The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-08-17
UNCLE WATCHING TOM AND DOWN THE WHOLE GRE
WATSON

colored labor to the north, and in the
dire results of such emigration.
Here in the south we have been re-
minded of things we already know,
among these, the fact that right in
our midst we have a laboring man and
a servant in class free from the
confusing and disastrous entangle-
ments that come from such class
made up of people Of our own race.
We know that the south needs the
negro. The better people among US
realize this. We have accepted the
colored mans wlfare as a responsible
ity handed down from the good peo-
pie of an older generation. We hold
to the knowledge that southern pao-
pie Of good birth and breeding under
stand the negroes and make friends
Of them. and that intense prejudice
against them, and unfairness and
cruelty in dealing With them are evil
dences of what the darkeys call poor
white trash.
But we have been woefully careless
Of our trust We have dealt fairly
and squarely with the individual ne
gro only We have been remiss in
both philanthropy and business when
it comes to his people as a whole.
We have not made it worth their
while to stay with US. We are being
vigorously reminded that they should
be better taught, better housed. bet
ter fed. better paid
We understand here. as the north
does not. that higher education and
wider ambition can await the future
for the most of them. and that the
race as a whole should be helped to
do the things and fill the places for
which it is best fitted But. during
the last fifty years we have allowed
ourselves to be discouraged by the
misguided interference of outsiders.
We have failed in a manifest duty,
and it is time now that we were at it
again.
The first sentiment and the first
movements for the abolition of slav-
cry emanated from the south. We
would have set our slaves free, we
would have taught them efficiency and
religion in the work they were best
able to do. and would most gladly
have encouraged all unusual talent
among them towards things we are
pleased to call more worth while.
1t is the part of both duty and wis
dom to take up the work again. W.
need the negroes, and they are learn.
ing that they will find their best
home with us
Accusations and recriminations be-
tween the north and the south are I'M
wise and Improbable We have all
learned big lesson. and the south
will do well to turn it to good ac-
count
We believe that the negro can and
will work out a destiny in every way
worthy of his best ambition. 1t is our
part to accept the obligation to help
him. and we feel that the time will
come, or perhaps has already come,
when the south can demand of the
north justice and sincere dealings for
this race for whose welfare we may
hold ourselves responsible by reason
of understanding as we'll as of acec-
ton
Il is a pleasure to be able to quote
here, with full assent to the faith and
hope it expresses, the following quota
ton from an address to the gradual
ing class of the colored state college
at Frankfort, Kentucky, by Isaac Fish
er of Fisk University a man whose
braodminded culture and wisdom give
abundant proof of how truly such
things are possible to his people
If all the unexpressed good will.
kindness and appreciation which ne
groes and white people in the south
have for each other could be 'mobiliz-
ed and made vocal, we should have
"a new heaven on this part of the
earth.
But, unfortunately. the best of US
IN both races permit the worst to
speak and act for us in all matters of
mutual concern. But, please God. L
know that the two races will have a
new birth of mutual understanding
and mutual appreciation, if only we
can be patient and wait for the day
TO dawn. Annie Rankin. in South.
ern Woman's Magazine
MayOr JOhn W Martin Of TanLSor.#