The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-12-27
THE AEGRO'S FUTURE.
An Able and Pointed Discourse by
Member of Race.

|
church, who delivered an address be
fore the literary society of the Ep-
worth league of Wesley chapel Fri
day evening, said some very peril
nent things regarding the negro and
his future, which needs only to be
| followed to be blessing to the
whole race. 1t is the true doctrine
of emancipation for the race and
ought to be preached from every pull.
pit and taught in every school until
it becomes the controlling influence
in every negro home in the land. On
this subject he said:
"The future Of the negro race de-
ponds upon certain principles, and
these are the same that have made
the white race the leading people OF
the world. We are citizens and
must prove ourselves worthy of cit
Lizenship. First, there must be love
for independence, righteousness and
| virtue. We need, in this age of the
races crisis, to produce manly men
and virtuous women. Industry and
frugality are the lighthouses to which
we should steer the old ship of life.
Human nature is human nature the
world over, and that which is inJur-
ious to the negro in one part of this
| great American republic is alike in
furious to him in all parts.
"Those principles that elevate and
| ~ fn1 In
ton of the northern whites will
place him just as high in the estima
/ ton of his southern white brother.
If we would have glorious future,
we must see the goal now. There
must be a wedding out and line
drawn. The working bees must sting
the drones out of the hive. We de-
ny that all negroes are alike, and we
must prove to the world that there is
a Inference by bringing to the front,
all over the country, the best of the
race, and letting them be ueld up as
examples of the race.
There must be more respect and
greater love manifested for wives
and children. We appeal to young
men of this age to let your aim be to
become husbands inAthe truest sense
of the word.
young women, we ASH you to be
virtuous and worthy wives and mo-
Their that we who are men may be
| justified in wading in blood for your
protection. | here endorse the white
man for the respect he has for the
virtuous women of his race. In fact,
there is no hope for the future, ex-
cept We have virtuous women and
manly men for the foundation. Mar.
riage is honorable, and, as we are
separate and distinct race, we should
marry among ourselves. AS a race,
we must stop trying to get away
from the race.
Let us step out as men who nave
race pride, build homes, raise fam
lilies, till the soil, sail ships, own
railroad stock, and get into the whirl-
pool of business and be a power in
the world. Let us be proud that we
are negroes, and not ashamed of our
color. Come out from the slotnful,
the careless and the unconcerned.
| Be not content until we find our
places as workmen, and fill those
places, and prove yourselves heroes.
Beauty some spot in the world
with your intellect and stability, and
call it home. This Will lead the race
onward and upward to glorious flu
ture.
"The race must work. AS a race,
we cannot afford to be idle. We
must be employed. There are too
many young men and young women
doing absolutely nothing, and who
are perfectly happy. Such negroes
as these are menace to whatever
section of thei country they are, let
it be north or south, east or west.
We, as race much discussed as to
criminality, cannot afford to comm
crime.
las a race, we are too ready tc.
dagger one another There is not
peace and harmony enough within
our quarters. Industry and confid.
ence must be notices of the race.
81 have said that human nature is
human nature the world over. 1
mean that the industrious, conscien.
tious, upright and respectful negro
is held in as high esteem in the
south as he is in the north. The
north holds out open arms TO the
thrifty and trustworthy negro, but
J there is no place for the good time"
negro. And there is the trouble in
the south; TOO many idle and good
time" boys and girls; too many
would be ladies and gentlemen. We
J want men and women who are EN-
ployed three hundred and sixty-fve
, days through the year"