IX. At the end of these fifty years of freedom, we find that one of the chief sources of demoralization to the race is strong drink. A careful examination of the facts as they exist, and as they have existed during these fifty years will show that to it, more than to any other single influence, the bad record of crime which the race has made and is still making, is due. It has been an unmitigated curse to the race, eating up its hard earnings, sapping its physical strength, engendering idle and vicious habits, and breaking down character at all points. Thousands of our young men are finding their way into saloons and into gambling and other places of demoralization closely affiliated with them. Strong drink is responsible for most of the things that have given us a black eye, that have furnished the enemies of the race with the materials which they have used in the assaults which they have made upon us from time to time. The intemperate Negro who is found lurking about these drinking places is the one who is taken as representative of the race; and in this way the race's good name has been injured and is still being injured. The race has not escaped during these fifty years the blighting effects of strong drink, especially, in the cities, is this fact most noticeable. X. At the end of these fifty years another fact should be noted in passing, we have grown in numbers, we have more than doubled in numerical strength. In spite of many adverse circumstances—in spite of disease and poverty, bad sanitary conditions and an enormous death rate, the race has not only during these fifty years been able to maintain its own, but has steadily increased in numbers. There is no evidence, at the end of the first half century of freedom, that the race is dying out; that it is deficient in physical stamina. Such are some of the facts that stand out in this record of fifty years. In the light of these facts, as we enter upon the second half of the century of freedom, there are a few things that we ought to impress ourselves with; and a few things that ought to be said to our white fellow citizens. I. A word to ourselves. There are certain things that we need to thoroughly impress ourselves with.