The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-01-23
Z GARRISON ! + II
I Calls VIM. Monroe
1 Trotter's $ Hand
Says Boston Editor Nkisrepresents
Him and Is Hurting the Race by,
- His Personal Attacks Upon -.
~ !, 4 s@ Mr.. Washington.

+ ffo1oret men possessing O weekly organ
tconspicuous for Its hostility to Booker
1T. Washington. Viewing him as a self
tseeker influenced by unworthy mo-
i tives, they lose no opportunity to CRIT
I ticise his acts and ,asperse his charac.
ter. Agreeing with them, concerning
I the value of agitation to rectiHy
j WRONGS and uncompromisingly de
manding for the Negro equal civil and
i political rights, l., nevertheless, pro-
7 test against the unfair spirit of. their
i tattacks upon Nh. Washington. To my
mind It betrays a personal animosity
and a. distorted vision. r..". ~ .
This condition of things, beginning
1:%ith a lawless attempt to interfere
\ with free speech In "a public meeting,
j which eliminated In the arrest Of the
/ ring leader has reached the proper;
! tion Of 8 scandal. grieving many stead
I fast friends Of the race Affecting to
Esee in MIR. Washington s recent address
lat the Whittier celebration in Ames,
ibury indications Of veerlng In the d.
1rection favored by the paper in ques-
Etion, the editor thus insultinglN de-
] clares: - -.'r. ....~.~
Er2,"Tn all OF his speeches we have no.
lticed the results of the fiogging which
It has been our painful duty to infict
] many time and Oft -. d. I, -
Es]5In the number of the paper contain"
| ing these words, | was made inferen-
Italy to appear in harmony with such
Fan attitude, detached quotations from
Mr., Washington and myself, being
| printed in contrast, and with the prom
| inent head lines: William Lloyd
Garrison vs.. Booker T.. Washington" :"
/ IDisclaiming the antagonism and ex
! pressing nay plain opinion of the pro
Eeesding, I wrote q dissenting letter to
/ the ed itoEgy4 AS it's publication was re
4 i fagsdsI am con ned 10 give II pub
tlicfty through: other Fchatinel 3; sIsxs
| ceptlng the Introductory paragraph
the, following is substantially theirs,
| jected communications: "y:>%
THE assumption that such critics
are actuated>> by a superior fidelity to
principle is .unwarranted. Had MIs:
liWashlngton ever betrayed "purpose
to sacrifice principles for the prosper
! ity Of his institution, these frequent RtS
tacks upon him by members Of his race
would be intellisible. But upon the
two distinct points of censure those
limiting the, Negro TO Industrial pur-
suits and an Indifference to the suf-
frage-he speaks with no uncertain
sound He, sets no metes or bounds to
the Negroes. aspiration for learning,
nor does, he acquiesce In the annul-
ment OF the fifteenth amendment
! While naturally giving emphasis to
the particular field which Tuskegee
covers, he Is careful to demand for the
race every right conceded to white fell
! low-citizens.
There is cruelty in these asDer-
sions. Mr.. Washington is working In
1.-The most. infiammable portion Of the
| south. He not only carries the bur
den of great university, but upon his
lshoulders has fallen the mission to dis
arm sectional hostility. to- draw sup
port from southern whites with inner.
tied prejudices that must be allayed,
ever,to keep a. hopeful front UNDER cir
| cumstances which must at times chill
his heart, to discern events in their
proper proportion, never to allow dis
couragement to blind him to the real
signs Sf promise, and to preserve q
| serenity and poise that are a marvel
| to his friends and confusion to his
enemies. What unusual qualities meet
and blend in one capable of such
| achievement. =,
! "How easy for colored men with
academic advantages, secure In the
stronghold of anti-slavery sentiment,
to affect disdain and indulge In bitter
fspeech, 1t costs nothing land w 40
evidence Of courage. Where an occasJ
;, ional Office is to=sed to q eolored man
by way Of reward for political service,
how quickly, as is the case with the
white office-hold9r. do cimCum stances
and subserVience overtake hing, Hg
may lie eloquent In denouncing The
renCition Of fugitive slaves when the
law demanded it, and yet evince no
scruple in helping to deport poor
Cinnamon for the crime Of seeking
| larger opportunity and freedom In BoJ
ton. And q 3alaried- position under
| the city government inSures his sup
port Of corrupt administration. Yet
Booker Washington Is held to an tdeal
rtandard which not one Of his critics
. would dream of realizing IN the came
situation.
, "'To twist my statement Of express
s ed conviction into an intended re
) uroach on this leader Of his race is
to convey q false impression. | ap
. preciate the difficulties which encom
pass him. wonder at his patience
wisdom. courage and sagacity. Fo,
. myself. with no restraint of speech
= save those realty TO truth and the re
] ni1irements of Justice. | am able tt