Franklin's paper the statesman., 1907-10-11

| which were IN tnelr own arms, InelT
own brains, their own hearts. They
desired TO run before they had learned
/ to walk. The first and hardest lesson
which they had to learn was how to
progress. and having long been kept in
| ignorance through no fault OF their
own. the experience of others who had
travelled the same road was a closed
book to them.
The question then is. as ] view it,
| mas the colored man learned to pro-
gress? Is he taking advantage OF his
| knowledge. and are his methods such
as will secure to his people the re-
suits which they are striving to attain.
/ am firm in the belief that all these
questions must be answered IN the af-
| fifmative. In watching the work which
is being done by our colored popula-
tion today. one is forced to the con-
clusion that those of their people who
are giving TO this question the most
thought and attention have conscious
ly or unconsciously discovered the key
which will open the doo- TO the future
| They are directing their attention to
| the Individual. realizing that in this
way only can permanent, progress be
made. This work is going on through
out the length and breadth of our coun-
try. Probably the most conspicuous
exponent of this principle is DR.. T.
Washington and his great institution
at Tuskegee. through his genius and
devotion to his people, and their well
| foreground when these matter are
| under consideration, but the leayen in
! the loaf is working everywhere and
| what is being done at Tuskegee is be-
| ing done perhaps in less conspicuous
manner In hundreds OF other places
| This society which II is my privilege to
| address today and hundreds of others
| organized on like principles and de-
| voted to like purposes arc occupying a
| large place in this work You meet
| her. fnREfhgr .Nph2rVp Ideas NDti
| Invite the ideas OF others. and as re-
| suit each is brought to a considsra-
| tion OF these questions and to view
| them sanely for his own benefit and
| that OF his people
| At the close OF the war. the colored
man worked only with hands. In half
| a century since that time he has fought
| his way into the professions, he has be-
| come to "A large degree the teacher of
| his own people He has shown his
ability as a servant OF the government
| In positions OF responsibility. In bank
| ing. In trade and in manufacture he is
| forging to the front. He is leaving his
impress on our literature. What then
| do those people want who are seeking
| for some new panacea for this problem
which exists only In the Imagination.
| what do they expect Let them look
| at the history OF their own race in its
| struggle for freedom and for moral
and material uplift and see II during
the days when the results OF servitude
and dependence hung heavily upon
them their people made as much pro-
gress as has yours in the same length
| Of time
Yes. Ladies' and Gentlemen. / believe
that YOU and your people are working
| on the right line. upon the lines along
which alone substantial and lasting re-
suits can be achieved Wha; you have
already accomplished is almost be-
yund belief when viewed in the light OF
| the handicap under which YOU have
| been compelled to work, and II should
| give you every encouragement In push
ing forward to your manifest destiny.
What our colored people need. and
what | believe they know they need.
is to be let alone save insofar us
| others can help them to help them
| selves and / am absolutely satisfied in
my own mind that your people have no
| worse enemy than those who. no mat
| ter how laudable their motive. would
| lead you back over the road they have
been travelling, and seek to teach them
| that the government can do for than
that which the experience OF all time
tells us they can only do for them
| selves.
| The whole theory of colonization is
based upon the supposition that the
| colored race is by nature dependent.
| That they are incapable of caring for
| themselves and their own. That their
happiness and future depends upon the
guardianship and protection which tho
Government shall extend to them. That
they are children who need a parent
who shall guide their footsteps that
| they may be prevented from falling
These were the arguments which were
advanced in attempting to Justify slav-
| cry. These reasons were urged when
It was attempted to withhold the priv
elegcs OF complete citizenship. l trust
| the day may never come when the in
| telligence of the colorcd race will as
sent, either by word or by action. to the