The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-19
sn and death.

for existence, a large section of the
negro race is going to be simply slough
ed off in natures curative processes.
And then, again, / see under that otner
law of nature, just as great and Tar
more beautiful, 1.-The struggle for the
Ife of Others" that the negroes wnu
are left will be lifted up and forwarded
by the Christian sympathy and help,
which will come TO them in ever-1n-
creasing force from their own black
brothers and from the God-fearing and
man-loving whites of the North and OF
the South.
What, then. shall be the future Of
the American negro? Ny answer is
hopeful, though it comes from the
South, though it comes from one who
agrees with the social and political po-
sitions which have been taken by the
South. My answer is hopeful, in the
face of the published writings of Hugo
Mustenberg and of James Bryce. My
answer agrees practically with that of
DIR. Washington in his wise and timely
little book, called THE Future of the
American Negro; and with me agree
an increasing number of the leading
white men of both North and South,
We believe so because we look at the
facts on all sides, because We think
that "a mans d man for a that; be-
cause we believe in justice and intel
llgence of the white men of the South;
because we trust in God. Let me quote
from Mr.. Edgar Gardner Murphy's
wise and timely book, The Present
South: The process upward-al-
though the story Of a smaller number
must be borne clearly and steadily
in mind The failure of great masses
of A1en-in the total life of any race
must not obscure the achievements OF
the few. Indeed. to the historians of
the great ventures and experiments of
civilization, the achievements of the
few are of more significance than the
failures Of the many. For achieve
1ient-even though upon a small scale
is Il demonstration of possibilities. 1t
gives Il starting point for constructive
theories and policies; it gives authority
to anticipation"
We admit that the great mass of the
negro race has not improved, has
grown worse rather than better; but we
say, Study the negro in Africa, review
the conditions in this country since
1865, and what else could you expect?'
We admit that the prejudice and an
tipathy of the average. young white and
black man against each other are more
intense and bitter than forty years ago,
but again we say, Learn the real facts
and think over them: and what else
could you eXpectE' Then we ask you
to study more clearly the rising pro
sressive few, who give us promise OF
what the many may come to be and do.
We 90 to Hampton. TuSkegee and
Atlanta university: we see the fine work
going on there, and we are told by
those who know that of the hundreds
who go forth every year from these
centres Of Christian thought and labor,
more than 80 per cent make a success
of their lives in meeting the conditions
of our complex civilization; that many
of them are going back to the country
to teach the Ommon public schools, to
| buy lands for themselves, and to train
the people by precept END example into
a more intelligent and productive til
lage of the soil. We know that here
and there throughout our broad South
land, in both city and country, negro
men and women are leading clean lives.
building homes, making an honest liv'
ing, buying property, teaching and
| preaching high things, practicing sue
cessfully both law and medicine. The
| negroes are looking less to politics and
| more to honest industry for progress
| and happiness; and they are the more
| ready to listen to true sympathetic
| white men, even in political matters
where they can combine to vote for The
best men in local politics. We are al
admitting that much of the negro edu'
cation has been one-sided and impracti
cal, and we are striving to make edu'
cation more truly training for life. Yes
and the Wisest of u statesmen an(
public school superintendent are tell
ing us that the trouble with the negro
has been too little education rather
than too much; and they are persuad
ing our people to give them more ant
truer education. The best negroes ar
holding to their race purity, asking tn
whites for justice and sympathy, an'
urging their fellow negroes to morality
energy and honesty. The best South
ern whites are holding to their rae
purity, and are pleading successfully
with their fellows for justice, sympa
thy for their black fellowmen. The.
are talking with the negroes on matter"
of Importance to both races; and the,
are according to them hearty congratt
lations for their advance and progress
in n department of life. We ar
asking the men of the North to stO]
political pressure. and to give to u
patience and sympathy; and they ar
listening to us more and more. If con
gress will make wise and generous az
preparation for the true education o
the negro, these hopeful tendencies vii
rapidly grow into great, working, pro
gressive facts.
What, then, shall be the position an
condition of the negro in the SOuther1
States?
Judging the future by the pas
thinking what the negroes were a
hundred years ago., and what ONE O
the Tendencies of the present