The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-01

pick and more exacting. Civilization is
an organism OF extent and power and it re-
jects what it can not assm!late. Only by
industrial and Christian education can the
masses of negroes become 'assim,lated to
American civilization.
Industrial education is the necessary
outcome of modern conditions. Every age
produces the education best suited to IT.
self. In America education Is advancing.
The thirteen colonies are now a nation.
The education of 1916 is not that for today.
The times demand practical results from
educational processes and the people call
for teachers in touch with the hour. That
system is most practical that best meets
its demands.
The progress Of a race Is reflected in its
industrial development. Somehow the most
enlightened nations have most material
wealth. A civilized man makes his sur
roundings conduce to his higher welfare.
The negro must keep up to the standards
of civilized living, and industrial education
will help him to do 1t. 1t will help us get
wealth and wealth Will bring respect.
Industrial education Is the hope of the
South and of the negro as part Of the
South. / do not mean that all negroes
VIII be farmers and mechanics. and that
no negroes are to be teachers. and lawyers
But ] do mean TO say that few Will enter
the professional pursuits For the masses
1t Is industrial labor or ldleness and crime.
Too many of our race cherish false ideas
of labor. The statistics respecting the
growth of crime among negroes must not
he carelessly brushed aside. They point to
alarming moral conditions. Unless the
colored girl is made stronger in virtue
and the colored boy manlier in haractar,
what satisfaction can we take in school
buildings, text books. institutes aud assoc
Citations? stronger desire must be
awakened for honest industry and for that
morality and prosperity which follow it,
President Mckinley said at Tuskeegee:
Integrity and industry are the best pos
sessions any man can have and every man
can have them. They make happy homes.
They achieve success In every walk of life.
They have won the greatest triumphs for
mankind They are the only key to open
the door OF opportunity to struggling
mankind"
On plantations and In cities mu.ltudes
OF our race live as completely shut fl ON
all that is elevating in American life as
II In another planet. This fact concerns
every American white and black, and pre-
sents broad field for industrial ed,ifation
as one means OF bringing these ouIrasts
of America into helpful relation 10 her ex-
panding life.
The State of Texas has provided Indus
trial departments at the Prairie View
State Normal AMI Industrial college and
these industrial departments are destined
to prove of service In the splendid career
of industrial development on which Texas
Is entering, The governor of Texas, Hon.
Joseph ID. Sayers, the senators and repre-
sentatiyes of the recently adjourned legis-
lature; the president of the Agricultural
and Mechanical college Hon. H. L. Foster.
and the board of directors of the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college have all man.
Tested unmistakable interest in the indus
trial and general education OF the colored
race In Texas, particularly an industrial
education as the hope of the negro race
The people Of Texas. the president and
people OF the United States, regardless of
section. have demonstrated their unauali-
fed approval or Mr. Booker 4. Washington
In his great work of Industrial education
| at Tuskeegee, and in this way have de-
| olared their belief that Industrial educa-
ton Is the path by which the American
freedman must climb TO the heights az
American manhood
~ hpeiaity vi the legislature N In
creasing from 40 to 159 the number Of
state appointees at Prairie View is evil
donce OF the growing interest taken by the
state OF Texas in the education OF her
negro population
The Prairie View State Normal and In
dustrial college. the coored deaf, dumb
ana blind institute at Austin and 1920
public schools In which 1909 oolored
ehiidren are instructed at an annual cost
OF S2ss,II65O tReport of State Supt. Pub. |
IN; 1851 are facts convincing OF the good
VIII OF the state of Texas toward her negro
population. Possessing the good vii, q,
our white fellow citizens, with equality of |
educational advantages. with equal rights
before the common law. with full oppor-
,uniiy to Get employment and to accumu-
late property. with the rich lands OF Texas
a., .erins sun within our reach. with the
nigh privilege OF suffrage ours to use m a
discreet ana responsible manner, our ass