The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1914-10-16
UNPARALLELED
CONDITION
lBy Brown W. Payne. }


81 to the lack Of corrert application Of
the phrase. ''Self Preservation is the first
law of nature" It would perhaps he
well at this time to point out some Of the
causes which underlie and produce the
prrsent condition.
One cause Is that we arr face to face
with q situation that has no parallel in
history, therefore no preesdent IL il a
condition which presents problem the
necessity Of the solution II whieh-al-
though - pressing ~ that Of food and
drinks perceived only Dy tine mos
thoughtful. The development of other
races and peoples has been mothered by
. stern necessity which Was keenly felt
by all. The settlement Of this country,
the establishments OF this government and
it subsequent adyances toward perfec-
sion, have all been brought about by a
necessity whose urgency was felt by the
entire people. The desire for frssdom OF
thought, speech and worship made it
necessary for the early colonist TO seek
these shyres, the tyranny OF King George
Ill, forced them To establish this govern
ment and the danger TO the continued
existence OF the government, made il
necessary for them IN free the slaves, all
OF which were but successive steps in the
development of a great people.
The condition Of the Negro is not 90
Ierceptibly connected with such urgency.
To supply our physical needs, there need
be no exercise Of Negro genius, nor the
development of Negro enterprise, at our
door the white producers have an over
flowing supply Of all present and easily
perceived needs. The transportation OF
commodities and passengers, the great
financial institutions and other enter
prises IN the hands Of white people sup
plying us with their products, remove
from the Negro people the physical ur-
gency OF business development and en-
terprise.
Under these conditions the serious
thinker 10 impressed with the urgent
needs Of campaign Of education. En-
ucstion, not alone for 10. cultural effect.
but for another end which il equally A.
pressing, namely, Negro unity, enter
prise and Developments along business
lines. These ought 70 be set up in every
home ~ our patron goddess and car
ned through the entire course Of esiuca
ton from the kindergarten u the col
lege, then and not until then shall we h.
able 70 stem the tide Of economic ex.
tinction.
Another cause for the condition j. the
lack OF inclination, in many ca-es, or
the part Of our men Of means r. inve-<
their money in large entrpri-e-. IL ).
often the case that one Negro Of mean.
will decline 70 lend money r. another
Negro Of brain and without money u
enter business. Il j. true that men whs
by their Industry and economy have ac
cumulsted something, ought not ~ithou.
serious thought, invest their money. bui
they are stewards and trustee of ths
wealth they have accumulated and ans
verable n Col Tor folding IL in q napkin
The writer ha- bad his attention Gale,
n not lev instances of colored men ~
iu-ing n lend other colored men none,
AZ az percentum with good security. hot
would deposit the same In the bank a
three percentum, which bank would IN
tnrn make the loan n the colored mar
ohio fr-t applied n the colored deJ,o-itor
Now th'- refusal on the part Of the de
ps-isor vas not prompted, a. - otter
sad, By downright cu-sedns~s. but rath
er hy 'imidity, engeDdered by lscl
Of information A. n busine-~ and -ecu
ntie-, concerning which every man. o
means = morally bound 10 inform him
~elf.
IL y often ssid ~ tho~e Who would 2,
into bushes. a. an excuse for not iol
lowing up their inclination, that Negroes
~ili nos stick b them, bot would wall
by and Iet them -tsrve. That - true.
The busine~ man stops &C simply goin,
into bosise~- n he eo>- into bn-ine--
he ma ke>p busy a-lvprf1~sn0- co~,~