The Washington bee., 1908-03-28

Permit me to thank you OF both
races for the cordial welcome extend
ed to me, and to express my sense OF
gratitude to the many distinguished
individuals who have come to this
meeting in person.
To all races and groups OF indi-
viduals there come times when the
atmosphere about them is charged
with discussion, excitement and un-
certainty. During all such seasons
we should learn, and are learning, to
practice self-control, and deport our
selves with calmness and dignity. Po-
htical issues come and go. They are
new today and old tomorrow. What
IS condemned today is praised tomor-
row. There are oertain things, how
ever, which remain - are the same
yesterday, today and tomorrow, to
which we as race of people must
give constant heed. Their are certain
elements in race building that abide
forever. TIL race that clings to the
essentials - the fundamentals of life.
that does not permit itself to be de-
ceived into grasping the shadow for
the substance, will succeed. The race
that keeps steadily III view in the
midst of excitement and temptation
the main thing i'll life, the laying of
a foundation for high and useful cit
izenship by securing property, learn
ing useful habits, the cultivation of
high moral and Christian habits, will
win its way in the world in spite of
all predictions to the. contrary.
Man may draw racial and color
lines. but the forces Of nature, soil,
air. sunshine and rain yield their
riches as readily to the touch of the
bland hand as to the hand of the
whitest Anglo-Saxon. '(Great ap-
plause.)
Let Us Emphasize Advantages.
With all their disadvantages, the
black youths of this country have
chance to secure wealth, to lead use
full lives, that is far beyond that of
the youths of the oIden countries of
Europe. We must learn to emphaa-
size our advantages more and our
disadvantages less. We must learn
to call attention more to our success
and less to our troubles. The world
wants to hear OF triumph. but soon
tires of hearing of calamity.
In the case of the Negro, our life
and our interests may be divided into
two parts: the help we can render
ourselves and the help which those
outside Of our race can extend to
us. Tonight, for the most part, I
want to emphasize what we can do
for ourselves. (Cries OF That's it. }
Human nature is so constituted
that the weak individuals and races
yield to the temptation of placing all
the blame for their failures in life
upon someone aside from themSelvc-
Weakness invites dependence upon
others. Strength invites self-reIance.
There are certain things which our
friends can do for us. There are
certain other things which no one
except ourselves can do. Others may
encourage, help and stimulate. but we
must depend upon ourselves for the
most part for success in life. No
one can pass a law to prevent the
Negro youths from becoming just as
industrious. just as economical, Just
as clean morally as the youths of any
other race. No one can pass a law
to compel one race to respect another.
We ourselves must invite respect by.
our conduct. (AmenD
The Work at Tnskcgee as an Er-
ample in ActicgemeHf.
At the Tuskegee Institute in Ala
bama, for more than twenty years. a
group of students and teachers has
been trying to demonstrate to the
world what the Negro can do in the
way of self-help when given chance
The fifteen hundred students, the one.
hundred and hfty-six teachers, the
grounds, buildings and property, to
the value of nine hundred thousand
dollars, together with the thousands
of men and women whom we have
trained and are at work in every part
of the South uplifting their race in
the schoolroom, on the farm, in the
shop, in housekeeping and in other
demonstrate concluSively