The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-03-20
A College Students View of IL,

Mr.. Thomas E. Chappell won the prize
for oratory at the Nebraska State uni
versity. His Grafton was on that ques-
ton over which statesmen and saRes
have wrestled in vain, What Shall Be
Done with the Negro?" In the confusion
of plans for disposing of the African in
America, perhaps young mans idea i,
as good as anybody's. At any rate Mr..
Chappel's speech was very good speci-
men of oratory, and if statesmen and
sages north and south could persuade
themselves to take his rose colored view
OF the negro's future they would be
saved sleepless nights and anxious days
We print here the close of Mr.. Chap
pell's grafton, in order to encourage
young people to try to be orators:
The north is no longer an oversympathctic
champion of the negro's rights. She Is taking a
broader view OF the situation. She is beginning
to sympathize with the south and to consider
her welfare as well as that of the negro. The
south Is now entering upon q new era OF prosper
ity and development. In the near future, Iva
union OF the labor Of the negro the capital of the
iiOA VI "i'u rcoourccS Ol inc south, she Will lead
the world in the multiplicity and Importance
OF her industries. She is beginning TO realize
her dependence upon the negro. She sees that
ne Is peculiarly adapted to her climate and to
the labor she needs. In short, that he Is an in
separabe part Of her future greatness
The view that the negro is taking of the stu
alton is indeed encouraging. He is beginning
to see that there is no high road to civilization:
that he must ascend the ladder of material,
moral and intellectual progress, as other races
have done; that he must begin at the bottom
and make the slow and painful ascent round
by round that no war measure, no stroke of
political power, no amount of legislation will
enable him to reach the top at n single bound
In his own words: I'VE believe that our future
depends infinitely more upon ourselves than
upon any other agency. 1t is high time for us
to cease following the ignis fatuus Of politics
and to begin the work of development along
those lines only on which real progress is pos
sble. The politician has long since exhausted
his storehouse for u.s."
The thoughts Of the negro are no longer upon
revenge. His face is turned toward the future
IA future full OF realization for his noble as
pirations. He. full of hope, peering out through
the darkest night of oppression believes that
even now he soGy, though dimly, the first rays
OF the sunlight Of freedom-ha -harbingers of his
glad day OF liberty. He knows that his great
est foes are ignorance and superstitution. He
sees arrayed against him an unalterable color
nhe' the preJudlceS OF his white brethren and
that hercest OF human passions, race antipa-
thy But on the other hand he muste<s for
the conflict patience, endurance, industry. ed
ucatioh, religion. He upon his side the
hearts and tongues of q vast multitude of loyal
men and women, who are ever arrayed against
injustice-pious Christian hearts that beat in
unison with the pulsations of freedom in his
own breast. He calls up before him that long
line OF heroes who freely poured out their
blood that the tree OF liberty might DO nour-
ished.
The voices Of Harriet Beecher Stowe. of
Wendell Phillips and Of Abraham Lincoln are
stu echoing In his ears, urging him on to the
contest and to victory. Then in transport of
the Imagination, he is carried forward TO the
end OF the struggle. The smoke of battle clears
away, and there spreads out before his vision a
scene that gaddens his weary heart. Upon
every hill and plain of his beloved country he
sees his people living in happy homes, beloved
and honored by ell. He hears the hum of
mighty Industries, and sees his brother taking
an honorable share in every branch Of produce
ton' The land is filled with schools and
churches In which all mingie joyfully, without
respect to race or color. He sees the principle
OF universal brotherhood of man triumphant,
lie has won for himself useful and honorable
position In the government and In society.