The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-03
How the Race May Build
Higher.
LABOR AND STUDY
CoIored Leaders Talk 10 Their People.
The Negro Must Seize the 0pportun-
ity He Possesses, and Make Him
self indispensable to the White
Man. and Valuable to State.

annual lcolored State Fair here yes
terday morning. The Fair is not a
true guage of the agricultural, indus
trial and educational progress of the
negro in this State, as it does not
register the best achievements the
black man has made here, but every
speaker urged the necessity of awak-
ening a livelier interest among the
colored people in this great institu-
ton, and they hope next year to
eclipse all previous efforts to hold
splendid Fair.
Farmer" Abraham r. Middleton,
president of the association, in his
opening speech regretted the absence
of several eminent men who had been
invited to deliver speeches, but was
glad that the Fair could progress
without them, "for the negro he
said, need not hide himself: he is
as ready as any man to prove his
loyalty to his State, and help support
every good cause"
President Middleton made q strong
but plain, practical talk. He said in
part:
1--WE must prepare ourselves for
every field of effort and endeavor, and
become better WOrkmen in every line.
Our farmers must not be less eff
Gent Tor I1elT Calling llldIl Jul SCIlOoi
teachers. The farmer must learn to
run the pillow and plant the seed skill
fully. He must not be a cobbler. as
he has been, and | mean by cobbler,
man who does not know how to
farm, one who gets no more off three
acres of land than he should from
one. But the greatest lesson to be
learned by us is that we must labor
not only for money. but to uplift the
race.
eve must be as honest as polite
and as industrious as our white neigh
bors, and if they are not the best ex-
amples, we should try to be as good
work men as the most skilled among
them. We should always select the
highest and best for our models. and
then we must carry the same morals
as the white man. When we do this,
nobody can turn us down. Some of us
have already reached that stage, and
we should, for the edification and
stimulation of our brothers, bring the
results of our toll here, to be seen by
those who want to see something their
race has accomplished.
There is no reason why this should
not be made a great Fair, the best
colored Fair in the South, for with the
State assisting us in paying our pre-
miums, and the strong press helping
us in a mighty way, if the Fair is d.
rected properly We cannot but sue
ceed."
The address of the day was deliv
cred by Rev. W. H. Avent of New
Bern. a gifted colored Episcopal min
lister. He paid a graceful tribute to
the officers of the association. He was
listened to attentively. and frequently
applauded. He said:
These exhibits indicate something.
All people make their mark in the
world sometime, somewhere, and we
are making ours here. The :, great
forces of the world are moving Won
by the &power .of the hand as well as
brain,;. and unless wei as negroes, lay
put, hsnds r3uponshthe9 forward trp0ysssl
lnent and make our impress there5
we will not, be identified with it,
These exhibits show us that there is
being manifested in our homes, on
our farms and in our schools an in
terest in our development, and a
pride in our progress Although this
fair is small, We should not be dis
couraged. This is small opportun
ity, and does not make a demonstra-
ton, and the hearts of you all would
swell with pride if you could witness
what members of your race have
achieved on farm, in shop and school.
Our stronghold of accomplishments
is in the rural districts, and although
the race in the world is rapid, we
are keeping pace. This Fair should
be encouraging, stimulating and in
spring to the negro.
zone thing which makes me hope
full for the future of our race is the
interest our women are taking in the
industrial and educational welfare
and advancement of their children, |
and the greater protecting interest
the men are taking in our women |
The result is that nobler, higher and
better things are being put into the
minds of our youth. which will give
solidity and strength to the race in
the future. The colored people of the |
entire State should be represented in
this Fair to demonstrate the WORTH !
ness of the negro, and our people will
then visit the Fair in large numbers, |
and when they return home it will |
be to put forth greater efforts to do |
better then ever before. Then the old
tune The niger is no good to civili- |
zation,' will be hushed His own in
dustry makes him a producer, and if |
some of our people are only consum-
ers yet don't kill them. but inject new
life into them, encourage them: if
You see a man with his head bowed |
tell him to lift it up; and he will soon
master his circumstances. and become
a producer a value to the State. The
man who knows how to do things is |
always in demand. 1 tell you to make
yourselves a necessity wherever YOU
are, and you will discover that you
are valuable to civilization and to your
State. Teach your children the deep
principles of honesty, integrity, and
virtue promptness to perform their
duties, and your children will become
worthy and respected citizens, ready
to fulfill their destiny in an enlight-
ened, nobler, higher and holier life"
The .Ihird Governor"
Rev. r. w. Leak was given a popu-
lar call and responded to repeated
cheers when his name was pro-
nounced. He made happy speech,
taking the audience back to the days
before the war; dwelling upon the love