The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.12, page 174, May 1913, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers In many respects the same principles that bring about peace between individuals can be applied to nations, but it can not be done in a day; in fact, the most lasting and fundamental things are of slow growth. Many now living can remember the time when in this country it was thought to be not disgraceful for a business man or a public man to get intoxicated or to be known as a common drunkard. Through education of public sentiment the individual today who Is known to drink to excess is excluded from business and public office In a very large measure. It was once true in this country when the man who carried one or two pistols and perhaps a bowie knife on his body was looked upon as a brave man. Through education of public sentiment such a man today is looked upon as a coward and a coarse specimen of humanity. It was once true in this country as weld as in other countries, that the habit of dueling was countenanced and the participants were looked upon as heroes. That day has passed. If two business men in St. Louis having some disagreement on business should get out on the streets and attempt to shoot out their differences they would be disgraced in the commercial world. There is no more reason why nations should be permitted to settle their differences by the use of shot and powder than Is true of individuals. Throughout the civilized world we have learned that it is not safe to permit the two most interested parties in a dispute to settle their differences, but the differences are settled by a disinterested party. This has all come about through education of public sentiment. Only within the last few years in our own country, I am sorry to say, it was a common habit for individuals or groups of individuals who suspected a man of committing crime to band themselves together and lynch or burn the individual without trial before a proper tribunal. Public sentiment, I am glad to say, has been brought to bear upon the disgraceful habit of lynching until we have reduced the number of lynchings in this country to less than a third or fourth of what the number was twelve or fifteen years ago; in fact, during the last four months we have only had thirteen of these disgraceful crimes against civilization as compared with twice that number a year ago. In another respect the schools and colleges can perform an important task in bringing about international peace. The time is at hand when in all of our schools the man of peace, of industry, of scientific attainment and generosity should be exalted in our teaching above the man ~74