New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING or THE NhGRo

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING or THE NEGRO.
The trustees of the Hampton Normal and
Agricultural Institute are making efforts TO
raise an additional endowment fund or Sl,oooo"
and the Armstrong Association. of this city. has
undertaken to assist il the work of placing TINS
centre of negro and Indian industrial training
on n firm financial foundation. The real estate
OF Hampton Institute is worth 100000. free OF
all ncumbrance. It has n present endowment
Of S742.OOO. Enthusiastic individuals In and
outside of the Board of Trustees have extended
ifs usefulness far beyond the limits fixed by
this endowment by contributions OF ABOUT
$4,000 each year to supplement It's assured III
come An additional endowment would lift the
burden of making UP deficits from the officers
and would doubtless mean the further extension
of the work. for the men embarked on IL are
not likely to see opportunities neglected when
bv their own personal sacrifices they can do
more good than their endowment permits no
matter how large that may be.
Hamilton Institute certainly deserves well OF
the American people 1t was the pioneer In in
dustrial education Of the negro. At the time
when the first impulse to raise the freed slaves
TO q higher plane was giving birth TO many I'M
practicable schemes united TO the negro's con-
dition and his opportunities. General Armstrong
saw clearly what the best thinkers everywhere
see now that the ncgrO's chance was in being a
skilled workman in regions where skilled work
men were scarce. For over thirty years lamp
ton has been true to that aim. IT has sent all
through the South negro boys and girls VINO
were able to teach common schools. who were
master mechanics or intelligent farmers. IL
has not only trained its own students, nut mas
been the germ Of similar institutions elsewhere
chief among which may be mentioned the Tus-
kegec Institute. in Alabama where Booker l.
Washington is doing such excellent work
Hampton has had the fortune also TO gain the
goodwill Of the white people of the South III IT'S
efforts to upft the negro 1t has made law
abiding industrious. sober minded men ana
women who however ambitious. have generally
commanded the respect of their white neighbors
instead of becoming the tools of politicians and
adventurers These graduates have done as
much for the general welfare of the South as
for the people Of their own race. They went
back from school to regions Of ignorance and
Dovertv with the practical learning that meant
prosperity The negro boy who learned farm
ing at Hampton and went home and helped his
neighbors so that in few years the potato crop
Of his county was doubled is specimen of their
work.
There arc to-day six millions OF our negroes
living in one room cabins. and five millions OF
those can neither read nor write. Their ignor
ance and degradation are danger to our whole
country. Against these conditions Hampton Is
fighting in the most practical and helpful way
II is clearly evident that the first step in solving
our troublesome negro problem Is industrial
As self-respectng and competent workman
the negro will have assured place. The
South needs him. and is learning to welcome
him as the avenue Of escape from the danger Of
an idle and degraded subject race.