reached these conclusions by
reason of my own observations and experience, after eighteen years of
direct contact with the leading and influential coloured and white men
in most parts of our country. But I wish first to mention some
elements of danger in the present situation, which all who desire the
permanent welfare of both races in the South should carefully
consider.

_First._--There is danger that a certain class of impatient extremists
among the Negroes, who have little knowledge of the actual conditions
in the South, may do the entire race injury by attempting to advise
their brethren in the South to resort to armed resistance or the use
of the torch, in order to secure justice. All intelligent and
well-considered discussion of any important question or condemnation
of any wrong, both in the North and the South, from the public
platform and through the press, is to be commended and encouraged;
but ill-considered, incendiary utterances from black men in the North
will tend to add to the burdens of our people in the South rather than
relieve them.

_Second._--Another danger in the South, which should be guarded
against, is that the whole white South, including the wide,
conservative, law-abiding element, may find itself represented before
the bar of public opinion by the mob, or lawless element, which gives
expression to its feelings and tendency in a manner that advertises
the South throughout the world. Too often those who have no sympathy
with such disregard of law are either silent or fail to speak in a
sufficiently emphatic manner to offset, in any large degree, the
unfortunate reputation which the lawless have too often made for many
portions of the South.

_Third._--No race or people ever got upon its feet without severe and
constant struggle, often in the face of the greatest discouragement.
While passing through the present trying period of its history, there
is danger that a large and valuable element of the Negro race may
become discouraged in the effort to better its condition. Every
possible influence should be exerted to prevent this.

_Fourth._--There is a possibility that harm may be done to the South
and to the Negro by exaggerated newspaper articles which are written
near the scene or in the midst of specially aggravating occurrences.
Often these reports are written by newspaper men, who give the
impression that there is a race conflict throughout the South, and
that all Southern white peop