Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-20

As each delegate and visitor TO
this League returns to his home.
hope he viii carry with him a re
solve that in the future he will see
20 ii that his local Negro newspaper
has his hearty support and co-opera-
1iOu.
10 is a serious matter to bring
from all parts of our country as many
men and women as are present at
this meeting OF the League. Each
one has come here at considerable
cost in time and money These meet
ings will fail of their purpose unless
each individual comes here with a
serious purpose comes not only with
the idea OF getting out OF each meet.
ing that which will improve him as
an individual. but even more impor-
tant that which he can take back and
use for the betterment of his own
community. Each one should come
with the idea of getting information
methods and inspiration that viii
enable him TO return TO his home and
teach the people how 20 start addi-
uonal industrial and business enter
prises and improve those which are
already IN existence. Upon each del
.egate here gathered, I repeat, there
rests serious responsibility.
But 60 the text 1 have chosen; "To
him that hath shall be given"
These lines spoken by the Master
strike the keynote for individual sue
cess. and equally SO for racial sue
cess
The CHIEF object of the National
Business League is 60 teach the Ne
gro the value OF the opportunities
that he possesses as well as the value
of the opportunities that are before
him. Let us convince the world that
we have opportunities and are con
scious OF them, and more opportuni-
ties will come TO us-more openings
tor our growth will appear.
ITO him that hath shall be given, "
is the law of life. on the other hand.
ii the world becomes convinced that
We have no opportunities. that there
is no future before us, despair and
death will follow and the opportuui-
ties that We have will disappear. The
world is interested in the man who is
succeeding. The world is interested
IN a race that is succeeding.
In the United States there are ten
millions of Negroes and there is a
normal increase. Ten millions OF PEG
pie living under the same govern
ment. speaking the same language.
protesting the same religion, with
the same history back of them, of
the same color with varying shad es
OF difference, united. banded togeth-
er, moving in the same direction can
be made a great power for useful
ness and righteousness. Ten millions
OF people mean q population larger
than the whole population of Canada,
nearly as large as that OF the Re
public of Mexico. We have as many
cOlored people in the United States
as there are inhabitants in Norway,
Sweden and Switzerland combined.
I repeat that one OF the objects
OF the National Negro Business
League is to emphasize among our
selves and before the world that
which we possess in the way of act
ual ownership and in opportunity.
ITO him that hath shall be given.
The world today seeks the Japanese,
il seeks the Canadian, II seeks the
Jew in New York, II seeks the white
man in Oregon, in Alaska and in the
Southern States 20 pour into their
laps riches, more opportunities, be
cause they possess something and
because they emphasize their posses
sions
On the other hand, let any group
OF people, or race, make a business
of advertising their want OF oppor-
tunity and their poverty OF posses
sion. ana the world passes them by
or fees from them.
do not overlook the wrongs and
injustices inflicted upon the Negro,
nor do l excuse them or lightly pass
over them, but we as a race Will find
that We will get what We are entitled
70 as American citizens more by em-
phasizing and seizing our opportuni-
ties than by advertising our Difficult
ties and troubles overmuch. for from
him that hath shall be taken away
even that which he seems to have.
Practically all the fundamental
conditions for industrial and business
success are before the Negro in
America, and here i speak of pre-
vailing conditions, not OF the eX-
ceptions. There is the right OF domi'
cile The Negro under law and I'M
der custom can reside in any part
of the United States that he chooses.
What change in fifty years? The
Negro can own property In any part
of the United states, another ire
mendous change in our condition
within half century. The Negro has
a greater opportunity to get owner
ship in the soil In this country, espec.
tally in the Southern States, than
any ten millions of people in the
world who are in the same relative
stage of civilization. No one can
travel through this country as I am
constantly doing. without being
proud of the fact that the Negro is
using this chance TO get hold of the
soil.
Another fundamental condition