Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-25
Fin the tub with old P.W.l
We can excavste each pore
OF the dirt, now alta premium.
Water runs on every floor!
EDUCATORS OF COLORED YOUTH.

Water runs on every floor!
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EDUCATORS OF COLORED YOUTH.
Their Important Conference Begun in
This City Today.
ELOQUENT OPENING ADDRESS OF PROF. GREGORY
GRAVE QUESTIONS DISCUSSED - SYMPATHETIC
SPEECH OF JUDGE ToURsEE-HE Is AGAINST THE
BLAIR BILL-LETTER FROM GEORGE ". CABLE.
The initial meeting Of the conference Of edu-
Gators of colored youth was held this morning
IN the Lincoln Memorial Congregational
church, at the corner of 18th and r streets
northwest. Prof J. NJ. Gregory, Jesse Law
son, F. j. Shadd, II. T. Moss and g. D.
Fowler, the committee of the Howard
university alumni by whom the conference was
called, were present and welcomed the dele
gates as they entered the church. large
number of the delegates were seated when the
conference was formally opened at II O'Clock.
1t was an inteuigent-lookins body Of men and
women and their representative character
gave the meeting an importance which was
fully realized by the speakers In addition to
those who attended as delegates there were
present number OF spectators. Among these
was Judge Tourgee, the well-known author,
Prof. Buckley Of Howard university and e1-Tax
Collector Of the District John F. Cook.
Prof. j. NJ. Gregory as chairman Of the
alumni committee called the conference to
order, and the exercises were begun with
PRAYER by Bishop Brown Of the A NJ E. church
Mr.. Lawson, from the committee, nominated
Prof. Gregory for temporary chairman and
Prof. Atkinson Of Salisbury, NC, as temporary
secretary and they we're elected.
AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME
was then delivered by Prof Gregory, and his
thoughtful utterances received the serious at
tentlon of the conference. He welcomed the
delegates to the city, which he, said, by reason
of the fine public buildings. the splendid streets
and avenues and elegant Residences. is consl dered
one OF the most beautiful capitals OF the
world. The city is destined, he said. to be
distinguished because of the art galleries.
museums. public libraries, excellent common
schools, universities and institutions of learn
ing which are gradually making it the literary
center OF the country.
ORIGIN OF THE CONFERENCE
He then proceeded to explain that the con-
ference had originated through action taken
at the last annual dinner Of the college alumni
of Howard university. 1t was then decided to
call together those engaged in the education of
colored youth. A committee was appointed
to make the necessary arrangements and under
their direction circulars we're sent out to all
the leading schools and institutions Of the
country. The responses received expressed
sympathy with the movement and cooperation
and hence it was decided to issue the call
for the conference. The speaker said that
the present seemed to be an opportune time for
such meeting. The work Of education among
the colored people has been in progress for a
period covering nearly q generation Now is
the time, said the speaker, to compare
views OF the present situation and to
consider the future. He expressed the hope
that permanent organization would result
from this meeting. 1t was not the purpose he
said, in forming this organization to antago-
nize the national association of educators or
any other similar body. But as educators, he
went on, We find
CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF PECULIAR INTEREST
arising from the condition of the colored peo-
pie in this country which require earnest con-
sideration, the solution of which rests largely
with the Afro-American himself The one
great question which absorbs public attention,
the speaker asserted, is will education SO affect
the relations existing between the white and
colored people OF the country as to enable
them to dwell together in harmony and unity.
against colored people was not due
to their color, but to the
low estimate placed upon them a. bondsmen.
In slavery the colored people were trained in
those things which would add to their value
as property, but deprived Of that which ap-
pealed to their manhood. Education must nov
come In to restore what has been withheld. In
his opinion
THE STORM WHICH HAS ARISEN
in some quarters caused by the opposition to
the proper recognition OF the negro as a citi-
zen ought not to be attempted to be cslmed BY
throwing the negro overheard from the shin Of
state. He thought that there was NO fear Of
such result.
He quoted statistics TO show that education
has not kept pace with advancing population
In those states where illiteracy il the greatest
there - an inability on the part Of the state
other remedy for this condition than national
aid. He thought that the effort made to secure
this would be renewed until il was crowned
with success. President Harrison the speaker
said, recognising the Importance Of
prevail in his last message to Congress
in language which reflects the far-sseing states
manship Of our chief executive. He quoted
the portion referred to in the message and
| then went OH to review the merits and defects
OF the present system OF instruction. He ad-
vocated the importance Of maintaining schools
| OF higher grade, but ut the same time
said that the great mass Of youth never reach
the higher grades. He thought that owing to
hshed everywhere. He spoke of the numerous
openings to honorable positions offered to the
tions
THE coLoRED BOT Is ExcLupKp
from such employment as 10 found in counting
houses, work shops. on street-car lines a.
drivers and conductors, on the railroads as
engineers, dremen, brakemen, &c. It 10 sv-
ident, the speaker said, that the coiored
people, If they would maintain thsmsslvss
In this country, must follow these yery our.
suits. He thought this could be brought about
by establishing separate industrial schools in
| connection with the common schoola
In conclusion the speaker exprsssed the
opinion that there vas q bright future for the
colored people in this country. He rpoks OF
the encouraging progress which they hsa msds
| in education and the change which was going