Herald of Kansas., 1880-05-14
EDUCATION.

SPEECH OF HON. H. G. BRUCE
OF ATCHISON, AT THE LATE
COLORED STATE CONVEN.
TION, HELD IN TOPEKA.
Mr.. President and Members Of the
Convention:
Several years have passed since we
met in : convsntiOn of rk.s kinA-
one composed Of cOlored men only.
l take IL that we are here to delibe.
rate upon the adoption cf sOnDo line
Of policy which will be OF great
benefit to the colored people OF Kan
sas. / am mindful OF the fact that
politics will enter largely into our
deliberations, for our political ccndi-
ton requires it; but, sir, there are as
great or greater interests at stake 10
us as race than the election OF q
President Of this great Republic. viz !:
the education OF our children, so 8
TO fit them for higher positions In
life than to be ':hewe.s Of wOOd and
drawers Of waters," As We are and
have been since the day upon which
the first cargo Of Africans landed
np0n the shores Of America. Even
the emancipation Of our race from
abjcct slavery did not ameliorate our
condition ia this respect. and unless
we turn our attention moro directly
TO the education OF ourselves and our
children, q hundred years hence will
fnd US just what we are nOw-the
poorest Of the poor, and servants for
the prosperous and educated classes
We can never expect to rise TO
ominence and distinction, TO iMfu-
cnce and wealth. 80 long a. We be-
stow so much time and monev 10 the
caring for sO.called "spiritusl inter
eSts," at the expense Of intellectual
improvement. Az people we
abandon the higher pleasures which
intelligence affords, and place q pre-
mum upon ignorance aud Rupersti-
tiOn but that life which is AImply q
growth in iKnOrGnce-O growth in
anriquated and exploded superstition
"a growth in all those qualities
which pander 10 the worst passiona
Of our nature-iS = life i'll Apept. The
watchwOrd Of this age is culture, and
culture is the handmade Of all true
religion. The religious man will
undoubtedly become = man OF cul-
ture. | believe in preparing to live,
as well As die. No race of people
can prosper ia this or any other
country who do not cherish and fos-
ter education, and no uneducated
race OF people have prOSpered perma-
nently.
Mr.. ChSirman, l do not want to be
understood ~ All enemy to religion
or as against the ministry or minis
terS Of tho gospel: tor we cannot ex-
pect to succeed without their aid-it
IL absolutely necessary. But, Hir,
am opposed TO senAing 30 many OF
our bows off 10 college 10 learn TO be
ministers. We have tCC many So
called ministers on hand now. am
Informed. from reliable sources that
VIC have more ministers, according
to numbers, than any other race upon
Gods tOOtstOOl that We have min
lister for every six members Uf our
churches. 1t was only few days
ago noticed report of some COL
Iege in Virginia. whose name | have
forgotten, which had eighty young
cOlOred students, and sixty-Cne OF
them were for the ministry. In
conversation with Prof. III It Greemer,
Dean Of Howard Univer.ity, Wash
ingt"n. D. @, few days ago, he aaid
that 80 per cent Of The graduating
class from the several cOiorpd co..
legcs were for the ministry. f tell
YOU, Mr.. Chairman. that we must
stop these m2chines which gave
out so many ministers. We want
lawyers, doctors and other profea.
sional men; we want business men.
men competent TO hll any position Of
honor, emOlGmeGt or trust; so that
when we have \ chance TO elect
man 10 some official position we will
not have To draw upoA the ministry
To get such mas. | am opposed 10
mixing religion with politics. When
y minister has 10 leave his pulpit 10
dabhle in politics. h. il lowering his
high calling; he is bringing disgrace
and degradation upon his profess
Sion Let Us raise up Young men
especially educated tor leaders i'm
politics. believe much might be
accomplished by the ministry i'm this
respect. fnr they have the ears Of
their c"ngrega'ions-yes. OF the
community; fOr they are listened to