New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-05
AN APPEAL FOR TUSKEGEE
MEETING HELD IN BEHALF OF THE
ALABAMA INSTITUTE
SPEAKERS TELL OF WHAT THE NsTITU-
TON HAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE
COLORED RACE-A LETTER FROM
EX-PRESIDENT CLEVELAND

COLORED RACE-A LETTER FROM
EX-PREsIDENT CLEVELAND.
meeting In aid Of the Tuskegee Normal and
Industrial Institute. of Tuskesee, Ala, held
last night in the concert hall OF Madison Square
Garden. The institute is designed for the higher
education Of young colored people not only Of Ala
oama but Of the entire South and the West
Indies
The hall and its galleries we're filed with friends
of the colored II expected that ex-
President Grover Cleveland would preside. but he
sent letter instead, stating that he unable
to attend and expressing his full approval Of the
work of the institute.
Among those the platform Morris X
Jesup, William Z. Dodge, Alexander E. Orr, the
Rev. Dr. c. II. PArkhurst, r. w. Glider, Chan
cellor II. NJ. MacCracken. J. Kennedy Tod. lie
Grand B. Cannon, the Rev. r. Heber Newton
Hamilton w. Mabie, the Rev. Dr. Morgan DIX.
William Dean Howells, ex-Mayor w. L. Strong
Henry Holt. J. Pierpont Morgan. Wheeler u. Peck
ham and the Rev Lyman Abbott.
Princeton. ~ j., December 3. 1899.
My Dear Mr. Washington: My inability to at
tend the meeting tomorrow evening. In the In
pointment to me. If my participation could have
in the slightest degree aided the cause you repre-
sent. in the least encouraged you In your noble
efforts, l would have felt that my highest duty was
IT Ras w m to e hat in
the present condition Of our free negro populauol
them. we cannot absolutely calculate that the
future Of Nation Will be always free from
dangers and commissions, perhaps not less lament,
able than those which resulted from the enslaveo a
negroes less than forty agS hen tae Gause
four millions; but now we have to deal with eight
rights Of citizenship, still constitute in the body
polite mass largely affected with ignorance;
tS' obSaiiO Ss% Of that gsu ci,zenshp
am so certain that these conditions cannot De
marked out BY the Tuskegee institute, presents the
con cdpratiOn rnakeg immediate action important,
whether based upon Christian benevoence a lov r
profOundy impressed With the necessity Of such
prompt aid to your efforts as will best insure their
success.
ONE OFFER TO GIVE $4,000.
people Of our Country viii be pnsuccessfuI Such
disinterested devotion as you nave eXroee am
work ought to be sufficient guarantee OF the o, Tar
Sgch aha OF charity
citizenship would be apparent In cordlal ana
/ need not say how grathed am to be able to
indicate 10 you that such support is forthcoming Ing
already offer has been made. through me- by
ute et $4,000 toward the endowment fund upon CON
dtion that other subscriptions TO this fund aggre-
ginning cannot believe it possible that there viii
be a failure in securing the endowment which
IuSAesee 80 i''u'" GROVER CLEVELAND.
Carl scburz presided He said he thought the
solution of the negro problem had been most great
ly advanced not by politicians. white or black. but
by those who had sought TO advance the material
interests Of the negro through education.
The chairman introduced Walter H. Page, who
spoke at length on the needs of the institute ana
the condition of the black race
William II. Baldwin spoke next. He said in part;
Mr. Washington asks for an endowment fund OF
100000 modest request. Row that me S %nte
and the authorities Of the State OF Alabama
and the President and Congress Of the Inite &c
Washington show the true way we feel confident
p nat '9Sr ske % Dc on as rm nanca Standing
Booker T. Washington, OF Tuskegee. made
address in which he described the workings of his
school. He said in part;
1t was not unnatural that at the beginning Of his
freedom the got The Idea tnat mis- a
and in POLITICAL agaon During the first years ears
devoted 10 politics. We nave now. however. got
to the place where the negro In the South is con
at to 5 bs s the OF the
States the best way to secure the enjoyment Of all
foundation in property. intelligence and thrift He
ms % hs to h9ss at He
the fact that In too many eases the negro lmmedl,
Of at the Bottom bot % that the negro like ali other
races must begin at the bottom and go through
races have had to undergo before they attained
that position that Is so much 10 be desired.
A FUND OF 100000 NEEDED.
One Of the main problems regards the educa-
ton Of the negro is how to have him his educa-
ton the best advantage after he has secured IL
In saying this do not want TO be understood as
saving that the problem OF simple ignorance among
the masses has been settled In the South. for this
vaing among the negroes, especially in the rural
districts. is very large and serious. But repeat,
we must 20 further IL would accomplish the
greatest good and get the greatest results in public
GOOD for The money spent. than merely TO put aca-
demic education into the negros head with the idea
that this will settle everything
| remarked a moment ago that we nave round the
way to settle this problem, and what we want are
the means At Tuskegee we have over one thou-
sand students, with eighty-two officers and teacn-
ers twenty-six Industries In constant operation III
property that has been very largely created by the
nor of the students TO the value OF $S0oOOO Our
greatest need however, al the present ume is an
endowment fund Of at least sJoOOOO and schoiarshps
~ s each 10 nay for the education OF each student
The students nav their board in cash ana labor
hut the $50 a year for teaching they are Wholly un-
ahe 10 nav. for this must depend upon the gem
erosity of friends throughout the country am
very often asked what is the best way 70 ProtecI
the negro in his rights In the South. Inc aIs"tr
&c IN make the negro useful In the community III
Which he lives Usefulness being able TO 90 some
thing as we'll better than ANYBODY else - d,s s
best protection that citzen Gun nave i'e
of his race or color
Contributions for the endowment fund may DO
sent 10 William H. Baldwin. jr., No. ~ Nassau-st'
and TO J. G; Phelps Stokes. No AZ Cedar st: or 10
Mr. Washington. the treasurer MT Logan" Va
Tuskegee School. ,, -. ,ioh.
No Contributions were received last night.