Washington's theories have gained. These same
men admire his sincerity of purpose, and are willing to
forgive much to honest endeavor which is doing something
worth the doing. They cooperate with Mr. Washington as far
as they conscientiously can; and, indeed, it is no ordinary
tribute to this man's tact and power that, steering as he must
between so many diverse interests and opinions, he so largely
retains the respect of all.
But the hushing of the criticism of honest opponents is a
dangerous thing. It leads some of the best of the critics to
unfortunate silence and paralysis of effort, and others to burst
into speech so passionately and intemperately as to lose lis-
teners. Honest and earnest criticism from those whose inter-
ests are most nearly touched,--criticism of writers by readers,
--this is the soul of democracy and the safeguard of modern
society. If the best of the American Negroes receive by outer
pressure a leader whom they had not recognized before,
manifestly there is here a certain palpable gain. Yet there is
also irreparable loss,--a loss of that peculiarly valuable educa-
tion which a group receives when by search and criticism it
finds and commissions its own leaders.
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