The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1910-02-25

The Emancipation Proclamation
not only freed my race in this respect
but the signing OF this proclamation
was but the symbol of another, still
greater and momentous. We who
celebrate this anniversary should not
forget that the same pen that gave
freedom to four millions of African
slaves, at the same time struck the
shackles from the souls of thirty-seven
millions Of Americans of another
color
Race Like individuals
Industrial education not only has
a tremendous economic value for my
race, but through its influence my
race is taught to keep its feet upon
the earth. 1t is a great thing in the
case Of a race, as it is in the case of
an individual, to teach that race dur
ing its youthful period to keep its
feet up on the earth. Races, much
like individuals, have to pass through
their silly period. Races have the
same experience, and when a race is
passing through its silly period, peo-
pie must be patient and long-sufering
with it,
ITO my race, the life of Abraham
Lincoln has its special lesson at this
point in our career. In so far as his
life emphasize patience, long-suffer-
ing, sincerity, naturalness, dogged de
termination and courage, courage to
avoid the superficial, courage to per
sistently seek the substance instead of
the shadow, it points the road for my
people to travel."
Should Be Like Lincoln
"As a race we are lerning, | be-
lieve in an increasing degree, that the
best way for us to honor the memory
of our emancipation is by seeking to
initiate him. Like Lincoln, the Negro
race should seek to be simple, with
out bigotry and without astentation
There is great power in simplicity
We, as race should, like Lincoln
have moral courage to be what we
are, and not pretend to be what we
are not. We should keep in mind that
no one can degrade us except our
selves; that if we are worthy, no in
fuence can defeat us Like Other
races, the Negro will often meet OBJ
stacles, often be sorely tried anc
tempted; but we must keep in mino
that freedom, in the broadest anC
highest sense, has never been be
quest; it has been a conquest II
the final test, the success OF our race
will be in proportion to the service
that it renders to the world. In tn
long run, the badge Of service is tt,
badge of sovereignty.
Satisfactory Work
The most satisfactory results o
the opportunity which Lincoln's pro
clamation has given to my people cal
be seen in the work of the thousand
of graduates and other students VIII
have gone out from Tuskegee an
similar schools. When they go, ofte
into lonely and secluded districts
with little thought of salary, wit
little thought of personal welfare, n
drums beat, no banners flying, o
friends stand by to cheer the mon
but these brave young souls who ar
erecting school houses, creating schoc
systems, prolonging school terms
teaching the people to buy homes
build houses and live decent lives, ar
fighting the battles OF this countr
just as truly and bravely as any pei
sons who go forth to fight battle
, against foreign foe.
Gradually but surely the relation
between the black man and the whit
5 man in the Southern States are grow
j ing more satisfactory. You must NJ
, be deceived in this respect. Or
q difficulty is that the North hears
e the worst that takes place in Il