Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1912-05-24

norancs and prejudice; and ne won:
and some OF those men said IN my
hearing afterward. that ne was q
great man and that the negro ought
70 be given fair chance.
I made the similar trip with Mr..
Washington through Mississippi three
years ago: and all my observations
and reflections on that Journey were
confirmed by what I saw On this pres
emit trip through Florida. There Is
only one solution Of THIS vast problem
IN the south; the negroes are 10 re-
main on the land, therefore. common
sense dictates that they be educated
in the simple branches OF book edu-
cation. and trained In some Industrial
pursuit: and then given chance 10
make good" That is all that their
leading men ask have talked with
colored physicians, lawyers. ministers
and business men. on thia recent jour
ney. who would be credit 70 any race
and valuable asset 10 any cause;
they have pointed out to me the signs
OF progress among their people: the
advance or spring up the Atlantic sea-
board today Is no more Obvious and
certain than is the advancement OF
me negro race IN me southland 20
ward al that is characteristic o. S
nign civilization. The Increase ln
homestead holdings. the increase OF
stores and banks and taxable prop
ersg-fhese tell the story Of that gain
Ia material prosperity which alone viii
give the black man position and pow-
81 and justice IN the soutn. All aono7
20 such broad men as tins nayor OF
Psnaacola. an6 Judge Bullock OF Ccals,
and many others. VINO are 10 nighiy
civilized. themselves, thai they are
ready to grant their eolored brothers
the opportunity TO struggle forward
20 that sams civilization.
4 person OF trained eyes. On going
into town o. village 10 sne south.
can tell. By observing gho faces and
manners OF either OF fhs trio races
what the othar will Be like. FOR the
two ara closely bound together. syFan.
ny and cruelty. on tbs part OF the
whites. show in their faces, and can
also DO read In the constrainf and
caution and timidity OF their black
neighbors: and again. where you md
the blacks frank and Joyous. ns Is
their nature: you may be sure that
the whites OF that region are Just and
brond-minded and kindly. as is char
scterisiic OF people really civilized.
What | here write comes from close
personal observation: and 6 aay that
the bitter enemies which the negro
has IN the south are the ignorant sen
sual CRACKERS" the vicious lower
classes OF the whites: the higher
grades Of white men tend toward Jus
tee and patience and encouragement.
In their treatment Of the as yet I'm
mature black race. sometimes. when
election IL az hand. some educated
white candidate viii indulge N pub
lie denuneiations Of 'niggers~: bat
this IL usually for political effect: ne
is after the ignorant cracker vote:
and very likely ne 10 the friend and
helper OF haIf-dozen coioreo neigh.
bora.
AZ Tallahassee I oveFneare s,gnif.
cant comment on the closing words Of
Mr.. Washington'n address. made from
> bandstand on the common: a group
Of white men had besu listening eseae-
". end feared suIlsniy. 20 the SPEAK
er's ~or6s: then. sE the close one OF
them spoke 20 ths others. concisely.
solemnly: That's true. what he says
about our trusting each other: yon
know We have left today, part Of our
families az oug homes. outside. with
our niggers; ane there's nobody elsa
IN Gods world we'd have sgusasG taem
wifh."
a charming sne effective feature o.
tn5 program OF n1osa Of these Florida
meefings was che singing by ans
blaekn s2 the audience tusnaily \
Thousand Of shem) OF the real "ecngp
ck slavery: aoe the sawdry aesrc-
minstrel songs Of later white comDos-
sgs. bus The quaint ole Eoik-songs OF
Atty and more years ago. the singing
WAS LED by Major Notion Of Hampton.
that sweet-voieed singer. with ths
physique OF Hercules and tho sea
sibilities OF girl OF seventeen. THE
singing seemed 20 bring tina various
elements IA kns audience together. DO
fose Or. Washington gave ais address:
s'ssAeass