The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-13

! remember that all work is honorable. all
Il work noble All men cannot occupy high
positions. He fultills well his god-given
mission who does well the work given
him. humble though it be.
What we need is n better and more
intelligent farmer class, better shoemak-
ers. better blacksmiths. They are the
great struggling forces of this world
| The masses are restless. Who are the
masses? They are the toilers. The cap
italist never heads a riot the rich man
never organizes IL revolution.
Who gave us the Magma Charta? IT
was the English yoemen-the untlercur-
| rent forces. Who gave us the French
revolution? 1T was these great undePcur-
rent forces. These same fires are burn
| ing today, and spreading and seethng.
| What is our duty in this momentous
| day? 1t is the duty of sympathy. We
must go down to these mudsill founda-
| tions of humanity and civilization. We
must let them know that all men are
alike, are bound by the same ties the
same feelings throbbing in each breast.
| We must recognize that now as ever,
| from the foundation Of the world. Il
| mans q man for n that
We want sympathy with mans
| failures MS well as with his successes.
| believe that day is coming-a day when
| the world viii recognize and go down on
its knees to true manhood. This is the
solution of modern civilizations problem.
| The day is coming when Il man will get
his faith from God. going out to the
world. will be able to say I am free >
and all the world will be able to say there
| has lived and died the noblest work of
Coda man.
Humanity wants justice, humanity
wants love-"
The address in the main studied to im-
press upon the audience and upon the
student body the unwisdom of false and
| impossible ambition. and the necessity
| for the colored race 10 content itself
with the conquest of industry and trade
| in what is termed the humble profess
sions.
1t had been expected that this address
would be delivered by Gen. III. r. Car
rington, who has been ut Southern Pines
writing history of Washington. but he
was unable to do SO. having been or
dered to Washington city on account of
the war He sent. however. the follow.
ing letter of regret. which was read hy
President Meserve to the audience:
The following letter from General
Henry r. Darlington, explanatory Of
his failure 10 lie present and deliver the
annual commencement address, was read
by President Meserve:
To the Young Men and Maidens Of
Shaw University.
Greeting The invitation of President
Meserve To deliver the annual address
OF the present year was very agreeable
to my choice; and during my visit Oh
April Both. mu interest was quickened
by the attractions which the University
presents for personal culture and the de-
velopment OF worthy citizenship. I'M
nerative obligations suddenly altered my
plans: and yet. am not willing to part
so abruptly with an occasion which has
been pleasantly anticipated for several
months.
Although the graduates from the lit
erary department are not. many this
year. yet, together with those who have
attained professional degrees, the num-
Der is larger than was that of many
long established American colleges, only
thirty years ago. But the accessories
and environments Of the present com
mencement season are fraught with les
sons that will make memorable for life,
your association with the graduation of
the class of 1898. The very air vibrates
with patriotic sounds that stimulate your
mental moral and physical faculties to
the highest possible degree of valuable
attainment.
The dawn of the Sixtieth Century of
the Bible history of man, is breaking
upon the earth The elimination of
forty centuries Of human struggle was
reached when the divine promise of the
Messiah was realized. in the advent Of
the Prince Of Peace. Empires which had
long antagonized the glorious Hebrew
Commonwealth had persisted; but the
Hebrew constitution with its immortal
Decalogue, survived. and its fundament-
al features represent the vital force OF
all well-balanced civil governments Of
the present day.
The Twentieth Century of the advance
of the kingdom of universal peace awaits
our footsteps. We tread upon the thresh
DID, The elimination of the hopes and
pledges is at hand. The issue is SO vast
and universal that you must not be sur
prised, nor worried. ut the first discour
aging outlook. Beyond the great oceans,
all empires seem to grasp every instru-
ment for the destruction of human life
and the mutilation of Pestfnl society.
This stupendous divergence of industrial
energy and capital from the pursuits of
w ,lesale peace has not been the avo-
cation of American citizenship. The pre-
cepts and principles which the Hebrew
safely transmitted to MS, have been the
source of our strength and of our in
dependence. Education and religion
have advanced. hand in hand. Nature
has been lavish with her fayors, until
america is the reliable grain-magazine
of supply for all destitute peoples and
lands. Health and prosperity have
abounded as nowhere else on earth. DIFF
ference of section, birth, or faith have
lost bitterness Of rivalry, until Provi-
dence seems to have so unified, refined
and adjusted our varied activities that
we are prepared to discharge the sacred
trust, under God, Of guardianship of the
peace Of the world. The destnies of suf-
fering millions depend just now upon
calm Christian volition. IF all profess
sedly Christian nations would suspend
war, the world could be given an abid.
ing peace before the twentieth century
shall begin its record. Only one year
ago, Europe had the vantage ground for
the inauguration of q general effort i'm