The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-07


professional one no, he is entitled to the
kind his life and best talents indicate;
but we are not to forget, even in his case, |
that this Is not an instance Of the average
man-is one OF the exceptional cases that l
may much more safely be left TO find Its
way TO preparation than can the MASSES. |
The first duty of the state is TO the average
man, because he is the mass man; but the
higher man must no the ignored or neg |
lected. All that is necessary TO avoid con-
fusion OF ideas in this matter is to re.
member that as the average man is the !
primitive, beginning with society, and
continuing in preponderant numbers
throughout its course, he Is to be looked
aster hrst, after that, provision should be
made for the differentiated and effiorescent
classes that grow naturally and subse-
quently out of social and civil develop
ment This gives us the public school FIRST
I and the college after; the industrial school
1 frst and the university after; many OF the
first kinds to one OF the latter. Thus will
the state DO its whole duy TO the whole
people in the proper order and in the right
| proportion,
| The disrepute which slavery put upon
labor worked a perversion OF ideas as 10
| some of the objects OF education among
| the negroes shortly after the emancipa-
| ton. The history Of this very institution
illustrates perfectly the truth Of my state
| an institution similar TO tho Agricultural
and Mechanical college near Bryan. but
the people absolutely refused to 90 to
school TO learn TO work, as they put Il. TO
secure students II was necessary TO change
1t to normal school, and not until y
comparatively recent period did our board
of directors ind it practicable TO restore
the industrial and agricultural features;
but such change and growth of sentt-
ment had taken place In the interval that
the expansion OF these departments Ia the
most remarkable In the growth OF the
school II does seem ht and proper, as
well az consonant with sound philosophy,
since the proper order OF development
exists and the proper conception OF labor s
= place in civilized life has been restored
among the people, that the time IL ripe
and opportune TO begin provision lor that
e smaller, but no less important, class who
I are fitted by nature for, and In need OF
the higher and more special preparation
: for the place OF leaders teachers and ad
| visers of the great masses who are read
to do when a competent wisdom tells then
r what 10 do.
The ample provision and the broad view
Q which have characterized Texas in her ar
engagements for educating soundly and lib
a orally all her sons stand out as monu-
u mental among the Southern states and n,
c small part OF the pride felt by Texan:
9 working temporarily out of the state
0 comes from their ability to say; "our
J State has the largest school fund IN The
:; Union and the most literally and iustl!
II distributed"
g My race appreciates the faithful guild
4 ance and stewardship which have directed
: the affairs of this our pride, to such lars
y efficiency and usefulness. II indorses tn
:, standard OF high competency and sterling
- character set for admission to this faculty
! II is grateful for the strong and encour
aging words in your last annual report
a containing the statement that not ain
N gle case of scandal or moral remlssnos
% bots the record OF the institution. | be-
N TO thank this great state, from the gov
Ic ernor and legislature to directors and fac
l., ulty, for the policy, the wisdom, the yea
II the faithfulness and the business capabiit,
l. which have made II the Saul among all tn
II State institutions of this Southland for ia
A. education of negro youth The blessing
" which come from a happy, intelligent, pa
g. trlotic. prosperous and virtuous yeumanr
&c in black will be your highest reward. I'm
It der the extension and elevation Of tn
or present course confidently expect to liN
a. to see the day WIN the so-calld negr
ls problem. 20 far as Texas is concerned wi
ny be a purely academic one. involving no !,
lie sues and no portents. And 10 this consum
III nation may God lead U.S. till not only Il
he blue and the gray, clad in the uniform
ne once warning, but now reconcled, brothers
IN shall clasp hands across the bloody chasn
W but the white aud the black clad In God
o. own uniform, shall clasp hands over con
e. mon interests, common patriotism and
ce common destiny.