Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-02-24

that the engagement in mercantile
pursuits brings.
Still. DR.. Washington shoull not
forget the utterances of his great
ana good friend. President Roose-
welt when in a speech TO colorcd
people upon the occasion OF his re-
cent Southern trip. he warned ,he--
that the mercantile avenues were
already over-crowdcd aud he com
mended this same class Of Negroes
TO go TO the farm.
The reason the Negro seeks the
cities or rather those far-seeing
ones who desire 10 immediately bet
ter their financial condition is be-
cause all of the white folks who
want 60 make money go there. Bat
the farm it is. SO let us so. to the
farm One thing is certain. the
man who will make the mouey viii
be the one VINO viii remain in the
city and handle what we produce on
the farm. But then We will get our
share OF the prosperity and enjoy
the love and esteem OF our families.
SO let as go 20 the farm
10 is evident that Mr.. Twister
would have the good DIT. Washing
ton appear inconsistent. but We be-
lieve ne meant TO say that we could
pursue both courses and stiu be on
the high road TO material and per
manent prosperity Mr. Twister
says
"a delegation headed by Dr.
Washington as spokesman. called on
the President last week I'm the in
tcrest OF the natives of the Congo
Free State, asking the President 20
use his influence 20 relieve the con
diriOns which are brutalizing and
slowly killing the inhabitants 10 is
not known that ne spoke with re-
spect 90 the ConEelites OF Alabama
But 10 would seem 70 us far more
I fitting that his own should have
been considered. Have we not bru-
tally az our own uoor2 Is 10 not
the duty OF those who have the ear
OF the mighty TO speak out for the
/ oppressed Are not the conditions
| In the peon districts of Alabama
and Georgia ana many other South
| cru States as damnablo as the con
| ditions I'm Africa? Then why should
any man. when his house is on fire
run TO put out the fire which is de-
| stroying his neighbours house. leav-
/ ing his own 90 be devoured by the
| flames? Frankly. we cannot see
| the virtue OF such an act To me
| IL Is scCthing with hypocrisy and
virulent with danger and oppres-
sion. We believe 60 would have
| been better for Dr. Washington 60
have remained silent on these mat
tiers If be could not defend his own
| Ike man.
The writer might well criticise
Dr. Washington along these lines.
! II tho conditions iu the Congo Free
State are not as this committee por
Jrayed them. The distinguished ed
ucator has certainly condemned
lynching and discountenanced law
lcssness I'm an Of its forms. Still.
according 20 the doctrine OF expei-
/ icncy. which we have before noted.
he could not Doe expected 90 make
himself obnoxious 90 the section in
which no resides by undue haste
and violent denunciation of the con
ditions which unfortunately sur-
round him.
Mr. Twister should not forget
that it is much safer 90 condemn.
brutality. outrage and dondish prac-
Uccs in Africa than 10 is TO do that
same thing no our own doors. We
cannot endorse Mr.. Twister's attack
upon Tuskegee Institute. We are
OF the opinion that it is worth an
that Sc has cost ana we can say the
same OF that great institution at
Normal. Alabama.
The Industrial leaders are build
ing "a foundation for the race 20
stand upon and In this their actions
are highly meritorious.
This should not be done however
nj the expense Of our manhood
rights or at the expense of higher
education. We must train our lead
ers and the training given must be
Il III eN1N NaAN NNAANtANAoAAsAa AlAeA4lulAUun
of the country AFFORD.
We can hardly neglect to say
that the doctrine Of expediency has
blasted the hopes aud shattered the
prospects Of every great nation in
the worlds history. Persia. Greece
Rome. Spain. England and the a
merican republics have suffered in
their turn.
1t is like Jonah's gourd, which
grew in a night and In the morning
was not. II is like the house built
upon the sand so graphically des-
cribed in the Scriptures. The ma
ton at the present time seems anx-
ious 10 fOrsake the paths marked
out by the Fathers. II is playing
with its prosperity as a child would
with a toy and during its holiday,
human rights are forgotten.
Truth is the essence of principle.
Expediency is the creature of err
ror and the hand-mafien OF false