The broad ax., 1916-04-15
WHERE THE NEGRO DECIDES.

90 My father was co-work- !
er with William Lloyd Garrison, Wen
dell Phillips and others of that period,
so was brought up in belief in the
possibilities of the Colored people,
who seem to me a remarkable race in
their capabilities. What other race
has accomplished so much with such
handicaps?"
Such is the confidence of one of the
good friends of our race who gives I'M
selfishly of her resources not only to
help Tuskegee Institute, but to help
many other Colored schools. We
quote from this particular letter be-
cause it is typical of that sympathy
for us which exists among many white
people, North and South. 1t is that
innate feeling of sympathy and long
suffering which the righteous strong
bears towards the helpless and striv-
ing weak.
All along the line of the forward
march of our race, there will be tests
of various sorts; tests Of courage, OF
patriotism, of patience, of race loyal
ty, of race solidarity and countless
other tests of varying shades and diff
ferences. In these tests, the race is
always con trial" before the public
opinion and hesitating or doubling
friends are quick to express the belief
that we cannot measure up to the
requirements. Doubters will chal-
lenge and scoffers deride, but always
the Negro must decide in these tests.
The Booker T. Washington Memori-
al Fund in which the Colored people
have been asked to contribute for the
erection of a permanent monument to
DR.. Washington and to perpetuate the
work which he founded, is test i'm
posed upon the race by circumstances
and conditions. 1t is test of loyalty
2 to the races biggest single organiza-
ton and a test of appreciation for the
service unselfshly rendered by the
l races most noted educator and organ
2 izer.
One cannot read the following edit
orial remarks from the New Bedford
Massachusetts, Evening Standard
, without approaching the significance
!. of the statement above that the white
people of the country regard this cam
= paign among our people as a test OF
our sense of loyalty. 1t is as follows:
. But perhaps the best part
of the whole scheme is that which pro
! poses that the Colored people of this
country shall contribute an eighth
y. part Of this amount. Two hundred
: and fifty thousand dollars is the por
= ton of the fund that the people OF
Washington's race and of the race
. that is directly benefting by the main
tenance of the school are especially
asked to provide. The appeal puts the
matter in exactly the right way-tha'
. quite properly, the trustees have felt
that the bedrock Of interest IN this
:, effort must rest with the Colored peo-
pie.
at is an inspiring movement to con
template this of the Negroes broadcast
throughout the country contributing
to the cause of education as a tribute
to the member of their race that did e
great work in the cause. Nothing
could bring it nearer their own heart.
or strengthen their desire for its full
est development than sacrificing some
;, thing of their own pleasure or oven OF
:. comfort for some measure of its full
= fillment at Tuskegee."
Another significant statement or
!, this subject comes from a Southern
white man whose letter was published
in the last issue of The Student Thi.
letter was from a County Judge II
Texas who had been requested to sent
the names of Colored school teachers
in his county. We repeat his brief let
ter here:
1--WE have no Negro schools here
e There is not Colored man, woman Of
r child in my county. I herewith en-
y close my personal check for One Dol
t lar to put into the great cause thai
e you represent Booker T. Washing
g ton was a great man and should never
q be forgotten by your race"
i Here are white people, the one In
: Massachusetts, the other in Texas:
g though they may have differences Of
!, opinion and traditions, yet In this ont