The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-20
SATURDAY AUGUST 20, 1910.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1910.
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THE COLONEL AND THE NEGROIis
About eleven hundred delegate.
have been attending the convention OF
the National Negro Business Mems
League in New York this week, or al
II least 1t is reported that eleven huns
dred were present at the meeting yes
terdny when the Colonel made HIS
speech. in which he advised them
solemnly to practice the doctrine of
n self-help and to make the most Of
the many opportunities already opened
TO them. 1t was a great speecli-not
nearly so full Of common sense as
+ Booker Washington would have packed
1t, but a great speech, and exactly
suited to the audience. Whether or
4 not it Is to be regarded as the opening
gun of the Coloners campaign for the
presidency in 1912 remains to be
worked out; but 1t was quite evident
from the enthusiasm with which 1T
was received, and the eloquent eulogy
pronounced upon the Colonel as the
man who would not when he filled the
Office Of President close the door Of
hope to the colored man wanting an
Office, and the assurance that what
ever promotion in public life the
Colonel might want he would always
find the negro element solidly allied
g1yjf !, 4, 10 II To MD
from these things. we say, that the
negroes thought he was making the
Keynote speech of his campaign
for President. 1t is said that
when Booker Washington, the pre-
siding officer, urged all in SYM
patty with the eulogy and pledge
OF Bishop Clinton to rise to their feet
"the entire assemblage arose amid
renewed cheering"
1t must have been really inspiring
under the emotion of the moment, the
Colonel would have been willing then
ind there to pledge himself to give
every one of his colored hackers a
Federal Office in case OF his reelection
IN the South. We are willing that
he shall make the race for Presiden,
on the race issue, and he could coun,
absolutely on the negro vote of the
South.
But the Roosevelt incident was
merely an incident, after all, of the
8 Iconvention in New York. The con-
jvention was mainly concerned. so far
ias the newspaper reports show, with
the material progress Of the race. In
all history, as Booker Washington
& tsaid, there has been nothing to match
the upbuilding Of tho negro race in
this country. One report was that
Ehe negroes own in the Southern
States something like 100000, 900
worth of property One delegate to
ahe convention. Scott Bond, of Arkansas,
Iwho described himself as an old-
Fashioned "nigger,n reported that he
was worth 'sabout: s4ooo.Ooo owned
nineteen sfafms operated BY other
negroes. twenty general stores. all
well stocked; and many other negroes
reported marvellous progress in the
acquisition of wealth. The Arkansas
2'nigger. is probably wo.th more than
Vail the colored people of Massachu-
setts together. and it was one Of the
lsigniticant and gratifying things
sabout the convention that 1t is the
negroes Of the South who are coming
fup; the negroes OF the South in which
the sphilanthropists have reported, for
political purposes or worse. that the
\ negro has no chance. II might have
done better and would have done
{ Fbetter, but for the Interference of his
false friends from the othsr side Of
The border; the uses they have tried
TO make of him: the uses they will
,still make Of him If he shall suffer
himself to be- drawn ever again into
partisan politics.
81 w g rejoice at the good fortune OF
the negroes Of the South They ought
n to be helped in every proper way. pro-
tected in all their rights Of person
and property and helped by theirSown
a White people to improve their indus
trial and moral welfare. We draw
1.-THE line hard and fast only at his free
spar ticcipation in the political alrairs
Z OF this part Of the country Or Of any
Il p par the country. holding with AIR
Lincoln that two diverse races cannot
1--we on the same soil on terms Of 10
s5litical equality. .5 #
80
EDUCATING THE PEOPLE on THE
as AMENDMENTS.
thin the last few days. a number
;sg' Ct the papers OF the Commonwealth
q have taken up the discussion of the
p four proposed amendments to the Con-