The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-17

intelligence for white and black alike.
He IL nave the sarne public adyan-
tages Of education. tn. public schools
are for all the peopirs. whatever their
color or condition The white mel OF
n south should give hearty and re-
spectful consideration to the excep-
tioraa men OF the negro race. TO those
who have he character, the ability
and the desire TO be lawyers. teachers.
preachers, leaders OF thought and con-
duct among their own men and woEnen
We should give them cheer and oppor-
tumty 10 crafty every laudable ambl-
ton among their own people Finally.
b best white men OF the south should
have frequent conferences with the best
coaored men. where. IN frank. earnest.
and sympathetic discussion they might
understand each other better. sznocta
difficulties. and SO guide and encourage
the weaker race"
PRESSING u substantial agreement
with the principles thus laid down By
this North Carolina bishop. this repre-
sentative OF the Christian though. u
the south.
ar1 speaking or. the occasion OF the
celebration of the birthday OF Abraha N
Lincoln, and 10 men who count 1t their
pecu24a< privilege that they have the
right 10 hold Lincoln's memory dear.
and the duty to strive to work along
the lines that he laid down. We can
pay most fitting homage to his memory
by doing the tasks allotted tp Us in III
spirit in which he did the infinitely
greater and o terrible tasks akot-
ted to him.
Let us oe steadfast for the right;
but let us err IN the side of generosity
rather h on the side OF vindictive-
ness toward those who differ from us
as to the method OF attaining the right.
Let US never forget our duty to help
in uplifting the lowly, to shield from
wrong the humble; and let US likewise
act in a spirit of the broadest and
frankest generosity toward all our
brothers, all our fellow-men: in a spirit
proceeding not from weakness but
from strength, a spirit which takes no
more accoun OF locality than il does
of class or of creed; a spirit which is
reSolutely bent IN Seeing that the union
which Washington founded and which
Lincoln saved from destruction shall
grow nobler and greater throughout the
ages.
/ believe in this country with all my
hear t and soul. l bel 1te that our peo-
pie will in ire end r'se level to every
I@S.. VIII III IHe enc lT1uH pm over GS-
cry difficulty thai rises before them /
could not have such confident faith in
h destiny OF this mighty people if
| had 1t merely as regards one portion
OF that people. Throughout our land
things on h whole have grown bett -
and not worse, n this is as true of
one part of the country as it is OF an
other. I believe in the ~southerner as
I belive in the northerner. / claim the
right to feel pride in his great quail
ties INK in his great deeds exactly IS
j. teel pride in the great Qualities a1i
deeds of every other American. For
veal rs for woe we are knit together
and we shall go ~ or down togetnAi,
and l believe that we shall go up and
not down that We Shall go forward in
stead of hating and falling back. be-
cause / have an abiding faith in he
generosity, the courage, the resolution,
and the common n of all my IL
trymen.
The southern states face difficult
problems; and so do the northern
states Some Of the problems are the
same for the entire country. Others
exist In greater intensity in one sec
ton; and yet others Exist in greater
intensity in another section. But in
he end they will all te solved; or ,Gr-
~damentally our people are the same
throughout this land; the same in the
qualities of lee and brain and hand
which have made this republic what
it Is in the great today: which will
Il axe IL , hat It is to be in the infinitely
SI.ater morrow. admire and .essect
and believe in and have faith In the
men and women of the south as I
admire and respect and believe in and
have faith in the men and women of
h north. All Of us, alike, northerne-s.
and southerners, ea~sterners and west
erners. can best prove our fealty to
the nations past BY the way in whicl
!. we do the nations work in the present:
for Gnly thus can we be sure that our
children's children shall inherit Abra-
ham Lincoln's single-hearted devotion
to the great unchanging creed thas
righteousness exaFteth a nation"