t to carry the lines failed. That thin gray line there in the gray
dawn set themselves to meet the on-rushing columns and hold them till
knowledge of the attack spread and succor arrived. You may not agree
with me that what happened at that time is happening now; but I tell you
as one who has stood on the line, that we are not only holding it for
ourselves, but for you. It is the white people of the South that are
standing to-day between you and the dread problem that now confronts us.
They are the thin line of Anglo-Saxons who are holding the broken breach
with all their might till succor comes. And I believe the light will
come, the day will break and you yourselves stand shoulder to shoulder
with us, and then with this united, great American people we can face
not only the colored race at the South, but we can face all other races
of the world. That is what I look for and pray for, and there are many
millions of people who are doing the same to-night.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not speaking in any spirit which I think
will challenge your serious criticism. We are ready to do all we can to
accord full justice to that people. I have many, many friends among
them. I know well what we owe to that race in the past. I am their
sincere well-wisher in the present and for the future. They are more
unfortunate than to blame; they have been misdirected, deceived. Not
only the welfare of the white people of the South and the welfare of the
white people of the North, but the salvation of the negro himself
depends upon the carrying out, in a wise way, the things which I have
outlined, very imperfectly, I know. When that shall be done we will find
the African race in America, instead of devoting its energies to the
uncomprehended and futile political efforts which have been its curse in
the past, devoting them to the better arts of peace, and then from that
race will come intellects and intellectual achievements which may
challenge and demand the recognition of the world. Then those intellects
will come up and take their places and be accorded their places, not
only willingly, but gladly. This is already the new line along which
they are advancing, and their best friends can do them no greater
service than to encourage and assist them in it; their worst enemy could
do them no greater injury than to deflect them from it.

This is a very imperfect way, I am aware, ladies and gentlemen, of
presenting the matter, but I hope you will a