The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-23
The Way ONT.

Vic way OuCs
= Concrete instance OF individual
achievement often throw more light
upon the avenues of human progress
than statistical tables. Whether the
Negroes of America are moving up
ward In civilization or not is some
times discussed with reference to the
blrth-rate, the amount Of property
held by the cOlored pepple IN the ak-
'Sregatey to. the proportion of litter
ates In the population, and the like.
The National Negro Business League
approaches the subject of Negro adj
VaIcement from another point Of
view, - It. undertakes to bring to
gether those cofored men and: Wo-
men who have succeeded materially
IN some occupation, to bring before
the race at large the narrative OF
their successes and stimulate others
by their example. - ~ g: r, j. !$&t*
::&Agitation against wrongs and I'M
Justice and for, the better conditions
IT. leaves to other agencies; 1T directs
its attention exclusively to the record
Of progress that; has been made in
spite Of obstacles and under existing
conditions. It has therefore, within
Itself the power which Is created by
the sense of achievement. It's meet
'ings never take the form Of combat
i've discussion, but rather Of instruc-
Tive suggestion. In the year in
|: which 1T has existed there has not
been even single parliamentary
wrangle. 1t is not to. be inferred,
however, that all the speakers as
sumed that every problem connected
with the material advancement of
the Negro, and with his economic re-
latton to other Americans was SOW
ed. 49,. .....
Happily. the way. out which DR..
Washington indicates is compare
lively unobstructed. Fertile lands
In the South is waiting cultivation
Opposition is not directed against
Negro landowners as it Is against
Negro laborers. the colofed man
who wishes to buy farm can have
his wish grattfied, If he has The mon
Eey to buy it with; and IL he has not
the money, he can borrow 1T. on
terms, which other men enjoy. No
one objects to purchasing the pro-
ducts OF Negro Agricultural labor
Here Is the opportunity which stands,
as it were, imploring Negroes to use
1t. The story OF one Negro farmer
In Arkansas, which was unfortunate
ly cut short by lack of time, is the
sort Of story that could be told Of
any other colored/ man who would
use the same foresight and industry.
The colored farmer had several thou
sand acres. He told with some de-
tail as to figures the exact profits
which he had from his land, and es-
timated out Of his own experience
how man with, industry could, by
borrowing money, own his farm in
five years and be free OF debt. This
gospel Of agricultural success ought
to be preached to Negroes through
out the whole South. Together with
this gospel, however, there needs to
be announced~a1so the warning that
day OF judgment is at hand. ! II
white immigration turns southwark,
the land which is there now SO cheap
will rise In price and ,beconie leBs
easily obtainable. If the Negroes
fail to possess 1t, Italians, ,Hmgari-
ans, and other aliens may occupy 1t.
Those who are concerned for the flu
ture Of the Negro race In this couB-
try ought to urge upon the coIored
people immediate action in getting
possession OF adequate farm land.
The men who compose the Nation
al Negro Business League are I'M
doubleday exceptional, as all really
successful people are. The great
service that the League can render
does not lie in the exaltation Of any
particular class >of Negroes, but
rather in pointing to the great mass
OF Ge8PQea, tier way ntowafd attaining
'CfRe iisara en- @Vindf OF tsuecess shat their