Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-12
THE Ex-PRESIDENT
AT PHILADELPHIA.
He Prcsides and Speaks Mt Meeting
in Aid Of Manual Training
School for Negroes.

PHILADELPHIA. PA, December liz
Former President Cleveland presided to-
night at public meeting In aid Of the
Berean Manual Training School, an insti-
tuition which aims to give members OF the
negro race the benefits of an industrial
education. The meeting was attanded by
prominent jurists. educators. and bust
ness-men. Mr. Cleveland was the princi-
pal speaker, and Booker T. Washington,
president of Tuskegee Institute, also
made an address.
The institution was established less. than
two years ago, and has an enrolment Of
200 students.
Mr.. Cleveland is personally interested in
the school, and in accepting the invitation
to attend the meeting, said: II regard
the object which the meeting is called to
promote as so beneficent. and SO import
ant to the advancement Of a mass OF our
citizenship, greatly in need Of improve
ment and care, that~1 have considered
it my duty to comply with the request to
preside at the meeting.
The colored population of this city is
$4,000, increasing at the rate of 10000
year and to-night's meeting was held for
the purpose of interesting the people of
Philadelphia particularly and of the coun-
try generally In their education.
Mr. CleFeland's address was in part as
follows:
MIR. CLEvELAND's SPEECH.
1T Is absolutely certain that every
where in this broad land. good people
and interests as related to the colorcd
men. women. youth, and children who
constitute a factor. large or small, in
1T is foolish for us to blind our eyes
to the fact that more should be done to
improve the condition of our negro popu-
lation, and it should be entirely plain
81 hot he this iS Under
taken the sooner will a serious duty be
discharged. and the more surely will we
guard ourselves against future trouble
and danger. Our colored people have
been supplied with a measure of public
school privileges. even though in this
they have been at disadvantage as
compared with their " white IIf, ne,gho9 }
true value what has thus been accom-
plished nor will We fail to appreciate
the Importance of continued ana lncreas.
ing effort in extending to this class OF
our citizens opportunities for ordinary
school education.
mo one who has given the subject DELHI
crate thought can doubt that II we are to ne
citizens and if they are to be more COM
pletely made self-respecting, useful, and
safe members of our body polite, they
must be taught to do something more 4
than to l1ew wood and draw water. The
way must be opened for them to en-
gage in something better than mental SER
vice, ana their interest NluSt nc diOuSeu ~
rewards of Intelligent occupation and
careful thrift.
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOLS.
t'I believe that the exigency, can only
be adequately met through the instru-
mentality Of well-equipped manual train
ing and industrial schools. conducted
either Independently or In connection
with ordinary educational Institutions L
am convinced that good citizenship. an
orderly, contented life and a proper con-
ception OF civic virtue and obligations
is almost certain to grow ont "f t91r
chance to earn an honest, hopeful live
lihood, and a satisfied sense or prutectoa
and conSiderate reatment.
The objects of our assemblage tonight
are to learn the details of the work
done by manual training and industrial
schools located here in the city Of Phila,,
delphia, and to extend to it our aid and
encouragement.
Though still young. the Berean Man
ual Training and Industrial School has
abundantly justified its existence, and
demonstrated it's power for good. 1t has
passed so far beyond an experimental
stage that it's usefulness is seriously
cramped by lack of means and the want
of necessary accommodations.
Surely, If the liberal citizens OF Phil
adelphia are once satisfied that their DUTY
to their less fortunate colored neighbors
demands the increased success OF this IN
stitution. it should not be difficult to in
duce them to extend to 1t helping hand.
We cannot anticipate that its neglect
will be chargeable against the people of
this phlanthrOpic and patriotic city.