St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-29
Rev.A.1olTeN

mitted by the incredulous few years
ago. The race problem is no longer
theory, but condition. Twenty-Five
years ago people thought its solution
would be as difficult as splitting board
against the grain, but the colored man
has found that it is possible to split The
question with the grain, and has showed
aside opposition ana left the way streWn
with examples of the folly OF trying the
cross-grained cut. The colOred people
found their way open to obtain an edu-
cation, to acquire wealth, land to enter all
the professions, and even politics. They
have met with fair success in all lines
of business and the professions usually
entered into by American citizens.
Rev. August Tolton, of Chicago, is an
example of what may be accomplished
by one born to adversely. He is the
only Roman Catholic priest in America.
The subjoined sketch of his career will
be found interesting and illustrative of
the two propositions. namely: The
possible solution of the race problem
and that the road to preferment is open
to the most humble whose lot is to be
denizen of the LAND OF the free and the
home of the brave" !
Rev. August Tolton was born of slave
parents April 1, 1854, in Rails county,
Mo-, on the farm Of Steven Elliott. In
the latter part of 1861 he and HIS
parents made their escape and went to
Quincy, Ill. Being boy seven years
old he was put to work in a tobacco fac
tory, where he was employed nine
months out of the year for twelve years.
The other three months he attended,
St. Peters parochial school. The sisters
of Notre Dame took an interest i'll him,
and particularly Sister Mary Eustachia,
who is now superior at Oconto, WIS,
who helped him to procure all educa-
ton. He was found to possess a bright
mind and a remarkable aptitude for
general education. Rev. Peter Nc
CURE, of st. Peters in Quincy, be
came interested in him as. he grew up
and urged him to study for the priest
hood. He commenced to acquire clas-
steal education at once, and was alded
in this pursuit through the Franciscans
and partly by other Catholic priests. He
passed three years under the tutorShlp
of Rev. Theodore Wegman at Rosall.
Father Michael Richard, the present
rector of st. Joseph college, OF Tecu-
topolis, ILL.,, obtained his admission to
the propaganda in Rome. He COM
menced course OF instruction III that
ancient city on March 12, 1880, and de-
voted six years to qualifying himself for
his then future life work. In 1856 he
was ordained by Cardinal Parochi. the
vicar general of Rome, in one OF the seven
basilica of the pope, St.John Laterns. He
remained in Rome one month OH being
ordained, after which he was sent to his
home at Quincy. Soon thereafter he
was called TO Chicago by his grace
Archbishop P. A. Feehan, where he
was put in charge of a parish. Father
Tolton is good linguist, speaking sew
eral languages fuently. His success in
the short time he has been in Chicago
has been most successful. He is now
thirty-six years old, and gives promise
of marked progress.
Father Tolton personally is of fine
physique-fully six feet high and
Straight as an arrow. His mall
ner is cordial and pieasant--fre e
from affectation. He came here at the re-
quest of Father Harrison to deliver an
address on Monday night in Newman
ket hall, before st. Peter Claver'S Sodal-
ity. His subject will be ''The Progress
Made by the Colored People" This
morning he will celebrate high mass at
the Cathedral, and tonight he will
speak in st. Peter Claver's church.