Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
Mr.. Macfarland's Congratulations.

At the conclusion of his remarks Mr. Bum
dy introduced Mr.. Mcfarland, who. as
stated, presented the graduates with their
diplomas, and delivered short address 1t
follows:
Congratulations full of thanksgiving and
full of hopefulness are certainly in order
tonight Not only for this graduating class
with all it's good record and all its good
promise, but for the race 1t represents 1t
is another evidence Of the remarkable prog
ress of that race and another pledge that
that progress will continue. Twenty saw
ages a little over three hundred years ago
coming into this country sha ckled in chains
enslaved In ignorance'-that is Booker Wash
ington's picture of your beginnings here
Then came the long period of slavery
which was. notwithstanding everything a
period of development. and then, suddenly
without any other preparation and without
provision for education, four millions of
slaves were converted into citizens but
citizens without property, and so depend
ents- That was less than forty years ago.
You have not wandered through the wilder
ness forty years, as did the Israeites, Yet
you have more than doubled in numbers;
you have awaited yourselves of every oppor
tunity for education given you; you have
even accumulated collectively large wealth.
In Georgia alone property owned by colored
people is assessed for taxes at $4,000. 600
probably half its value. You are appre-
ciating and approximating Industrial indie
pendence.
Difference Noted.
Political liberty and Industrial independ-
ence are very different things. You are
learning rapidly that you must have BOTH
and in this lies the hope of your race and
the solution of our problem. provided you
do not In the strife for money give up your
Christian principles. but rather practice
them more efficiently than ever Your
friends among the white people. and you
nave far more than you commonly think
for you hear most from those who are not
friendly, are greatly encouraged by your
achievements and by your prospects They
are especially gratified by the evidences
such as the large increase shown here in
the number desiring manual training. that
you are learning that all labor is honor
able and that only idleness is without dig
nity.
1.-THE number of professional men and
women must always be very small The
vast majority of all races must work out
side of the professions, happy in the con-
sciousness that the chief thing is to be
busy while We are here In some useful
way that will give US financial independ-
ence and benefit the world. The Commits
sioners in naming the new manual training
school after Gen. Samuel Chapman Arm
strong, the father Of Hampton Institute
the grandfather of Tuskegee and every
similar institute. sought not only to honor
his memory here in the national capital,
for the inestimabe service he rendered
your race and our country, but to mark
the Significance Of the present trend of
your thought and purpose. In following
that trend you following the wisest
leadership you have and you are entering
upon a prosperity which none of us can
measure"
Bounty of the Government.
After a selection by the orchestra, Rev.
Walter S. Brooks, pastor of the Nineteenth
Street Baptist Church, was introduced He
said. in part:
You should never forget that you have
been educated and fitted for some of life's
duties and for higher attainments in schol-
arship by the bounty Of the civil govern
ment. What return will you make for ia
vors bestowed? You will be deeply sensi-
BILE of the claims of the country upon your
patriotic devotion to its every interest.
after being in the best public schools of the
country you would merit the unenviable
distinction of being ingrates of the SUPER
lative degree. But know that every heart
beats with local pride and with love Of
country, however many. however dark the
wrongs which are done our brothers in
parts of the United States. As you have
been educated by the government It is ex-
pected that some Of you will enter colleges
and universities of America to lift your
selves into the ranks of the worlds best
scholars. thinkers, writer's; into ranks of
the realm where men and women Of dis
tinguished usefulness live to the uplifting
OF humanity and the glory OF the nation
Nay God be with you all and enable you
to measure up to the heavenly command,