through, but these
difficulties will be surmounted If only
the policy of reason and common
sense is pursued You have made rea
and great progress. According to the
census the colored people of this coun
try own and pay taxes upon something
like $3OO,O00,0O0 worth of property
and have hlotted out over fifty pei
cent of the illiteracy.
The Destiny of the Race.
! .What you have done in the past
| is an indication of what you will be
able to accomplish in the future under
wise leadership Moral and industrial
education is what is most needed IN
order that this progress may continue
The race cannot expect to get every
thing at once 1t must learn to wall
and bide its time; to prove ltsel1
worthy by showing it's posses
sion of perseverance, OF thrift
of self control. The destiny o.
the race is chiefly in it's own hands
and must be worked out patiently ane
persistently along these lines. Remem
Der also that the white man who car
be of most use to the colored man is
that colored mans neighbor. It is the
southern people themselves who mus
and can solve the difficulties that exist
| in the south. Of course what help the
people of the rest of the union car
give them. must and will be gladly anG
cheerfully given.
Hope of Advancement.
"The hope of advancement for the