d that he had proven himself a conservative,
thoughtful citizen; and they were willing to trust him in a public
office. Such individual examples will have to be multiplied until they
become the rule rather than the exception. While we are multiplying
these examples, the Negro must keep a strong and courageous heart. He
cannot improve his condition by any short-cut course or by artificial
methods. Above all, he must not be deluded into the temptation of
believing that his condition can be permanently improved by a mere
battledore and shuttlecock of words or by any process of mere mental
gymnastics or oratory alone. What is desired, along with a logical
defence of his cause, are deeds, results,--multiplied results,--in the
direction of building himself up, so as to leave no doubt in the minds
of any one of his ability to succeed.

An important question often asked is, Does the white man in the South
want the Negro to improve his present condition? I say, "Yes." From
the Montgomery (Alabama) _Daily Advertiser_ I clip the following in
reference to the closing of a coloured school in a town in Alabama:--

"EUFAULA, May 25, 1899.

"The closing exercises of the city coloured public school were
held at St. Luke's A. M. E. Church last night, and were witnessed
by a large gathering, including many white. The recitations by
the pupils were excellent, and the music was also an interesting
feature. Rev. R. T. Pollard delivered the address, which was
quite an able one; and the certificates were presented by
Professor T. L. McCoy, white, of the Sanford Street School. The
success of the exercises reflects great credit on Professor S. M.
Murphy, the principal, who enjoys a deservedly good reputation as
a capable and efficient educator."

I quote this report, not because it is the exception, but because such
marks of interest in the education of the Negro on the part of the
Southern white people can be seen almost every day in the local
papers. Why should white people, by their presence, words, and many
other things, encourage the black man to get education, if they do not
desire him to improve his condition?

The Payne Institute in Augusta, Georgia, an excellent institution, to
which I have already referred, is supported almost wholly by the
Southern white Methodist church. The Southern white Presbyterians
support a theological school at Tus