The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-09-05


millions to ten millions, and as an in
dustrial factor must always be con-
sidered.
AS Booker Washington said in his
address here some time ago the negro
population in the United States is
twice as large as the population of
Australia, one and one-half times that
of Canada, and nearly as large as the
combined population of Norway, Swe-
den, Switzerland and Denmark.
In a recent address in Philadelphia
the same authority said:
"As to our ability to support our
selves, the American congress is ask
ed every year to appropriate between
$10000,000 and $12,000,000 for the
100000 American Indians, but con-
gress has not been called on to pro-
vide a single dollar for clothes, shell
ter or food for our race. We have
proved our ability to organize. There
are siXty-two banks under the con-
troll of black organizations. We have
four great church branches, with to-
tai membership of 3,113,900 members,
or about SO per cent of the race. Our
business and social organizations
have a membership of 100000 per-
sons.
There are 200,000.000 acres of un-
used and unoccupied land in the
southern states, territory as large
as Australia, France, Germany, Italy
and Spain. We own and occupy 90
100000 acres-about two acres for
each individual. We should within
the next quarter of a century own 40
100000 acres. There is place for at
least 100000 Independent, self-sup-
porting negro farmers.
/ at is possible to find openings in
the south for 1000 more saw mills and
1000 brick yards, and north and south
for 1000 groceries. We need 1000 ad-
ditional dry goods stores, 1900 shoe
stores and 1000 good restaurants. |
want to see 1900 bright colored wo-
men at the head of that number OF
millinery shops. We have $50 drug
stores, and room for 1000 more; go
negro banks, and $50 more should be
organized Seize these opportunities
before it is too late"
The negro in the south is here to
stay There may be talk about his ex-
portation across the seas or his colo
nization in some territory in the west
set apart specially for him. but in the
meanwhile he will continue fixture
amongst us, and will continue to in
orooca II, uyIrn hnrc
1t is the part of wisdom to recog-
nize this fact, and adjust ourselves to
it in the very best way possible.
In the north, and in the south, too,
for that matter, while still subject
of political controversy, as a politi-
cal factor the negro is. no longer to
be considered. He has been eliminat-
ed from actual participation in politi-
cal affairs, and is taking his eliminar
ton with as good grace as possible.
He has schooled himself to the fact
that it is the settled policy of the
United States for all future time.
The next thing is to treat him just
ly. and give him a square deal" in
all other matters.
We believe there is a growing dis
position to do this.
There was a shooting ARRAY at Port
Tampa some time ago, and in the
comments of the Tampa Times, whose
editor is a civil war veteran and ex-
slave holder, it will be seen that there
is not only a disposition but de-
mand that the negro be given fair
play.
Commenting upon the affair the
Times said:
"If the account given by the negro
who was concerned in the. shooting
ARRAY with three or four white men
at Port Tampa of the circumstances
of that affair was true, he was amply
justified in what he did and would
have been held blameless by the law
if he had killed every one of the as
sailants of his home, and family.
The thin subterfuge that the white
men went to the negro's house for the
purpose of collecting a debt alleged
to be due one of them by an inmate
of the houes-not the head of the fam
ily--bears its improbability upon its
face. Men do not go out on collecting
tours at l o'clock in the morning, nor
do they go in the shape of walking ar
senals and make their collections at
the pistols point after effecting en-
trance by breaking.
''It is too much the habit of a GER
tain class of white men TO act in their
dealings with negroes as if the latter
had no rights of any kind that the
dominant race is compelled to respect.
This is in the highest degree repre-
hensible, and should receive the out
spoken condemnation of all those who
recognize the error, the criminality of
such course of action.
"All men are equal before the law
and have the same right to its pro-
lection in the enjoyment of life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness
Reverse the positions of the par
ties to the Port Tampa affair and con-
slider what a howl of execration would