The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-19
THE RACES SALVATION.
By DENNIS s. THOMPSON, Bethel,
Kas.

the matter of ace segregation, there
is another thing hat should not be
lost sight of; that while battle is be-
ing made on the outside against con-
ditions that are felt to be a hindrance
to our material welfare, there should
be just as persistent a fight going
On among ourselves in the effort to
better our condition each day. There
are too many people today thinking
about the things that others are do
ing to them, but never stop to think
about the s~elf-infliced injuries. Too
much nee about opposition and
competition may often result in a lack
of interest in the things that make
for success. The Negro should not
worry over competition.
In the first place, We are not re-
quired to surpass anyone but u
selves. To get ahead of another is a
very insignificant matter compared
with getting ahead of our own past
record. Competition is an eye open
! err, as there are many of us who would
never have discovered the latent pow
err in ourselves if we had not have
found out what others could do. Many
persons owe their success to some
rival who first revealed to them their
own reserves. Instead of worrying
over competition we should be glad of
it, since it is so often an incentive for
us to do our best. And if in doing
our best we are outdistanced by
oaatlar 4lot to rA4hinn - hn aeIo mod
of. Many of the difficulties with
which we meet reveal us to ourselves;
not only do they expose our weak
nesses but they bring to the surface
the hidden strength we should "
have discovered without their aid.
Necessity, kind when she seems the
s%ternest, uses our hardships to reveal
possibilities within us of which we
have never dreamed.
Segregation a Help.
Segregation and many other rebuffs
that we meet with will, in due course
of time, serve as a means to spur us
On to further progress. 1t does very
we'll for US to protest against segre-
cation, of the nature that is now prev
alent among the employees in the gov
eminent departments at Washington,
but when it narrows down to the seq
regated district in the city, then there
are instances that we, as a race, must
begin to study. In every citl and
town in many rural districts where
there are many Negroes of
quence, the Negroes have segregated
themselves into certain parts, where
crap shooting, policy playing, liquor
%peddling, the peddling of deadly drugs,
is the height of many of their ambi-
tions. They like it, because some
make money out of it at the expense
and discomfort o fthe others. 1t is
a sad, sad story, but it is true; we
can never be a people until we over
come some of these habits that are
so detrimental to us. Too many want
to make quick money and an easy liv-
ing. The person who attains to pre-
eminece in their calling generally
reaches it by slow stages. In every
profession there are a few who lead
by no happy accident of fortune, no
pride of birth, no favor exalted pat
ronage. Their intrinsic merit, mani
tested not as a sudden inspiration nor
as an occasional performance, but day
after day, under the strain of pro-
tracted effort, has put them where
they are. The inferior material in
the cheap man develops a structural
flaw somewhere and he goes to pieces
where the strong man endures and
holds his peace and completes the
work. The highest success comes
from doing things that others can not
do. Here we have the whole secret;
it is simple, so be the one man for
the task, and the task will seek you,
and the price that goes with it will
be yours. The greatest lesson now
to be taught the Negro is thrift, and
a higher morality. We can not sue
|; coed on the method of "all going out
and nothing coming in" We must
develop more producers, and fewer
: spenders if we are to grow. There
are so few to condemn the wrong fol
] fear of losing friendship. Then there
e is the business man, who is afraid OF
the loss of patronage, but the mar
who will not stand up for the right
y for fear of a falling off In his bust
ness has not much business. There
are others who clai INTO be Christians
and leaders who are encouraging thu
s wrong thing every day because the!
want to be popular. We should no
seek popularity, but We should at al
g times seek to do right.
The Negro needs to be taught mos
to do what is right and bring to what
ever work he may have in hand
higher purpose. If one is doing worl
that is beneath them there is no res
son for sighting it.. Poor work In
deed is beneath anybody with brain
d and a conscience. To dig bitches wit
IT an honest purpose to give a dollar
worth of work for every dollar 20
% earn is more to ones credit than t
to do office work with the intention
Of doing Just enough to hold your pc
g sition. Remember that no work ca
degrade a worker II he brings to
Is a high purpose, and that all work lacl
8. ing such a purpose Is degrading. w
,r must begin to study and work GU
the real problems affecting us as
|: people; we have been grasping at til