The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-15
TWO REPLIES MADE ID ABERNETHY ON STATUS OF NEGRO Rev. M. s. Barnwell Pays Special Tribute to Worlds "Idealist Dreamers" DIR. RILEY ASKS
 SIMPLE JUSTICE MT. Barnwell Thinks on Reflection Judge Abernethy will Acquit
 Sociological Congress of
 Any Discourtesy

Among the comments brought out oy Judge H. B. Abernethys recent address before the Alabama Sociological congress on the negro question are letters on the subject by the Rev. Middleton s. Barn well. newly elected president of the con- gress. and pr. B. F. Riley. Their letters read as follows:
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 In reference to the interview with Judge Abernethy, published in this morning s Age-Herald, there are few things that need to be said in justice to the hundreds of thoughtful and earnest men and wom- en who compose the Alabama Sociological congress.
 In the first place it needs to be said that no discourtesy whatever was shown the judge when he made his remarkable speech, though he was answered vigor- ously, and to the minds of those present, conclusively, at the close of his remarks. Secondly, it needs to be said that no dis courtesy has been shown him since he made the speech in question: as no refer ence whatever, not one single word, has been made to him or to the speech since he left the auditorium. The only possible discourtesy has been that we do not agree with the sentiments he expressed. If that be dscourteous on our part it is equally so on the part of the judge be- cause he does not agree with ours.
 Speaking of this delicate matter of courtesy, I pass over the implied longing for 'flap-doodle,' whatever that may be, our itense longing to be patted on the back I pass over the utter contempt" not Of but on the part of the court for us as mutual admiration society not broad minded enough to concede that opinions other than ours are worthy of consideration though I would add that the judges point of view received full consideration in the south during the re- construction period, from the effects Of which consideration we are just beginning to recover). I pass over all these delicate courtesies on the part of the judge and
 would speak just one word in regard to the idealist dreams of reformers." SOME IDEALIST DREAMERS For the idealist dreams of the reform CTS we do most earnestly and heartily thank God. The Ten. Commandments were among the earliest of these dreams. The Sermon on the Mount is another. The Declaration of Independence was another. The pages of the worlds his tory are filled with the dreams of ideal- | ist reformers, and the pages of history I are glorious with the account of those ideals realized and splendid with the story 1 of the dreams that came true. Coming closer home I would like to cite the dreams of Thomas Mott Osborne, which
 have resulted in the cleaning up of Sing Sing. the pest hole of New York state. I would cite the dreams of Jane Addams and Florence Kelly, which have material ized into thousands of reclaimed girls and women. I would cite the dreams of a Marcus Fagg which last year alone re
 suited in the redemption of nearly a thousand babies in Florida from homes of indescribable immortality. I would cite the dreams of Mrs. G. H. Mathis which are bringing prosperity to the farmers of this south country; I would cite the dream of Dr. George Eaves, which has ma aterialiZed into a senatorium on Red mountain for the treatment of the great white plague. And I do dare to cite the dreams of a Booker Washington, who for the past 16 years. while the judge was sending the colored youth to the jails and mines, was sending other colored youth into the farms and skilled trades of the nation. The judge is eminently correct when he calls US dreamers We dream of a day when the negro will no longer be treated as tbeast" We dream of day when he shall secure al the hands of our courts the same brand of justice that the white man enjoys We dream of day when he shall be taken from the mine. of a day when we shall be courageoussto atone for the mis- takes of past years. God knows we are rot of the abolitionist negro worshippers No man is hero to us because his skin i is black. But God also knows that we
 are the friends of a race that has not
 had even a fighting chance, and we are going to dream and we are going to fight
 until with our help the negro has chance Ito work out the racial destiny that is rightly his.
 l I regret to have to differ with the judge. because I am glad to count him
 among my own personal friends. but I
 am sure that upon reflection he will pub lcly acquit us of the charge of dis
 courtesy. Our dscourtesv and our mis- fortune, perhaps or his. have been merely
 that we do not think alike.
 MIDDLETON S. FAREWELL,
 President Alabama Sociological Congress. Birmingham March IA 1917