Walter Clinton Jackson

“ Everybody expected Washington to accept some kind of political position, but he steadfastly refused. Time after time, men of his own race and white men urged him to run for office, or accept an appointment by the President to high office. This he absolutely refused to do. He said that his service, whatever it was worth, would be given, not in politics but in education. He believed that entirely too much emphasis had been placed on holding office by the negro, just after the war. ”

“ I contend that, in relation to his vote, the negro should more and more consider the interests of the community in which he lives, rather than seek alone to please some one who lives a thousand miles from him and his interests. ”

“ Just as soon as the South gets over the feeling that it is being forced by 'foreigners' or 'aliens' to do something which it does not want to do, I believe that the change in the direction that I have indicated is going to begin. ”