The Twin City star., 1914-02-06
EDITOR CLARK HoWELL's AD-
VICE,

VICE.
Says Negro 10 But Half Free-Nesro
His Own EmaneIpator. A
Mise Delivery. -
Mr.. Clark Howell, the Editor Of the
Atlanta Constitution In q recent. is
sue Of that paper gave this significant
advice to the Negroes.
"The Negroes Of the South and the
Nation generally are celebrating the
year Of the bi-centenary of the pro-
clamation Of emancipation. In these
ceremonies the good wishes of all
thoughtful white men will go out to
the Negroes. The Negro has made
wonderful progress since emancipa-
tion, but the greater and more per-
manent emancipation II yet to came.
We believe It Is dawning. We hope
so. For with the swiftness and COM
pleteness with which It is material
lied depends the salvation of the Ne
gro in America, and very largely the
white race throughout America, no
less than in the Southern States. We
refer to emancipation from vice, dis
ease, shiftlessness, contempt for con-
tractual obligation, crime, scorn of
humble beginnings, an educational
system that still educates the one but
measurably neglects the ninety and
nine. It was possible for Lincoln at
the stroke Of a pen, to strike the ma
terial shackles from the Negro. It
will require the process of time and
painful, agonizing efforts, to strike
these other shackles besides which
the fetters that manacled hands and
feet are inconsiderable. The effort
must be aided by the white man. But
! the initiative, and the patient, faithful
plodding must come from the Negro
himself and from his leaders. Unless
the Negro masters these shackles of
| freedom they are going to master him.
Vice is gnawing at his vitals. Dis.
ease is undermining his racial struct.
ure. Shiftlessness Is keeping him
poverty-stricken.' Contempt for pledge
is increasing the difficulty Of secur.
ing employment. Crime is dragging
down some of his best racial material.
The mania to begin at the top is cut
ting him off from dwindling oppor-
tunity. His faulty education system
is equipping the one exceptional Ne.
gro but letting the average ninety
and nine go to pot.
It is therefore, a good time for the
Negro who would serve his race and
its future to preach the sharp distinc-
tion Observation-Disclosures affected
by the pen and emancipation which re-
sists all effort save that of the blood
and sweat of ones brow"
The advice of Mr.. Howell may ap-
pear keen and piercing at first sight,
but a re-reading will convince any
thoughtful Negro that is a proper de-
liverance, and comes from one who is
a real friend to the race, no matter
what his former attitude may have
been, and show that a great change
Is coming over the leading men Of
the South.
The matter is re peated here so that
the Negro leaders may be reminded of
a duty which they owe to themselves,
and to the race, and pass 1t down the
line until a gradual cure sets in for
the defects pointed out by the Editor
of the South's leading journal.
We know that there are many thou
sand Negroes to which this does not
apply, and yet there are many more
thousands whoes photographs could
not have been better taken, and
these are heavy weight on the race,
and the community at large.
Let our leaders awake and make an
effort to free the race from the ter
rible manacle which binds so many OF
the unsuspecting and thoughtless
ones.
e. G. Morris.
The above comment is by DR.. e. 6.
Morris, Pres. Natl Baptist Convention,
one Of the recognized leaders, perhaps
the leading Negro in America today.