Those who heard it seemed to be pleased with what I said and with the general position that I took.
When I first came to Tuskegee, I determined that I would make it my home, that I would take as much pride in the right actions of the people of the town as any white man could do, and that I would, at the same time, deplore the wrong-doing of the people as much as any white man.

I determined never to say anything in a public address in the North that I would not be willing to say in the South.

I early learned that it is a hard matter to convert an individual by abusing him, and that this is more often accomplished by giving credit for all the praiseworthy actions performed than by calling attention alone to all the evil done.
While pursuing this policy I have not failed, at the proper time and in the proper manner, to call attention, in no uncertain terms, to the wrongs which any part of the South has been guilty of.

I have found that there is a large element in the South that is quick to respond to straightforward, honest criticism of any wrong policy.

As a rule, the place to criticise the South, when criticism is necessary, is in the South--not in Boston.