Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 25 November 1908 Charles W. Chesnutt Stephanie Browner Kenneth M. Price Matt Cohen Transcription, encoding and proofing Swift, Bianca Matheis, Caitlin S. Anderson, Antje Weakly, Laura K. Barney, Brett Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, University of Nebraska-Lincoln The New School University of Nebraska-Lincoln UCARE Program 2022 The Charles W. Chesnutt Archive
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 Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 25 November 1908 November 25, 1908 Transcription derived from scan of microfilmed original. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946 https://lccn.loc.gov/mm78044669 MSS44669 39 36 Chesnutt, Charles Waddell Correspondence Brewer, David J. Day, William R. Holmes, Oliver Wendell Taft, William Howard Ohio Berea College typed letter signed Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell) Cleveland, Ohio Washington, Booker T. Tuskegee, Alabama Unknown Unknown Laura K. Weaklycommented out links to unpublished prev/next Brett Barney instituted Stephanie's proofing corrections Laura K. Weaklyproofed Antje Andersonannotated Caitlin Matheisproofed Bianca SwiftTranscribed, encoded, and proofed Bianca Swifttranscribed and encoded
CHAS. W. CHESNUTT 1105 WILLIAMSON BUILDING CLEVELAND, O.
no. ans. no answer sent Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1908.
Dr. Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Institute, Ala.
My dear Dr. Washington:-

I was duly in receipt several weeks ago of a long and interesting and cheerful letter from you in answer to mine of a prior date and somewhat pessimistic vein. What you say is very interesting and gives great ground for hope. I fear that there is not much hope for the negro's right in the South except along that line, for from recent indications he is going to get very small aid or comfort through the Constitution or the Supreme Court or Congress. I quite agree with the Evening Post that the decisions in the Berea College case was almost another Dred Scott decision;‸it practically amounts to an absolute abandonment of any Constitutional protection of ‸many of the negro's rights anywhere, for what one state may do another state may do. I am delighted to see that Justice Day, from Ohio, with whom I am personally acquainted, dissented from the opinion of Justice Brewer, Holmes et al.

I hope that the new President, who is also an Ohio man, will use his influence in favor of the fair and just and Constitutional thing.

I return herewith the newspaper cuttings which you were good enough to send me.

Very truly yours, Chas. W. Chesnutt.