The Washington bee., 1907-06-15

trade is secure because he has no com
mercial business, and the golden stream
which goes to purchase his comforts
and necessities must therefore continue
TO flow in the same channel so that
however badly he may be treated, his
patronage cannot be diverted. He has
no powerful advocates to champion his
cause as in former times, and must de-
pend upon his own prowess to wrest
from an increasingly adverse sentiment
the very least modicum of consideration.
The Grants, Summers and Logans ad-
vocating the fullest equality and liberty
of action for all classes of citizens in
the republic have given place to a long
line of political acrobats who, for party
advantage, or to appease a hostile sentl-
ment, may vault with the most perfect
ease over every bar which marks the
high-wateI of Negro privilege They
have swung the door of opportunity
open. it is true; but at the same time
they have equipped it with all sorts of
duplex and triple-action springs, so that
It is scarcely open before it swings to
with a resounding bang.
The Negro men who by training, abll-
ity and position are abundantly fitted to
perform similar service for the Negro
as is being done by Mr.. Wolf and 9th
ers for the Hebrew, seem to have hitch
ed their destiny to a star that IS self
centered and does not include in its orbit
the aggressive championing Of the fullest
Negro privilege.
Mr.. Booker T. Washington has done
much to prepare the Negro for indus
trial opportunity, and deserves the graf
itude of all Americans, whether black
or white. but it is to be regretted that
an equal or even greater force has not
been active in the safeguarding and the
preservation to Negroes everywhere OF
the legitimate fruits of his enfranchise-
ment
To be sure there are local and ma
tional organizations galore, but their
total measure Of actual accomplishment
may be quite fully realized by the small
est child without the least possible fear
ia brain-storm or a headache. Save
a martial success in one instance, which
may be credited to the Niagara Move
ment efforts along such lines have been
painfully futile.
One case Of discrimination handled
| bv a Negro lawyer from the South
seems to have made commendable pro-
gress. but was finally thrown out by the
! Supreme Court because a requirement OF
| the court involving the payment of five
dollars had not been met by the lawyer
How in the name Of common sense IS
the world to regard such a showing as
this? Is 1t incompetency, Weakness
carelessness or what?
Adequate laws supposed to operate
for the protection Of the whole people
are everywhere null and void at the viii
of prejudice, as regards the Negro, prin-
cipallv because competent legal service
uncompromising devotion to principle
and sufficient support ,(an invincible trim
ity) have never yet in the history OF
the race been brought together IL
proportion adequately strong to chal-
| lenge the respectful consideration Of cit
liens or government
1t IS a sad and pitiful commentary
yet the verdict comes in ringing, crush
ing tones-Guilty as indicted.
1t is true of the ten millions in the
country at large; it is true too, and
much more sad, when affirmed OF that
intelligent and wel-to-do section OF the
race which forms a third of the popula-
ton Of the District of Columbia. Here
it looms a very giant in stature, I'M
pressively grand and attractive IN all oi
It's proportions, yet its muscles are over
flabby through disuse, and its veins seem
filed with a sluggish, milky stream
where should flow and leap the bounding
red blood of health and action.
TOhu II PaynteT.