The Colorado statesman., 1911-10-14

L
stepping stone TO rise above and better
his condition. There's way out OF
every difficulty, there's way over
every obstacle. If we are ingenious,
watchful, Industrious and patient
enough to find the way. Just few
days ago | came to a river where they
had an old-fashioned ferryboat. | no
ticed that whenever the captain
wanted to cross the river TO point d.
rectly opposite on the other shore. lie
would always head his vessel upstream
where it would seem at first glance.
he was going in course that would
lead him away from the place OF his
destination.
That little incident taught me
valuable lesson, for pretty soon found
out that by heading his boat upstream
he finally got the full benefit of the
current and was really enabled the
more easily TO reach the wharf on the
| other side. Had he turned his boat at
right angles, he would have drifted
with the current and would surely
| have been carried far below the point
which he desired. And so IL is in our
individual as well as our racial life
IL we would cross the river and reach
the goal we must head our vessels up
stream and not be afraid of the cur
rent OF difficulties.
This National Negro Business
league has not only justified its ex-
istence by revealing from year to year
remarkable instances of self-help and
business achievement, but IL the ne
gro race will only follow in the wake
of its teaching, "it will take you
where you'se gwine"-as Doctor
Washington SO pleasingly puts it.
Some time ago, while down at Gal
weston, was invited to go out fishing
in sailboat. Being very fond of
both fishing and sailing Though not
proficient in either) / readily accepted
! the invitation. | had hardly stepped
into the boat before the wind was
right astern and we went speeding out
on the gulf from Galveston. After
most pleasant and successful days
outing, we began to make the journey
homeward. My friend in change or
| the boat soon found out that we would
have to sail into Galveston harbor
against the wind. Just as soon as the
sails were hoisted, instead of pointing
his boat toward Galveston, he headed
her in a different direction and | won
dered how we would be able to reach
| Galveston by following that course.
The wind was strong and the sails
were full. The waters leaped and
dashed in fiendish glee as if they were
eager to capsize our frail barque. but
the boatsman. not the least bit per
turbed, cried out his orders to the
crew, and every once in while
would hear him say: "Luffer! Luf-
fer!"
OF course | did not understand what
that meant, but ! could soon see the
progress which the boat was making,
for noticed we had reached a point
nearly opposite to Galveston. Then
after series of "luffering," "taeking,"
"zigzagging" and the like, in due time
we reached Galveston harbor, all safe
and sound, without the slightest in
jury to boat or passengers.
Our race is likewise lin boat" We
are sailing upon troublesome waters,
for this is aSeritical period in our up
ward struggle. We have set our eyes
upon and are determined to reach the
homeward harbor of success; that is
especially true of the members of this
league. But notwithstanding the head
winds of opposition, or the rolling cur
rent of competition, or the frail
barque of our limited resources, we
have men aboard who are not afraid
to sail in against difficulties, men
aboard who understand the elements
of real progress and, under that great
captain of negro advancement and
economic development, Booker T.
Washington, who is the "luffer' Of his
people, we will reach the port in due
time.
want to say that this institution
stands for the cooperation of the ne
gro along a line that was never be-
fore attempted. ! was member OF
the defunct Afro-American council
when 1t held meetings in various cities
of this country in order to protest
against wrongs and injustices perpe-
trated upon us, and in order to make
big speeches and addresses and pass
high-sounding resolutions, which
never got before the public as we
wanted. | finally became convinced
that we were accomplishing but little
If anything.
Then ! saw another star rising
above the horizon. 1t was the Ma
tional Negro Business league. | saw
they had gotten together negro farm
ers, merchants, bankers, inventors,
teachers, doctors, lawyers, for the pur-
pose of discussing matters of vital
importance to the welfare of our race
and nation And / noticed that even
the reporters listened attentively and
reporte" accurately their utterances
and what transpired daily in their
meetings. The papers began to change
their tone; they began to say: THE
ricirn in the snala of