Morris tribune., 1908-11-28
PRAISES WORK
OF NEGROES
President Roosevelt Talks
on Race Problem.
ADDRESS At WASHINGTON

SPSecn al cornerstone Laying OF
I colored Y. M. c. A. Building and
Declares Each Man Should Be
Treated According to His Merits as
Man Regardless of Color.
Washington, Nov. 27.-President
Roosevelt was the principal speaker
at the laying of the cornerstone OF
the colored Y. M. c. A. building, to.
wards the erection of which John D.
Rockefeller gave $25,OOO. The pres
ident said, in part:
1t is to me a matter of peculiar
pleasure to be present on this occa-
Eien, at the laying of the cornerstone
Of the building for the Colored Young
Mems Christian association of Wash
ington. The Y. M. C. A. has worked
among colored men for less than thir-
ty years. For number of reasons
for some time after the work was be-
gun very little progress was made;
indeed at first. curiously enough, the
churches tended to antagonize the Y.
M. c.. A. But during the last twenty
years the Y. NJ. G. A. work among our
colored fellow citizens has proceeded
rapidly and these are the very twenty
years ia which the colored race in
America las made most progress. The
seligious ueople, those standing high
est in tlla Golored churches, now ap-
preciate, as they failed to appreciate
@ quarter cf century ago, that inno-
cent sports and amusements should
be encouraged and that the poorest
lesson to be taught to any men of any
synonymous terms. The bowling al
1eys, the swimming pools and gym
pasiums of the Y. M. c. A. buildings
are adjuncts of a very important kind
60 the effort for the moral and relig-
fous uplift with which the Y. M. c. A.
movement has always been identified.
Moreover, the Y. M. G. A. reaches
both the classes that are reached by
the churches and the classes that the
churches fail to reach. Such build
ing as this will be is open every day
and every evening. 1t brings in men
Of many different types, for it appeals
20 many different sides of human ma
ture. Already the colored Y. NJ. C. A.
has a membership in this country of
nearly 10000, 5000 belonging to the
Khirty-seven city associations and s.
900 to the student organizations. Of
The 100000 spent last year for the cur
rent expenses of the thirty-seven city
associations three-fourths were paid
by cnlored men. 1t is noteworthy that
OF the 10000 colcred men attending
the colored colleges of this country
half are active members Of the Y. NJ.
C. A. This speaks well for the spirit
Of these colleges and gives us hope
and encouragement for the character
of the leaders of the colored race in
the future. Over 1900 volumes were
circulated last year from the as yet
limited number of colored Y. VI. C. A
libraries.
Race Problem Difficult.
There are plenty of difficult prob.
lens in this country, plenty of prob
iems requiring iafinire patience, for
bearance and good judgment il they
are to be dealt with wisely and which
can not by any possibility receive
even an approximately complete solu-
tion within q short time. What is
known as the race problem is one OF
the most diff cult; and it exists in the
North as well as in the South. But
of one thing we can rest assured and
that ig that the only way in which to
bring nearer the time when there
shall be even an approximately fair
solution of the problem is to treat
eRch man ON his merits as a man.
lie should not be treated badly be-
sause he happens to be of given
polor, nor should he receive immunity
sor misconduct because he happens to
DO Of given color. Let us all strive
According to our ability and as far as
ne conditions will permit, to secure
the man of one color who behaves
5pMghtly and honestly, with thrift
ind with foresight, the same oppor-
Nnfty for reward and for living his
8fe under the protection of the law
hnd without molestation by outsiders
hat would be his if he were of an
Jther color. The avenues of employ
@Snt should be open to one as to the
8her; the protection of the laws !,
bhould be guaranteed to one as to the !
beher. Each should be given the right /
% prove by his life and work what
k@ capacities are and should be /
hsaged accordingly. Each is entitled |
10 the reward which he legitimately |
&aAns if he hehaves well; each should
be judged with the same severe i'm
passialfty if he behaves ill. The same i
lair treatment should be accorded !
eosn and every effort made to give
eqsA opportunity to those of equal
CAPACITY and character. 1t is the duty !
q ehe white man to see that exact
5asse1ce is meted out to the colored
eaC. the same justice that he would
psoslve II he we're not colored: and
ApoA the colored man is imposed the
kutS to make himself useful citizen.
IN "a behave as tn, win tho rasnoct IF