The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-05
EDUCATION OF COLORED MEN
The Graduates of Lincoln University
Asking Aid for the Institution,
Addresses by Revs. J. c. Price, W. H. Goler.
W. II. Weaver, W. R. Bingham, and
0therS-Interestin Statements.

''You must not estimate the sympathy that
the citizens of Indianapolis feel in the education
of the colored man by the attendance here this
evening" said Rev. James Mcleod at the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church last night, as he intro
duced to the small audience the negro graduates
of Lincoln University who are now on a tour
through the West, their mission being to inter
est the people in the higher education of the
negro, and, if possible, to enlist their sympathy
and aid in that work, which has been so auspi-
ciously begun. Rev. Joseph Chester, of Cincin-
natl who has long been known in connection
with philanthropic work, spoke first,
briefly describing Lincoln University and
its work. This university for the education
of colored men is forty -seven miles from Phila-
delphia. 1t now has go students. 1t has over
200 graduates, and of these more than 100 are
now working in the Christian ministry, some
having gone as missionaries to Africa, where
others of the graduates have died. The institu-
ton has an endowment fund of $3.50, 900, invested
in real estate and other property.
MR. PRICES ADDRESS.
Rev. J. G, Price, president of Zion Wesley
Institute, of Salisbury, N. c., spoke on Negro
Capabilities and Progress He is full-blooded
negro, born in North Carolina. His father was
a slave, but his mother being free woman he
was free-born. Mr. Price has the voice of
an orator, full round and agreeable,
and he is an eloquent speaker He said
that the children of Israel as slaves of the
Egyptians, had reached a greater degradation
than that of the American slave, but, led cut of
Egypt, they came in time to be great nation.
This nation of slaves became the model of the
world in all that was refined and polished Its
wonderful temple was before the architecture of
Greece, and its poets before Homer AS the
providence of GOD was in the elevation of that
people, so it is in the elevation of the negro,
beaten, neglected i'll fed, unpaid, untaught.
That sort of thing could no more control in
America than in Egypt. In the backwoods of
Illinois God prepared deliverer and in good
time 200, 900 of this race snatched up sword and
musket and battled for the country that gave
them their freedom. Canaan was not entered at
once, but the Red sea at least was crossed. He
soon found that he had not reached the full
stature of American citizenship but was still in
his infancy and is vet. But he has advanced
some The land that he once sowed in trem-
bling fear he sows in hope and reaps in
courage. Notwithstanding that he has been i'm
negro is accommodating wealth. He is becoming
the owner of the farms and plantations of his
former masters. 1t is told that the plantation
once owned by jefferson Davis is low owned by
two negroes who were once slaves upon it-a
plantation worth 5000 000 Over Sc, 600, 600 in
land, accumulated since the war, is now owned
by colored men in Georgia The col
ored people have built railroads and
bridges, have digged canals and have titled
the soil. In 1878 they produced for
the American people more than 5000, 000,0 900 of
commodities In the face of this fact he is
called lazy Or his work is ridiculed as unskiled
labor
The speaker went on to show the disadvant-
ages of the negro in his struggle against South
ern political prejudices and Northern prejudice,
and showed conclusively the necessity for the
higher education of the colored race In North
Carolina great advance has been made in the
higher education of colored youth. Among the
educational institutions of that State wholly or
in part conducted by colored teachers and at
tended by coored youth he named Biddle Univer-
sity, Charlotte; Shaw University, Raleigh; Zion
Wesley Institute. Salisbury; Scotia Seminary,
Concord Bennett University, Greensboro and
the St Augustine, and four State normal schools.
Over 900 young men and women are attending
these, preparing for work among their people.
There are fifteen newspapers in North Carolina
edited, owned and controlled by eolored men.
There is opportunity to feel somewhat encour-
aged at this, but when view is taken through
other Southern States and along the border this
is to be considered, so far as the masses of the
colored people are concerned as but a drop in
the bucket.
OTHER ADDRESSES