The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-24
GOOD ADVICE TO THE NEGRO.
Race Who is Entitled to be Heard
and Respected.

At the commencement exercises Of
Shaw University, Raleigh, the lead
ing institution in the South for the
education of negroes, President
Meserve delivered an. address to the
graduating class in which he told
them some very wholesome truths.
Among other things he said this:
1--WE are living in changed and
changing times. Life practically
used to consist in repeating to-day in
detail what was done yesterday. This
is no longer true. The advance in
the sciences aud arts and the progress
ofevents, stimulated by this advance,
compells new definition of life in all
it's manifold activities. Change is the
order everywhere, and life, instead
Of repetition, has come to be a con-
stant series of re-adjustments made
necessary by the ever-varying con-
ditions. This correct view
OF life is at the present time of more
interest to you than to any other
race. Your race was forced from
African barbarism into American
slavery and then emerged into free
dom and was elevated to citizenship.
The franchise has been exercised
quite generally, and, in some in
stances, political honors have been at
tanned, but the franchise in some
States has been largely withdrawn,
and. in others, it seems that action is
being taken looking to the same end.
At least these are the signs Of the
times, and the signs of the times you
must constantly study, and, at the
present time they must be studied
not in the light of right or wrong, or
justice or injustice, for this will avail
nothing, but rather in the light of
the inevitable.
Avenues leading to office-holding
cannot be travelled by you, and little
has been gained in this direction in
the past by any race. The shore OF
the white political sea is lined with
wrecks, and they are far greater in
number than the ships that have
made port in safety. There is little
in office-holding for white people
nothing for you.
| ..You should carefully study the
new conditions so that you may adapt
yourself to them in a manner that
will bring the highest good both to
yourselves and the race. There must
be on your part forbearance, patience,
| discretion and at all times wisdom.
Make yourselves useful in the com
munities where your lot may be cast
A useful citizen is always esteemed
and is always Influential. Honest
constant work is called for and viii
bring recognition.
.And. now, let me say to you what
| have on several occasions stated ir
public addresses both in the Nortl
and in the. South: Make friends Will
the white people Of the South, ant
use your influence among your people
to this end. We are living not in th'
past, but in the today Of events, ant
in this today your race must get read.
for tomorrow. These may be to yo'
unpalatable truths, but they are truth
nevertheless, and they have got to b
reckoned with; you cannot escap
them. and it is folly to ignore them
A more kindly feeling on your par
toward the best and most infuentia
white men and women here in tn
South and deeper and more genera
personal interest on their part in you
spiritual, moral and educational vel
fare, will bring untold blessings
both races"