The Washington bee., 1910-07-09

CheStTd alter Which 1nVOCatlOn was
pronounced by the Rev Hubert w.
Wells OF St Andrews church The
occasional was then sung by Harry
T. Burleigh, with Leon S. Adger as
accompanies. Mr.. BurleIgh fairly
made the theatre ring with his deep
baritone voice.
Mayor J. Harvey Spruance was to
have made the opening address, but
owing to an indispositiOn he could not
attend and James L. Banning, presi-
dent Of City Council, made the wei
coming address Mr. Banning said in
part;
His honor, Mayor Spruance, ac-
cepted the invitation to welcome DR..
Washington, but owing To d tempo
rary indiSposition. which Is of imma-
terial character, but nevertheless very
painful, he Is unable to be present.
In the absence of the mayor, It Is
customary for the president OF the
City Council to assume the mayors
place in any official duty that may
transpire.
Consequently Mayor Spruance re
quested me TO come before you and
express the regret that he feels by rea-
tend the city welcome to DR.. Wash
ingtOn, whose lifelong devotion to
the uplifting OF his people entities him
to universal respect He IS one who,
rising to the necessities that so
strongly appealed to him, having first
raised himself by force of his Own
executive ability from condition OF
seeming helplessness and tr1endless-
ness. such as words can scarcely de-
scribe, he then planned It as his lite
work % educate and uplIft his people
that they might be better men and
better women, and well indeed will It
be for them, if in appreciation OF his
lifelong devotion, they shall accept
Dr. Washington as their highest
standard of excellence, giving heed
and response to his preCepts and
earnest endeavor so far at least as lies
in the power of each, to emulate his
worthy example.
Recognizing DR.. Washington as
the benefactOr Of his people, the city
administration welcomes his presence
to-day, and commenus him to his Will
mington audience
Mr.. Banning's remarks were greeted
with great applause and Mr.. Burleigh
then sang a solo, The Corn Solo.
Following that Governor Pennewill
made the Introductory address. In
the course of his remarks, the COVER
nor paid a high tribute to DR.. Wash
ington, pointing to him as the beacon
of light for the race and described
him as an example for all those pres
ent to follow.
DR.. Washington was then intro
duCed and it was several minutes be
fore the audience ceased applaudlng,
He stepped lightly to the front OF the
stage and Immediately paid tribute
to Dr. Ebert and his CO-WOrkeTs tor
their masterful arrangements The
speaker held his audience by his ready
wit. illustrating his remarks by num-
erous stories, and while they at times
kept the crowd in an uprOar, the
speaker did not loose his theme, but
changed quickly to the subject of his
address, the regeneration of his race.
In the course Of his remarks, which
lasted for over two hours, he paid a
fine compliment to T Thomas For
tune, whom the speaker said has, tor
a quarter of a century, carried on a
mighty fight for his people. Mr..
address was as follows:
4 wish to thank my friend and
vOur tellOw-CitiZen, DR.. S. q. Ebert
and the members OF the Business
League and other citizens who have
worked with DR.. Ebert and the
league, for their hard and untlrIng
work in preparing for the series OF
meetings, which we are now holding
in the State Of Delaware. L also wish
to thank the large company OF dis
tinguished and successful men from
other states who have left their buSI-
ness and have come into the State OF
Delaware at this time, for the pur-
pose Of giving our people the beneht
of their presence and to speak words
of announcement at these meetings.
Il have but one object in coming to
the State of Delaware, and that IS to
see for myself, something of the con-
ditIon and needs of the masses OF my
D,ODle in this state. In the State OF
Delaware at the present time there
are between 5000 and 10000 cOlored
DeOple. As compared with other
states this is not a large number, but
If is q sufficient number to hurt or
hinder the progress of the negroes IN
other states. Because Of the small
territory covered by this State, 1t is
possible for the $4,000 or 10000
negroes to get together and by wise
and conservative action IN pulling to-
octher. to set an example in the way
Of progress that can be followed by
other states. Thirty-lve thousand
people united, harmonious, working
together with single end IN view,
can accomplish almost miracles in the |
way of racial Improvement. Thirty |
five thousand Colored people, on the
other hand, who are not taking ad- |
vantage Of the opportunities that are
right about them, can accomplish !
much in keeping themselves back and |
setting a bad example for other pOr-
tions of our country.
There are some fundamental |
things in the life of every race that
must be settled as speedily as pos
sible. One IS the matter OF perma-
nent abode As speedily as possible
we should reach decision where we
are going to live, where we are going
to plant ourselves, and having reached |
that decision we should settle down |
and live in one community as a per-
manent, helpful part of that cOmmunl-