Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1905-11-01
citizenship throughout the ttnion. /
heartily appreciate what you have
done at iEnSlsnnHnn: biii1 / niI s1ii;A viii.

SA'1ECLolllI1 LiiiVt'c, i.''e L11S S'dAo'i''5.s.A
heartily appreciate what you have.
done at TuskGegeH; uiAil aM s,iia yBu=
will not grlldge my saying that it.
could not possibly have been done.
save for the loyal support you have
received from the white people round
about; for during the 25 years Of eff.
fort to educate the black man here in
the midst Ut a white continuity Of in
telligenee and culture; there has never
been an outbreak betWeah the races or
any difficulty IF any Eind. All honor
is due to the white men Of Alabama,
to the white fneli Of Tuskeegee for
what they have done, Aid right here,
let me say that if in any community
a misunderstanding between The races
arises, over any matter, infinitely the
best way out is to have a prompt,
frank and full confere1ts and con-
sultatioii between representatives Of
the wise, decent, cool-headed men
among the whites and the wise, decent,
Nsool-headed ,olored men. Such a con-
ference will always tend to bring
about a better understanding, alld will
be great help all atbulld:
Hitherto 1 have spoken chiefly Of
the obligation existing on The part Of
the white man. Now let YOU remem-
Der on the other hand that no help
can permanently avail YOU Save rs You
yourselves develop capacity for self
help. You young colored men a id
women educated at Tuskeegee must
by precept and example lead your fel-
lows 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, especially
against all crime Of 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
vorr race that they must scrupulously
observe any contract into which they
in rood faith enter, 10 matter wheth-
er it is hard to keep OF not. 1t you
save money, secure homes, become tax
payers and lead clean decent modest
lives, you will wi nthe respect Of your:
ncighbors of both races. Let each man
strive to excel his fellows only by
rendering substantial service to the
community in which he lives. Tie col
ored people have tnaity difficulties to
pass through, but these difficulties will
be surmounted if only the policy Of
reason and common sense is pursued.
You have made real and great pro-
gress. According to the census the
colored people Of this country own
and pay taxes upon something like
three hundred million dollars worth.
of property, and have blotted ont over.
fifty per cent of their illiteracy. When
you have done in the past is an indica-
ton of what you will be able to do
in the future under wise leadership,
Moral and industrial education is
what is most needed, in order that.
this progress many continue. The. The
race cannot expect tot get everything:
at once. It must learn to wait and
bide its time; to prove itself worthy
by showing it's possession Of perse--
verance, of thrift, of self control. The
destiny Of the race is chiefly in its
own hands, and must be worked out
patiently and persistently along these
lines. Remember also that the white
man who can be of most use to the
colored man is that colorcd man
ncighbor. 1t is the Southern people
themselves who must and can solve
the difficulties that exist in the South;
of course what man in the South lies
in his steady hope Of advancement
for the colored commonsense effort
to improve his moral aud material
condition and to work in harmony
with the white man in upbuilding the
commonwealth. The failure of the
South now depends upon the people
of both races living mp to the spirit
and letter Of the laws of their scv-
eral States and working out the dcs-
TIMES Of both races, not as races, but
as law abiding, American citizens