Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-01

1t a power unto us, which will lift US above
the drudgery OF this work to the possibili-
ties which lie beyond. A power which en-
ables the head to save the hand. This
knowledge will make US, first, skilled labor
ers, then foremen then bosses, and finally,
authorities for all who perform or have per-
formed the classes of work now open to us.
We are today the best authorityon no class Of
work; hence, the world says, we know moth
ing; we furnish no part of the directive
power, and. hence. lose the highest profits
of the avocations in which we are engaged.
Here also, IL our advancement Is not COM
| mensurate with our advantages, 1t is be-
cause our personal efforts have been in
adequate.
In the matter Of education. 1 think we
have lost more from misdirected effort than
from lack of effort. Just after the war,
and, indeed. until quite recently. the courses
of studies in the schools established for
us throughout the south seem unwittingly
to have been selected very much as the
drayman selected his first horse. He vowed
that he would not begin hauling until he
could purchase for his draw one of Ken
tuckys best horses. He accordingly saved
his earnings and bought a race horse,
magnificent creature. but for his work, to
his sorrow. worthless animal The eter-
nal fitness of things seems to have been
! forgotten by our dear good sanity north
ern friends. in their enthusiasm to educate
US. They established universities and col
leges with curriculums suitable for an ed
ucationally developed race and babe us put
forth our virgin efforts in them.
IL once heard brilliant Young colored
man taking his brother to task for stopping
| his studies at university and going to
work as waiter. His brother replied that
should he continue his college course there
was nothing for him to do after gradua ton
but to wait. and that men without such
scholastic attainment made the best wait
ers This was an honest conviction of a
young man of talent. 1t happened in 1876
ana the impression made on NV mind is as
vivid now as 1t was then. At the time 1
thought the young man foolish But now
am frank to admit that there was more
wisdom than folly in his reply. The young
mans mistake. and it was ours Also was
In his conception of education. viz: that 1t
consisted of a classical course of study
HIS wisdom lay in pronouncing that educa-
tion worthless which fits a man for condi-
llons ana environments which will never
! fall to his lot, and units him for the con-
ditions and environments in which he must
earn his livelihood and unfold his potential
| tiles.
| IF you ask me what shall our people
study, L answer emphatically that their
courses or study should be suited to their
conoitions. The studies for our minds ex-
erclse AT present must be most largely those
which also furnish food to sustain us Our
cohultion does not warrant anv Others No
otners Will secure for us the self help which
S SnOmie9se Vouchsafes: The most important
knowledge for US today is that which is
contained In the books, pamphlets and pa
pers published on the classes of labor open
70 usnnot one of these branches of labor
| e.
day stand highest In the labor market
and demand the highest wages who are
skilled in this knowledge
,, is IT not significant that this practical
literature Is written by the whites, to whom
studied bv them?
In all classes of labor open to us we are
the hand laborers' We handle see and
comprehend only the real objects which an
pertain to the work in which we are engap-
ed. The directive power is furnished by
! the whites. 1t is they who see beyond the
real things before the senses to the infinite
ideal possibilities.
In all the labor which we performed to-
day our hands are directed by the brains of
the WHITES. Out or this condition we can and
must rise. Our hands must be directed by
our own brains. We must learn to see in
each thing its possibilities / thank God
| mat we are beginning to realize this truth
| we are passing through a reaction in edu-
| cation and a revival of learning is dawning
A learning which one may call essential
| Learning which brings with 1t the power
which the Old lacked: Extended courses of
| study are Abanas and Pharpars.
| In our present condition the educa tiona I
Jordan INTO which we must dip and become
| clean Is scientific Industrial training A
| training which acquaints us with the tech
nique OF the classes of labor open to us, and
| develops that insight into possibilities to
| which there loom up uses and adaptat ton
| transformations and combinations in a long
| series, stretching into the infinite behind
each finite, real thing When we shall
come up out of this Jordan we shall find
that the color of our skin will not lessen
our power nor prescribe the fields of labor
IN winch this power may be exercised.
| BE Somebody.
| "As I have indicated" continued Prof
Brown. that the best way to have some
thing is to seize upon whatever our hands
find to do. and do it better than our COM
petitors. and that the surest way to know
something is to seize upon the knowledge
| which appertains to the work in which we
are engaged and make It power unto u.s.
which will lift us up above the drudsery Of
this work to the possibilities beyond it, so
take it that the surest way to become some
| body is to seize upon the opportunities to be
| honest generous and noble which grow out
of the work in which we are engaged, and
exercise in them till we make our color and
good character synonymous terms"
Prof. Brown earnestly urged upon his
hearers the development of the highest
character
In conclusion, then" he said, "I would
say that the negro problem will be solved
once for all when we shall become by self
activity desirable citizens in any community
because of our merit, this merit being ex-
emplihed in our possessions. ou- intelli-
gence and ou- character And in this con-
nection 1 know of no better advice to us
than that which MazZini gave to his coun-
trymen, You can only obtain the exercise
of your rights by deserving them through
your own activity and your own spirit of
love and self-sacrifice.' The classes of labor
row open to us furnish the fields in which
we must exercise this activity and spirit of
love and sacrifice.
Il once read of a ship in distress because
her fresh water supply was exhausted
Anxiously her crew watched for the ap-
proach of some sister ship from which to
borrow new supply 1t was not long be-
fore the much prayed for ship hove in sight.
They signaled to her for fresh water The
answer sent back was, Cast down you
bucket where you are Thinking they were
misunderstood again and again they sig
nailed for fresh water, and again and again
came the answer, Cast down you bucket
where you are Finally sailor cast down
the bucket and to their utter and agreeable
surprise the water was fresh They Were
In the mouth of the Amazon river For the
last twenty years we have been signaling
Tor borrowed help let us now cast down the
bucket where we are. The waters of life are
freely flowing in the condition and environ
ments In which We find ourselves, and not
in the condition and environments of those
to whom we have been signaling