The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1915-11-27

gines, newspapers, books, stationary,
carving, paintings the management of
drug stores and banks, has not been
trodden without contact with thorns
and thistles. While we take pride in
what we exhibit as a result in our in
dependent efforts we do not for a mo-
ment forget that our part in this expo
sition would fall far short of your ex-
position, but for the constant help to
our educational life not only from
Southern states, but especially from
Northern philanthropists who have
made their gifts a constant stream of
blessing and encouragement. The
wisest among my race understand that
the agitation of questions of social
equality is EXTREMIST folly, and that
the progress in the enjoyment of all
the privileges that will come to us,
must be the result of severe and con-
slant struggle, rather than of artificial
forcing. No race that has anything
to contribute to the markets of the
world is long in any degree ostracised.
1t is important and right that all privi-
leges of the law be ours, but is vastly
more important that we be prepared
for the exercise of these privileges.
The opportunity to earn dollar in a
factory just now is worth infinitely
more than the opportunity to spend a
dollar in an opera house.
In conclusion, may I repeat that
nothing in thirty years has given us
more hope and encouragement and
nothing has drawn us so near to you
of the white race as the opportunity
offered by this exposition, and here
bending, as it were, over the altar that
represents the struggles of your race
and mine, both starting practically
empty handed three decades ago, 1
pledge that in your effort to work out
the great and intricate problem which
God has laid at the doors of the South
you shall have at all times the patient
sympathetic help of my race, only let
this be constantly in mind, that while
from representations in these build
ings of the product of field, of forest,
of mill, of factory, letters and art,
much good will come, yet far above
and beyond material benefit, will be
the higher good, that let US pray God
will come, in blotting out of sectional
differences and social animosities and
suspicious, in a determination to ad-
minister absolute justice, in willing
obedience among all classes to the
mandates of the law and a spirit that
will tolerate nothing but the highest
equity in the enforcement of the law.
This coupled with our material pros
perity will bring into our beloved South
a new heaven and a new earth.
The above Grafton in the twinkling
of an eye made Booker T. Washington
famous throughout the civilized world
and shortly after its delivery he was
offered fifty thousand dollars a year
to do nothing but travel and lecture
throughout this country.
His address so pleased and delighted
the late President Grover Cleveland
that he penned him the following let
ter:
The autograph letter is dated
Gray Gables, Buzzard's Bay, Mass,
October 6, 1895,
Booker T. Washington, Esq,
My Dear SIR
1 thank you for sending me a copy
of your address delivered at the At
lanta Exposition. I thank you with
much enthusiasm for making the ad-
dress. I have read with intense in
terest, and 7 think the Exposition
would be fully justified if it did not
do more than furnish the opportunity
for its delivery, your words cannot fail
to delight and encourage all who wish
we'll for your race; and if our Colored
fellow citizens do not from your utter
ances gather new hope and form new
to gain every valuable
advantage offered them by their citi-
.enship, it will be very strange indeed.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.