The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-10-27
Mt. Pleasant Department.
PRESIDENT ON
RACE PROBLEM
The Future of the Southland
Depends Upon the People
of Both Races.
Mr.. ROOSEVELT SPEAKS AT
BOOKER WASHINGTON'S SCHOOL

BOOKER WASHlkGT0h'S SCHOOL
Tuskcgee Institute, Ala. Oct. 20
President Roosevelt, i'll his speech to
the 1 800 colored students OF Tuskegee
industrial institute. SAID;
THE future uf the south now de-
pends upon the people of both races
living up to the spirit and the letter
of the laws OF their several states and
working out the destiues of both races,
not as races. but as law abiding Amer
lean citizens
Roosevelt spoke with extreme eau
ton in dealing with the race problem,
but discussed the subject freely. He
said the negro was useful to the south
and should be encouraged to make
himself a good citizen. He said the
solution of the race problem lay with
neighbors of the negro, and he prom
ised the aid of all other sections in the
efforts of the south to solve abe prob
lem.
The president said very pointedly
that the lynching of negroes was not
confined to any part of the country.
The president said in part:
Ignorance "A Costly Crop.
Viewed from any angle, ignorance is
the costlest crop that can be raised III
any part of this onion. Every dollar pul
into the education OF either white man OF
black man, in head, IN hand ana ~
heart, yields rich dividends to the entire
Merely from the economic
standpoint it is OF tn utmost consequence
to all our citizens that institutions, SUN
as this at Tuskegee, should be success.
But there are other and even higher rea-
SOILS that entitle it to our support. In tn
interest Of humanity, OF Justice anu me- pl
lea no matter where he lives, should Try
TO help the negro to help himself. II Is
in the interest and for the protec'lon OF
the white man to see that the negro Is
educated 1t is not only the duty OF the
white man. but 1t is to his interest to
see that the negro Is protected in proper
ty, in life and in all his legal rights
Lynchings.
Every time a law is broken, every In
dividual in the community has the moral
ness in the United States is not confined
to any one section; lynching is not con-
lined to any one section; and there Is per-
haps no body of American citizens VINO
have deserved so weil OF the entire amer
can people as the public men, the pub
licists. the clergymen, the countless thou
sands of high-minued piiTate citizens who
have done such heroic work In the south
in arousng public opinion against the
lawlessness in all its forms, and especial
~ against lynching. very earnestly nope
as we'll as in the south, for there are just
as great evils to be warred against in
one region of our country as in another
though they are not in all places the
same evils. And when anybody in the
stands bravely for what is
right, these men not merely serve a use
full purpose in doing the particular task
to which they set themselves, but give
lift to the cause of good citizenship
the Union.
White Men Made 1t Possible.
l heartily appreciate what you have
done at Tuskegee, and l 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
W bite people round about; for during the
rs years of effort to educate the black
man here in the midst OF white COM
of intelligence and culture, there
has never been an outbreak between the |
races or any diffio ulty of any kind. All
honor is due to the white men of Ala
Dama, to the white men of Tuskegee, for |
what they have done. And right here, let |
me say that if in any community mis-
between the races arises |
over any matter infinitely the best way |
tut of it is to have prompt, frank and |
'ull conference and consultation between
of the wise decent, cool |
headed men among the whites and the |
wise, decent, cool-headcd colOred men.
Such conference will always tend to |
bring about a better understanding and |
Will be a great help all around.
Obligations Due From Black MaA.
Hitherto l have spoken chiefly of the |
existing the part of the |
white man. Now let you remember, on |
he other hand, that no help can perma- |
ievelop capacity for self help. You young |
o oreu men and WON educated at Tus- |
x gee, must by precept and example,
E your fellows towards sober, indus /
I Gus. w-abiding lives. You are in hon |
II bound to join hands in favor of law
lrd order and to war against all crime, /
md especially against all crime by men |
II your own race; for the heaviest wrong |
lone h thu criminal is the wrong t. his |
" n race. You must tcaciI the people or |
7Cur race that they must scrupulousy |
observe any contract into which they in |
rood faith enter, no matter whether it is
lard to keep or not. If you save money, |
& cure homes and lead clean, decent, |
modest lives; you will win the respect of |
,our neishbors of both races. Let each |
nan strive to excel his fellows only by |
substantial service to the com
n nifty in which he lives. The colored |
PEOPLE have many difficulties to pass
through, but these difficulties will be sur
mounted if only the policy of reason and
ommOn sense is pursued You have made |
cal and great progress.
What is Most Needed.
According to the census the colored peo-
lie of this country own and pay taxes
ron something Like three hundred million |
@ lars worth of prop rty. and have blot |
cd out over 80 per cent of the illteracy |
What YOU have done in the past is an in |
.CatCn of what you will be able to ac- |
Omplish in the future under wise leader
hip. Moral and industrial education is |
what is most needed in order that this |
'rogress may continue. The race cannot |
Xpect to get everything at once 1t must
earn to wait and bide its time: to prove |
tself worthy by showing its possession |
f perseverance. of thrift, of self-controi |
'hc destiny of the race is chiefly in its |
vn hands and must be worked ont ma |
ientlv and persistenty along these lines
&c member also that the white man who |
an be of most use to the colored man is
hat colored mans neighbor II is the
outhern people themselves who must and
an solve the difficulties that exist in the
outh. OF course. what help the peonle of
he rest Of the Union can give them must
nd will be gladly and cheerfullv given
he hope OF advancement for the colored
MN in the south lies in his steady com
non effort to imnrova HE