The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-04

South. He urged his race to be in
dustrious, thrifty, law abiding and
self respecting, SO as to obtain self re-
spect. He moved a vote of thanks
to the officers and those taking part
in the meeting and this resolution
was adopted.
Address OF the Day.
The address Of Prof. j. II. Branch,
the principal of Washington Graded
School colored, of Raleigh, was heard
with interest. 1t was q long one and
it went into detail with reference 70
the c0lored race and its progress. lt
declared hat we cherish no feeling
Of bitterness against those who held
us as slaves and then spoke OF the
responsibilities which rested on the
negro, that "a man to be free must
have deep in his soul a desire TO pc
Free that p~roclamations and such
things are p~erfunctory outside OF TINS.
In the course of his remarks he SAID
in part: 5.
Those who have ,fiXed habits OF
should assist the negro IN
contracting the same habits by actual
taking hold of the pillow with him ana
assisting him i'll his efforts. we
need, therefore, the assistance OF a
strong arm of those who nave formed
correct habits of life and who have
the time, patience and heart 70 as
SiSt lis. What the co1Ored people or
this country need is not charity. but
the means to assist themselves. IL
is a fact, though seldom admitted,
that the AnglO-SaXon is, as a general
rule, more ignorant concerning the
negro than the negro is OF him, and
naturally so, for having the pride OF
his own race at heart, the Anglo
Saxon acting on the assumption that
the negro because of his previous
possesses nothing worthy Of
consideration; therefore he dlsdalns
to read negro literature, his papers
and books are discarded, his lntelii-
gent men ignored and his acquisition
despised.
The negro citizen should be a tax
payer. If the negro, therefore,
owns an controls property he will be
consulted. There is no way to ig-
more him. Ownership is an essential
element OF good citizenship. The
negro must have as Il race, more
respect for the women Of the race,
same respect and honor that the
White man shows to his WOmanhood.
Our home life must be made high
er and nobler.
The young element of our ace
are committing too many crimes.
One Of the main causes is that they
are idly standing on tho streets.
loafing around the lowest dives and
dens of infamy and crime. 70 a large
extent the parents are responsible
for this condition Of affairs.
we have in the South two dis
tinct and widely varying races. Ihey
differ in their social makeup. These
distinct characteristics can not be
changed. Any attempt to alter them
fails and produces harm. In their IN
dustriaI life there is no need OF frlc-
ton; no need OF racial a~ntagonism.
The negro may prosper. h Whlte
man may prosper. No man should
fail. Let the strong white man do
justice.
Not long since I read an article
to the effect that eX-President Roose-
welt is planning to have us so back to
our native land to carry the loren
Of civilization and say to those OF
our race in Africa, Arise and shine,
for the light has come But we
have become so intimately connected
with the Americans in SO many ways
that it would De almost impossible
to tell which branch OF the negro
family should go to Africa or which
should remain in America. Then the
thing is impracticable and we can
not for a think OF such a
thing. Some say that we must go
that we cannot live in this country,
but must return and leave this coun-
try for the Anglo-Saxon to inhabit
Now in the name Of the intelligence
Of the race I give notice to all con
cerned that we do not intend to leave
this country unless it be of our own
free viii and accord.
The negro is an Indispensable ne
cessity to the growth, progress and
civilization Of the world. Without
the negro, christianity would be like
an equipoise; for while the white
man gives its system, logic and abb
straction, the negro is necessary to
impart feeling: sanctioned emotions,
heart throbs and estacy. Thus GOD
and nature need the negro. for with
out him there Woul be an aching
void in earth and heaven.
The speaker in referring TO the
destruction by fire of the splendid
cOlOred Methodist church of this city,
said:
when on1a grafton and destrnc-
ticn seized with hot hands the beau
tiful edilice of the African Method
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