The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1912-12-28
Evidences Of Progress Noted
by Dr. A. c. Powell
VALUE Of SELF HELP SHOWN
McDonough Memorial Hospital Asso-
. citation Holds Public Meeting at the
Abyssinian Baptist Church - Dr.
Booker 7. Washington Makes .Prinoi.
/. pal Address.
By N. BARNETT DoDsoN.


New York.--The public meeting re.
Gently held at the, Abyssinian Baptist
church in this city under the auspices
of the McDonough Memorial Hospital
association was a notable affair. II
served as a fitting climax to the many
worthy efforts of the colored- people Of
this section during the year to do real
constructive work for the larger de-
velopment and advancement of racial
institutions.
The edifice was crowded from street
to platform with an audience thor
oughly alive to the purpose Of the Oc-
casion as well as eager to see and hear
the speaker of the evening, DR.. Booker
T.. Washington, who delivered one Of
his most instructive and eloquent ad-
dresses. DR.. Washington's speechmak
ing tour in Greater New York during
| the first two weeks Of December was
one Of earnest pleading for fair OPP
tportunity for the race in the various
lines of business industry as well as In
social and benevolent work.
The Rev. Dr. A. Clayton Powell, pas
tor of the Abyssinian church, in intro
ducing DIR. Washington, said:
wish publicly to express my thanks to
the association for the honor you have
conferred upon me. Many honors have
: come to me during the twenty years Of
my humble ministry, but allow me to as
sure you and your distinguished guests
that none have been more heartily appre-
ciated than the honor of presiding and
presenting the speaker on this occasion.
If the Negroes of the northland are be-
| hind the Negroes of the southland In
racial development. as Is so often stated.
1t Is because the leaders of the race in
the north were so afraid Of drawing the
color line that they put wet blanket
| over everything that looked distinctly ra-
ciaI For that reason we have been more
dependent upon the white man In the
north for the necessaries Of life than have
been our brothers in the south. But we
are beginning to learn that dependent
people are a poor and weak people.
! So the sensible colored men and women
OF the north have come to know largely
through the teachings Of our noted guest
that the establishment and conduct Of
| colored Y. M. c. AS, Industrial schools.
| colleges, hospitals and business enter
prises instead Of making US unmanly are
making us manly; that they not only
open avenues Of employment for our own,
but that they are institutions In which
we are being taught the important les
sons Of self control and self direction.
Another evidence Of race progress Is the
increasing feeling Of harmony among the
workers and thinkers Of the 100000 Ne
groes. Whether we are advocates Of the
SO called higher or Industrial education,
whether we call ourselves radicals or con-
servatives, whether we belong to this or
| nj have
the lesson that we are all looking toward
and working toward one glorious end.
namely, the development and uplift OF
this great race Of ours.
The colored man Is against his race.
who is wasting his energies fighting other
colored men who do not copy his way Of
solving the problem A we'll known white
friend said to me not long ago that GER
tain colored man did not believe in the
rights Of his race. I replied that he was
seriously mistaken. There Is not a col
ored man In America who does not want
every right guaranteed by the federal
constitution. Some may try to secure
them by agitation, some by education,
some by the accumulation Of property,
some by one way and some another. but
we all want our rights.
It was my privilege recently to attend a
banquet which marked an epoch In the
history of the American Negro. At that
| banquet IU cOlOre0 hepuD1CdnS, DemO-
Gratis, Progressives, Socialists, Prohibi-
tionists and members Of all leading re-
ligious denominations united in compile
menting and applaudng the national lead
ership Of Negro Democrat
No people can climb to q place of prom
inence and power unless they are willing
to follow community. county and state
leaders, and these leaders In turn must
be willing to follow national leadership.
Mr.. Arson Phelps Stokes, secretary Of
Yale university, said to me some time
ago that there we're just seven great men
In the world and that Or. Washington
was one Of them. ] was SO proud OF the
fact that q colored man was one Of the
seven I forgot to ask him to name the
other six. I have the honor. therefore,
Of presenting to this audience not only
the leading Negro, but one OF the most
useful and distinguished citizens Of the
United States and one Of the seven great
men OF the world, DR.. Booker T. Wash
| inc