The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-12
SPOKE TO NEGROES
MIR. CLEVELAND GIVES SOME
 ADVICES.
Says Manual Training of the Race Should Receive Encouragement. Professor Washington Also
 Delivers an Address.

Philadelphia, Dee. H. Former President Cleveland presided tonight at a public meeting in aid of che Berean Manual Training School an institution which aims to give members of the negro race the benefits of an industrial edu- cation. The meeting was attended by prominent jorists. educators and busi- ness men.
 MT. Cleveland, who is personally inter ested in the school, was the principal speaker, and Booker T. Washington, President of the Tuskegee Institute. also made an address
 The institution was established less than two years ago and has an enro lment of 200 students.
 MT. Cleveland address in part fol- lows:
 We are called together in furtherance of purposes which are not only of the ut most beneficence, but which, for every reason, are deserving of serious anu prompt consideration.
 Tt has often occurred to me that ever since we have become a nation the Amer ican people have almost constantly been confronted with large problems, more or less perplexing, and directly affecting the political industrial and social phases of our national welfare. We seem to have a cOntented notion that whatever dangers press upon us and whatever ob- stacles are to be surmounted. we are able because we seem to be able and that because we have thus far escaped threatening perils happy-go-lucky re- liance on continued good fortune will avail us to the end of the chapter.
 II am, impressed with the importance of this occasion. It is absolutely certain that everywhere in this broad land, good people should be keenly alive 10 their duty and interest as related to { .e color ed men. women. youth and children who constitute factor. large or small, in the population of every community. It is foolish for us to blind our eyes to the fact that more should be done to improve the condition of our negro pouulahon; and it should be entirely plain 10 all If us that the sooner this is undertaken the sooner will a serious duty be dls- charged and the more securely will We guard ourselves against future trouble and danger. Our coiorej people have hren supplied with measIre ut public school privileges, even though in this they have hesn at a disadvantage compared with their white neighbors.
 No one who has given the subject de liberate thought can doubt that if we are to be just and fair towards our col- ored fellow citizens and if they are to be made more completely self respecting useful and safe members of our body polite they must be taught to do some thing more than to hew wood and draw water. The way must be opened for them to engage in something better than me nial service, and their interest must be aroused to rewards of intelligent occupa- tion and careful thrift.
 "I believe that the exlgency can only be adequately met through the instru- mentality of well equipped manual train ing and industrial schools conducted eith- ed independently or in connection with ordinary educational instructions. I am convinced that good citizenship an or derly, contented life and d proper concep- ton of civic virtue and obligation Is al- most certain to grow out of a fair chance to earn en honest hopeful livelihood and a satisfied sense of secure protection and conslderate treatment"