The Washington bee., 1908-02-29

sluc bl ullngS, 10 measure our successes
and get some hope to carry US through
the next twelve months When a man
makes up his mind that ne is going to
die, you know, there IS no medicine can
cure him. Well, it is just so with a
race. We must go patiently and hope
fully forward. You know what the
Bible says; Keep overcoming evil
with-what is it the Bible says?-with
good. That's right"
In the course of his address Wash
ington emphasized the importance of
the temperance movement and urged
the Negroes to- do all in their power to
assist in the enforcement of the law
He spoke OF the peaceful relations be-
tween the races which hSd existed dur
ing The past year
Perhaps the greatest element of good
so far gotten out of these annual Negro
conferences" said Washington, has
been determination on the part of the
masses Of our. people TO improve their
material, educational, moral and relig-
ious condition. The masses of our peo-
pie, especially in this part of the South,
are thoroughly convinced that they have
it within their power to make improve
ments in these directions. So long as
a race IS hopeful and cheerful, it will
find its place and its reward in the
world. Ii IS hard to help a hace that
does not believe that it can succeed
and has a future These conferences,
attended as they are by representative
men and women from all sections OF
the South, have demonstrated above ev-
cry, hing else that nothing can discour-
age or dampen the spirit and ambition
of our people in the direction of inn
proving their ondition.
I'VE may congratulate ourselves that
this has been a year for the most part
of peace and good will between the
races in this country, and especially IN
the South While here and there there
have been outbreaks of violence and
lawlessness, we may congratulate our
selves that, in nine-tenths OF the centers
of population in the South a friendly
and helpful spirit exists between the
races.
We must not overlook the fact that
We occupy mainly as labOrers and ag-
ricultural workers nearly one-fourth OF
the physical territory OF this country.
We will not be permitted long to occu-
py such a large proportion of one of
the richest countries in the world un-
less we demonstrate that we can get as
much out of this territory, and especi-
ally out of the soil, as any other race
Men may draw racial and color lines,
/ but soil and rain and sunshine yield
their riches as readily TO the toll of the
black hand as to the white hand.
Il am sure that each one gathered
/ here Joins with me in expressing graft
tude for the wave of temperance thai
has swept through the entire South. ThC
closing of the barrooms, the getting rio
of whiskey, means the industrial physi
cal, moral and religious protection anC
strengthening of our race. Our Leaders
especially should see to 1t that they dc
their full share throughout the SOutf
in seeing that the laws guarding th'
manufacture and sale of whiskey ar,
strictly obeyed Our people have made
much progress in the past forty years
! The absence of whiskey in my opinion
is going TO enable them to make still
greater progress in the near future.
I'VE must not fail to call the atten
ton Of the public officials constantly tt
the need Of better educational Oppor
ference at Tuskegee today with an ex
unit;es in the country districts wher,
the majority of our people live. 1t j
impossible for our race, or any race
10 be contented on the farm unles
there is a school that is in session ionl
enough each year to enable thee hildrei
to get some benefit. It is imposSibl
for our race or any race to be content
ed in the rural districts without
school term long enough each year t
enable the children to get some bench
out of it, The neglect of school facili
ties in the country causes many Of tn
people to move to the cities and town
where they are not as well thought o
as in the country. Some people argu
that education hurts the Negro. Ger
tainly a little education will hurt hin
more than much education. Education
in the schoolroom should be closel,
connected with life in the home and OF
the farm In most sections of the Soutl
Our people are to be commended 10
their efforts to extend the school tern
and build new schoolhouses.
"We must never suffer ourselves Il
grow despondent or embittered. w
/ - efJ