Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-28
EDUCATION FOR THE NEGRO.
Close Of the Colored Conference-A
Platform Adopted.

| close OF the COlOroO COn1efence-A
Platform Adopted.
At the afternoon session Of the conference Of
educators of the colored youth yesterday at
| Lincoln Memorial Church Prof. Jesse Lawson
read a paper on Legal Training" In the
course of mis- remarks Prof. Lawson criticised
some parts of the address entitled "How to
Solve the Problem" which had been presented
at the preceding session. 'Ttis well to raise the
question" said Prof. Lawson, in this connection:
whether it is proper and profitable for the
colored American to pursue any course OF study
different from that pursued by the white
American, for we are Americans all, the colored
no less than the white! Upon careful exami-
nationwe find that the tastes and aptitudes of the
two great races in America are very much alike.
And the chief cause of prejudice and antago-
nisms among them is a lack Of knowledge and
closer contact with each other. When the
white people of this country come to know us
better they will not find us SO black as we are
painted.
IF it is good for white boy to learn trade
it is also good for the colored boys If it is good
for the white young man to perfect himself in
profession 1t Is also good for the colored
young man; if the white people need doctors
God knows that we do; if the white people
need lawyers and judges all creation knows
that the colored people need them But the
lIs
Montgomery, seems to presume that the col
ored people have not attained to that stage of
civilization yet to warrant the success of skilled
physicians, competent lawyers and learned
theologians."
EDUCATION THE ONLY SOLUTION.
MIR. s. ID. Fowler. A. B., instructor in the nor
NAL department. Howard University, dis
cussed the question, 'What have the Afro
Americans done since their emancipation?'
ha haa,
asked in a spirit of contempt, as though we
had accomplished little or nothing" He then
told OF what has been done by coIored gradu-
ates In improving the condition of their race
and also read a number of letters from institu-
tons of learning to show what they were
accomplishing. The records show that the ma
Jority OF their graduates are engaged in some
useful occupation. His paper was mainly taken
up with statistics which, he said, showed con-
clusively that they were capable Of the highest
development. Mr.. Fowler said in concluding
his remarks that education is the only solution
of the race problem in America.
PROPOSED STATISTICAL BUREAU.
Ex-Collector Cook moved that the directors
be instructed to organize a board of statistics
and that Mr.. Fowlers paper be the first of a
series OF papers to be published on the subject
of statistics. He said that he hoped the asso-
citation would make its headquarters in this
city and keep its papers stored here.
Prof. Simmons was of the opinion that this
was trespassing on the duties of the board of di-
rectors and suggested that Mr.. Fowler be al
lowed to complete his statistics before the
paper is published.
After some discussion he was allowed sixty
days TO complete the paper.
motion to refer all resolutions to the di-
rectors was carried and motion to establish the
position OF statistical secretary was referred.
Prof Lawson moved a vote of thanks to
Senator Blair and his associates for their efforts
in behalf of the colored people. The motion
was referred. The session adjourned after
deyotlng some time to a discussion Of papers
that had been presented during the meeting.
THE FINAL SESSION.
The closing session of the conference began
at 7:3O O'Clock pm. in the Fourth Baptist
Church on r street and the church was filed
with a large and enthusiastic audience. Rev,
Horace Bumstead was the first speaker and he
took for his subject Northern Philanthropy:
how it shall be encouraged and increased"
The burden OF his discourse was an answer to
the question, what can We as workers in the
southern field do to encourage northern help?"
He insisted on the necessity of the north con-
tinuing the assistance which it has given the
south and said that there was already a
sufficient number of institutions in the south
and that the duty devolved upon the
north of seeing to it that they were better
equipped and endowed.
Rev. +. NJ. Brackett who followed. made an
eloquent address in favor of national aid to
southern education and urged the adoption of
a national system of free schools. He was op-
posed to the Blair bill, however, and argued
that its adoption would have been an unwise
move.
Rev. ]. E. Rankin was given an enthusiastic
reception when he came forward to speak on
the subject OF Spiritual and ethical culture of
the Afro-American youth.
PLATFORM ADOPTED.
At the conclusion of a few remarks by Hon.
John NJ. Langston, in which he expressed his
sympathy with the aims of the convention,
the report of the board of directors was pre-
sented, setting forth expression of the views of
the conference. 1t urged the need of harmony
OF action among educators and the creation of
ahealthy public sentiment in favor Of the edu-
cation Of colored youth.
I'VE are fully convinced" said the report, "of
the necessity OF universal education in a free
government such as ours, and of the danger to
our free institutions Of large numbers of litter
ate citizens who may exercise the right of suf-
frage. We believe it to be the duty of the gen.
eral government, for the protection of its own
interests and those of the citizens of MANY dis
trlcts within its borders, to grant national aid
to states or districts within its horders-to grant
national aid to states districts for the re-
moval OF illiteracy so alarmingly prevalent in
many of them. We here express our graft
tude to all who have labored to this end in one
way or another and express the hope that
some measure will be devised in the near fu-
ture which shall meet the approval of major
ity of those in authority.
"a crying need at the present hour is the
making permanent of the larger and more GEN.
trail institutions for learning for colored youth
In the south through permanent endowments
by private contributions. Many of them have
struggled along for quarter of a century,
doing much good, 1t is true, but greatly him
dered in their progress because of the uncer-
tainty OF their financial support. We appeal
TO the wealthy and philanthropic everywhere
to contribute OF their means for such endow-
ments."
The report was, unanimously adopted. The
meeting then adjourned and the members of
the conference were rendered n reception in
the lower portion of the church by the teachers
OF the public schools of the city.
The next meeting of the association will be
held in Atlanta, Ca, December 30
A Breeze From the West.
Mr.. A. ]. Bethen of the Minneapolis Tribune,
Familiarity known as the Pulitzer of nortbwest.