Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-08

AANNiAA-NAtSs M1o utS not READ TINS
truly remarkable speech OF Hon. Hen
~ Watterson? II you have read it
once. so over it again and ponder its
meaning, coming as il does from a
Democratic Southerner, VINO means
all that he says, and who has the
courage OF his convictions to put in
TO practice the beliefs OF a lifetime.
He says:
Unfortunately. there are bad
white men as there are bad black
men, there are foolish black men as
there are foolish white men. and
they constitute the real menace and
danger.
81 am bound TO tell you, after
forty years Of experience and obser-
walton and reflection. that think we
began wrong. We put the cart be-
fore the horse. Four millions OF
poor black people. with some centu-
ries OF abject slavery and many ages
OF barbaric night behind them. were
not equal 90 using The freedom that
came 90 them SO suddenly. and es-
pecially the ballot. with prudence or
intelligence. How could they? I
don't blame them IN the least On
The contrary.-I sometimes wonder at
their self-restr1int AS, during the
Sectional War. they were faithful
servants. remaining at home and tin
Ing the fields and taking care OF the
women and children. so. since the
war. according 10 their lights. they
have tried 90 be good citizens J
glory ia every step of progress they
nave made-and they have made ma
ny strides-from that day 20 this.
Temp ever for the un
der-dog-a crauK about personal IT,
berty If I am a crank about any
thing my heart goes out TO the
black man wherever I see hfm hon
estly struggling TO raise his children
to condition better than his own
Hence. let me repeat that am glad
to Dee here tonight. TO witness what
; see before me aud around me. to
bear this testimony. and 90 ask YOU
'o fall behind not to seek 90 march
before Booker Washington and his
ercat work"
You may say what you viii. colored
folks. but that distinguished gentle
man was inspired. How can YOU ac-
count for such remarkable declara-
tIons? Who knew that ne enter
tanned these views? Did Or. Book
er II. Washington know &C.? II be
lid. ae did the race and the people
OF this country a service I'm getting
him upon Che rostrum at Carnegie /
Hall. Now York. January IL. 1905. /
From posture. with open hands
SLED with charity. he assumes theI
posture of a philosopher looking for
the solution OF mystery. lie de- |
,lares:
The race question SIS a mystery /
For the matter OF that. lie is a 4
mystery. Whence we came. with +
ar Wc are going. we know not. The
ethiopian is thought Go De especially T
Initiative All OF us are more or /
less initiative particularly the ultra ,
smart Set of high society which. I
ere on the soaboard initiates the lit-|
-lo DO knows about the European no. T
liity. and. in the interior whatever /
DO can End out about the Smart Set I
lf tue scaboard. IT, is an unfortu- /
nate characteristic of imitation 20 /
take for is examples rather the bad .
ham thc good OF whatever attracts /
.ts admiration or it's envy. Jess
like white folks is sometimes heard 4
.n colored circles of fashion-that I
Us. among The Colored Smart Set oil
the Coiorcl Four Hundred. Now I
Tor my part. I scarcely think much /
more of the Colorcd -Four Hundred /
than I think of the Caucasian -Four +
Hundred. VINO live for vanity and
pleasure. and who. DO they can't go
to Heaven I'm their Automobiles. /
don't want Co go at aIi
Every shoemaker 90 his last. the
saying hath DC. and that say 7. each
mothers son OF us TO his vocation. /
vs. whatever &c be- Men In their places
are the men who stand. Neither Mr.. /
Seth Low. nor Mr. Rogers. not even
Booker Washington. or Mark Twain
can make a silk purse out OF a sow's
ear. no more can they make a mu- I
stefan, or "a poet. OF a lawyer, or a I
doctor, out OF material that was in /
tended for blacksmithing. Nray-drlv- ]
Ing and blowing. Happily. they
don't try.
All of us are the creatures of ev-,
Diution and education. The White /
races seem 20 have got along faster /
m tho great eternal plan than the /
Black races. Why, ] cannot tell /
you. 10 is a simple fact. obvious 10 /
an of us. that. just as Europe and /
america are further advanced in arts /
md arms than Africa, are the Euro 4
'eans and the Americans ahead of \
he Africans in the developments Of /
modern culture. AS this ought not I
% be the subject of vainglorious ex-
,ltatiOn among the Whites. il should I
lot be considered. or felt. as either a .
humiliation or a reproach by the .
Blacks. In case IL should become so
he future would be dark indeed for
10th races. Each needs 10 grow in
race. but IL is my belief that each
an and will thus grow in grace. in
he South first of all and most of all,
nd within lines plainly fixed by God
md nature. leading TO that ultimate
1eace that passeth understanding,
when the lion and the lamb shall lie
Town together in harmony. And
Booker Washington is blazing the
way"