The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-12-03

"~'he oCe' every COiOISu man or means
should feel the Obligation to com
plete this building as soon as posi-
BILE. -.
I Let me mention a couple Of cases
in which colored men have contribu-
ted largely to work of this nature.
! colored man, born a slave in
Knoxville, Tenn, was so much i'm
+, pressed with the value Of the Y M.
Q. A. work among white young men
/ That he gave piece Of property cost
| Ing $4,000 to the colored Young
Mems Christian Association. He
has the honor Of having given the
largest gift UP to that time of any
individual in the State of Tennessee,
regardless of color, to the Associa-
=, tion movement. .,
Another colored man who was
born on the gold coast Of Africa,
came to this country at an early age,
was befriended by the Philadelphia
Y. M. G. A., and by the use Of their
library prepared for complete ex-
animation, entered the University Of
pennsylvania after winning the prize
received his education, and is to-day
"a very successful physician in the
city OF Portsmouth, Va, gave $500
to the building fund Of their Associ-
alton year ago. He also gave $500
for current expenses the first year
the Association employed a secretary
and says: "The reason I make these
gifts ia because I owe all am to the
Young Mems Christian Association -
Many other cases might be cited
showing how this work appeals to
reputable colored men in many scc",
tions Of the country. There is posi-
bly, nothing needed worse in all our
cities and towns thau well-organized
| Young Mems Christian Associations
:; which shRll et and. f0r character bull
T, ding In the thresfofd Ts@aS an which
j the ~. M. C. Az deaYofs I'd Sgdns its
{ work. 1t pays far. bsster to support
1.-THE secretary Of the Y: M: c.. A. IN a
community than to pay the salary
of policeman. Homes are made
safe and the community is lifted to
a higher level by lifting these young
men to better ideals Of life.
| AS for the white man, let him re-
member in this as in all other mat
ters, that to do justice to the colored
man is demanded not only by the
interest of the colored man but by
the interest of the white man also.
Sooner or later in this community
every class Of citizens will feel the
effect Of the raising or degradation
Of any other class. Nj men up'' is
! q oof tn
down." and it is to the interest OF
every class Of any community that
the members Of every other class
shall feel that industry, sobriety
= good behavior, the conduct that
marks a man as being a good neigh
Dor and good citizen, should receive
a proper reward, so as thereby tC
i put premium upon the development
, of such qualities. ! am not speaking
Yof social relations; l am speaking OF
[ equality Of treatment before the law
: Of equality of opportunity to, earn a
, living, Of equality Of opportunity tc
= earn the respect that should be accor-
/ lded to the man who behaves decent
? / ly, and is good neighbor and q good
t citizen. There arg pleRty of difficult
f problems in this country, plenty OF
r problems requiring infinite patience
? forbearance, and good judgment II
= they are to be dealt with wisely, ant
/ which cannot by any possibility re-
f ceive even an approximately com
*. plete solution Within short time
t What is known as the race problem
g is one Of the most difficult; and il
{ exists in the North as we'll as in the
- South. But Of one thing we can rest
t assured, and that is that the only
= way in which to hCing nearer the
g time when there shall be even an ap
p Droximately fair solution Of the prob
8 lem Is to treat each man on hit
,, merits as man. He should not be
treated badly because he happens q
be Of given color, nor should ne
receive immunity for misconduct be
cause he happens to be Of giver
color. let US all strive, according
= to our ability and as far as the con
ditions will permit, to secure to the
, man of one color who behaves up
rightly and honestly, with thrift anc
foresight, the same opportunity fol
reward and for living his life under
the protection Of the law and without
molestation by outsiders, that woult
be his if he we're Of another color
The avenues Of employment should
be open to one as to the other; tho
protection Of the laws should be
guaranteed to one as to the other
Each should be given the right tt
prove by his life and work what his
capacities are, and should be Judged
accordingly. Each is entitled to the
reward which he legitimately earns