The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-01


washington thanked Colonel Bush for his
eloouent and fiattering remarks and told
a story relative to the widespread agita-
ton over the solution of the race problem.
Tells a Story.
TIe said that Just after the war in Vir-
glnia an old negro sold a pig to a white
nejghbor for 49, AS the pig was being
carried home by the white man 1t escaped
from the sack in which it had beer
confined and returned to the old negro $
cabin. A fews aours later another man
came along ana wanted to buy the pig
and finally persuaded the darkey to sell
1t to him.
On his way home the second man who
had bought the pig met the first pur-
chaser who recognized the animal as the
one lie had bought earlier in the morn
ing After comparing notes the two men
found that the old negro had sold each
of them the same pig. Being unable to
settle the matter they finally decided TO
return and lei the negro decide the ques-
ton.
SAY. old man. didn't you sell me this
pig this morning for $S?' said the first
wnits m IN
Il sho' did. boss. replied the ola
negro.
"And did you sell him again to this
other MANI
II sho' did, boss
"Well, what are you going to do about
il ," demanded both men in chorus
Look a here, white folks you go long
and settle that question tween your
| selves"
Now" continued Principal Washington,
1--WE are like the old darkey we are
going to let you white people settle tho
race problem while we try to work out
our own salvation
Washineton's Speech.
Continuing Washington spoke in part:
There is no soil anywhere in the world
so deai to me as that of Alabama. There
are no people whom l hold in such high
esteem as | do those in Alabama. There
| is no section of the world where from a
personal point OF view l have so many
friends TO whom am indebted for what
| ever success | ha We attained in life as is
! true of Alabama, and l say this regard
/ less of race. One e the most satisfactory
parts of my life is the fact that / count
the white people in my own town and
| county to be my Warmest friends, and
this is equally true of my own race.
We, of both races, are TO live here in
| Alabama side by side for all time, no
matter what theories may be advanced
and emphasized. This. to any sensible
man, it seems to me, is the fact which
| we must lace. since We are 10 IeIlld1li
! together, the question which We should
constantly consider is, how car we do 1t
| in peace, in harmony. and in way that
each race will serve the best interests of
| the other: in a way that each race Will
be made more happy. more prosperous be-
cause of the presence of the otherY Ii
! is the extreme Of folly, and almost a
crime, for any individual, or group of in
dviduals, to pursue course which will
| encourage racial strife when two people
| are to remain together for all time. In
| the case of the negro, as Is well KNOWN
he is not here on account OF his own
choice, but was forced into this country
against his will. Since this is true, con-
| sideration is due him which cannot per-
haps be invoked for any other race. The
| only way for anyone to pass just judg-
| ment upon the negro race, is for him &c
place his hand upon his heart and put
himself into the position of the negro IN
| Alabama and then ask. under such cir
cumstances. how he himself would wish
| to be treat ted. When each man has con-
scientiously answered for himself that
| question. ! believe he will have in a
large degree solved all our problems.
Negroes Advantages.
| want TO emphasize to my own race
the fact that we have many advantages
before us in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS scarce
| ly afforded any other race of people any
where in the world who are in the same
| relative stage of civilization. We must
not yield TO the temptation of overlook
ing our advantages our opportunities, by
emphasizing and cverstating our griev-
ances.
ANY black man who is worth his salt
| can build a decent home; can raise a re-
| spectacle family; can secure all the work
| that he wishes: can educate his children
can have freedom of religious worshipi
can secure and maintain the respect and
confidence of his neighbor of both races
Further, our opportunities in Alabama
are not confined to this in these direc-
| lions. Any black man who has the abil-
ity and the ambition, can go into Dusi-
| ness. can succeed in commercial and
banking directions. as many In this city
| are already succeeding. The negro race
| in Alabama is given free opportunity
| to enter the educational and the profess
| sional field, and can succeed as many are
doing in the city of Birmingham.
But we must not rest satisfied with
| what we have achieved in the past we
| must go forward and in order that oui
| progress may still be more satisfactory
/ want to emphasize tonight rev mat
| ters that directly concern our future II
this community and throughout the state
| In the first place. we must race the Iae'
that considera ole criticism is constantly
] brought against us as a people, because
| n is said that 1.-THE negro is not reliable
as a laborer." The leaders and teachers
| of our people must see TO it that there
is a change in this respect 1t is said
Of us that .if a black laborer is paid of
on q SATURDAY. night. the emnloyer Is mo-