The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-09-04

as renew our energies and double our
determination to blot out the crime Of
lynching from our civilization, wheth-
or the man be white man or q black
man. And here repeat that which
said in Louisiana a few weeks ago
we must have In this country law ad-
ministered by the court and not by
the mob. Along with the blotting out
Of lynchings there should go that other
relic Of barbarism. I refer to public
hangings.
I'm all these matters am pleading
not In the interest Of the Negro or the
white man, but in the interest of a
more strong and perfect civilization.
'tOur future Is before US, not behind
US. We are new race In a compare
lively new country. Let any who may
be inclined toward pessimism or dis
cord consider with me for few mo-
ments the opportunities that are before
us. It is always Of more value to con-
slider our advantages rather than our
Disadvantages. In considering ones
opportunities it is worth while not to
overlook the size Of our race.
"Thsre are only fourteen nations In
the world whose population exceeds
the number Of Negroes in the United
States. Norway has a population of
only 100000; Denmark, 2,7O0,OOO;
Bulgaria, 100000; Chile, 4,OOO,OOO;
Canada, 1000 900, and Argentina, 8, ,OOO,-
600. When we contemplate these fig-
ures and then remember that we, In
the United States alone, are 10000, 600
Negroes we can get some idea Of the
opportunities that are right about us.
"Let me be more specific in pointing
the way to these opportunities. II you
would ask where you are to begin
would answer, Begin where you are
As rule, the gold mine which we seek
In a far Off country is right at our door.
ut is seldom that it is ever so true
that In the space of one generation
30 many evidences Of real progress in
the fundamental things Of life can be
seen. Perhaps the changes In Japan
are the nearest akin to It.
"Since the league met In Boston ff-
teen years ago great changes have TAX
en- place among our people In proper
ty getting and In the promotion of in
dustrial and business enterprises
These changes have taken place not
solely because Of the work Of the
league, but this and similar organiza-
tons have had much to do with bring
ing about this progress. Let me be
more specific. . aa..t. -. -.:..
Eve have not the figures covering all
the Negro's wealth, but the federal CEN
sus bureau has just released q docu-
ment which gives the value of the Ne
gro's farm property alone as $1,142,-
100000. From 1900 to 1910 the Negroes
farm property increased 12S per cent.
In 1853 we had as race 1900 small
business enterprises of one kind and
another. At the present time the Ne
gro owns and operates about 5000
concerns, with an annual turnover Of
about 81, ,OO0, 100000 Within fifty years
we have made enough progress in bust
ness to warrant the operation Of over
fifty banks. With all that have said
we are still poor race as compared
with many others, but I have given
these figures to indicate the direction
in which we are travelling.
Few people are aware Of the fact
that we now have In our race after
only fifty years Of freedom 30 book
stores, Is department stores, IA five
and ten cent stores, 20 jewelry stores,
100 junk dealers, IS warehouses and
cold storage plants, 152 wholesale mer-
chants, 200 laundries, $50 livery sta
bles, 953 undertakers, 400 photogra-
pliers, 10 opticians, 75 hair goods man.
ufacturers, III old rag dealers, II buy
ers and shippers Of live stock.
Everywhere we should be proud Of
the Negro race and loyal to the great
human family Of whatever color.
Whenever we consider what is now
going on in Europe, where all the peo-
pie are Of one color, and then compare
these conditions. with present condi-
tions and our task for our race, we
ought to thank our Creator that condi-
lions are so well with us and that we
live beneath the stars and stripes.