The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-20

arr DISTINGUISHED guest 70 the Stdtc ="
i. Governor Johnston. whom | take great
Measure III Introducing.
Gnrarnor Johnson made a few appro-
nr;ltc remarks. and then introduced tue
president. who spoke a. follows:
preachers and pupils of Tuskegee:
To meet you under such pleasant aus
niceS ana to have the opportunity 81 4
personal observation Of your work IS IN
deed most gratifying. The 1uskeGec
Normal ana Industrial Institute is ideal
ii CONCEPTION. and has already 4 large
ana growing reputation III the country.
and i not unknown abroad. | congratu-
late All who are connected with this
undertaking for the good work 1t IS dong
N the education of its students to lead
lives If usefulness and honor. thus cXait-
ing the race for which it was established.
"Nowherc. | think could q more de-
~li-htful location have been chosen for
this unique educational experiment. which
has attracted the attention and won the
Suprort even Of conservative philantTO-
pistS If all sections of the country.
10 speak Of TuSkegee without paying
special tribute 10 Booker I. Washington 5
genius and perseverance would be I'M
possible. The inception of this noble en-
~tcrlrisr was his. and he deserves high
credit for il. His was the enthusiasm
and enterprise which made its steady
progress and established heinstitutinn
on its present high standard Of accom-
/ nlishment. He has Won q worthy repu-
tation as one of the great leaders Of his
race widely known and much respected
at home and abroad as an accomplished
educator. Il good orator and Il true PM
anthroplst.
What steady and gratifying advances
have been made during the past fifteen
years Il personal inspection of the mate
rial equipment strikingIy proves. The
fundamental plan Of the original unier-
taking has been steadily followed: bit
new features have been added: gaps IL
the course OF instruction have been filed
in: the patronage and resources haze
been large increased until even the Legs
lative department OF the State of Ala
bama recognized the worth of the work
and Of the great opportunities here If
for,led. From one small frame house the
institute has GROWN until it includes the
fine group Of dormitories. recitation
rooms. lecture halls and workshops which
have so surprised ana delighted Us to
day.
"A thousand students. | am told, are
here cared for by nearly Il hundred
teachers. although forming with the
preparatory department Il symmetrical
scholastic community which has been
well called Il model for the industrial
culOred schools Of the South. Certain it
is that Il pupil bent on fitting himself
or herself for mechanical work can here
have the widest choice Of useful and do
mtstic occupations.
"One thing | like about this Institution
is that its policy has been generous and
progressive. | allude especially to the
spirit i'll which the annual conferences
have been here held by leading colored
citizens and educators, with the inten-
ton of improving the condition of their
less fortunate brothers and sisters. Here,
We can see, is an imlnense field. and
one which cannot too soon or TOO care
fully be utilized. The conferences have
grown in popularity and are Well cal
culatcd not only to encourage colored
men and colored women i'll their iIldi-
yidual efforts. but to cultivate and pre-
mote an dmicible relationship between
the two raceS-a problem whose Solu-
ton was never more needed than at the
present time. Patience, moderation, self
control, knowledge. and character will
surely vim your victories and realize
the best aspirations of your people. An
evidence Of the soundncsS of the purpose
Of this institution is that those in charge
OF its management evidently do not be
lleTe III the unattalnabie.
and their instruction III self-reliance and
practical industry is most valuable.
In the day and night schools many
branches can be taught, at small eN-
pense. which will give the man and
the woman who nave mastered them i'm
mediate employment and secure their
success afterWard. provided they abide
by the principles Of industry, morality
and religion here inculcated.
In this great country all can have the
opportunity for lettering themselves.
provided they exercise intelligence and
perseverance and their motives and CON
duct are worthy. Nowhere are such
facilities for universal education found
as III the United States. They are ac-
cessiblc to every boy and girl, white
or black. Integrity and industry arc the
best possessions which any man can
have. and every man can have them.
They belong to the individual and are
his unQueSti0ned property. He alone
can part with them. They make happy
homes: they achieve success in every
walk of life: they have won the greatest
triumphs for mankind. No man who
has them ever gets into the police court,
or before the grand jury, or in the work
house. or the chain-gang. They Will
bring YOU Il comfortable living. make
YOU respect yourself and command the
respect of your fellows. They are IN
dispensable to success. They are in
vincible.
ITO the pupils assembled here l ex-
tend my congratulations that facilitiesc
for advancement afforded to them are
so numerous and 50 inviting. Those
who are here for the time being have
the reputation of the institution in
xh.,, MI .l1,J1
more careful to guard it worthily.
Others who nave gone before YOU have
made great sacrifice to reach the pres
cnt results. What YOU do will affect
not only those who come after YOU here,
but many men and women whom You
may never meet. The results of Your
training and work here will eventually
be felt. either directly or indirectly, in
nearly every part of the country.
In comparing the past with the pres
ent. YOU should be especially grateful
sIhf - Ih-