The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-14

| earned
There are peculiar and important duties
that devolVe in the present age upon
young men like you. First of all, YOU
should use your influence to maintain be-
tween the races the most pleasant rela-
lions possible. Strive for a higher life
in the church. for better schools and for
better roads. Pay your taxes promptly
and thus help out the school fund. and
cast your vote in favor of the largest
possible appropriation for the public
| schools of both races, and, if sufficient
nnoey cannot be raised by taxation to
keep the schools in session at least six
months in the year. organize your com
munity in such a way that funds will
be voluntarily contributed to lengthen the
school to eight months. Wherever you
may locate, favor industrial training in
the public schools, for it is the founda-
ton of material prosperity under our
present economical system.
"Do not be disturbed if you encounter
| friction and opposition. 1t is only natural,
Tor you are scarcely a generation re-.
moved from slavery, but be strengthened
by the great truth that merit surely wins
In State where there are two races, as
is the case in North Carolina, with more
on the part of each against the other, it
/ is all important that they who direct
the higher education of both white and
black youth should understand that they
have failed in their mission unless their
graduates go out with the determination
to win the respect and confidence of the
best men and women of both races. 1
returned recently from a visit to county
: in North Carolina where colOred men and
women are receiving the recognition that
can only come when the relations between
the races are harmonious on account of
mutual kind feeling resulting from a
| mutual respect.
LAS you go out into, the community, be
as your predecessors are earnest, quiet,
modest citizens, exerting your influence
for thrift, industry and quietness upon
the rank and file of the people. You can
do this in marked degree, for the edu-
Gated man or woman of sound sense is
looked up to and respected even more
than among the whites.
| I'VE hear much said about the higher
education of the negro race. 1t is your
duty to have the public know that very
little has been attempted and very little
accomplished. Less than three thousand
cOlOred men and women have been grad
uated from all the colleges of the coun-
try since emancipation. In the large
schools of standing and character like
Shaw and others, industrial work has
been prominent from the beginning, and it
is a fact that should never be forgotten
that the first industrial training for
either race in North Carolina was given
here at Shaw University in it's early
days by my lamented predecessor, the
late Henry Martin Topper. and notwith-
standing professional departments have
kecn added since those early days there
! is no department to which more attention
is given than tho industrial departments
of the young men and young women, and
other branches of industrial training will
be added as fast as the necessary room
and equipment can, be obtained.
president eelye. of Smith College, on
the recent day of prayer for colleges, i'll
an address to, the students, emphasized
the absolute need of the spiritual ele
ment as a basis of life in all institu-
tons of learning-the proper subordi-
nation of learning to virtue and high
! character The State has found out that
Shaw's aim is to send out law abiding,
| self-rCspecting, modest men and women,
ard this is why she is respected and has
the confidence of the best men and women
of both races in this State and through
out the entire Southland From the very
beginning, high standards of moral and
Christian character, the wise spending of
money, the saving OF part of ones in
| come, the purchase of land the making
of a permanent home, cheerful obedience
to constituted authority, in fact, the
highest type of Christian citizenship, Shaw
hnTs tndQ
She looks to you, twentysix strong,
earnest and deserving young men. to hold
up her standard and show to the world
that manly character and modest conduct
are neither white nor black nor red, but
are the traits of manly men and woman
ly women.
1.-THE blessing of your Alma Mater rests
upon you and goes with you, her hopes
center in YOU
The chorus rendered Springs warn
ing" and then President Meserve intro
duced MI Edgar o., Silver, of New YORK,
chairman of the Board of Trustees OF
Shaw University.
Mr.. Silver said in part: Il have long
felt q genuine and deep interest in Shaw
University and it's work, but nave never
before today had the pleasure of being
| present at one Oh It's dluudl
ments.
"If | could put into words the wish of
the trustees regarding the graduates, 1T
would be that they might live lives IT
service and not of selfshness. At Wei
lesley College, there is Latin motto
/ over the great arch, which reads. being
translated Not to be ministered unto,
but to minister We would wish you not
to receive this gift and use it for your
personal advantage only, but to use 1t
/ for the lettering of humanity"
/ General T. j. Morgan, corresponding
secretary, was then introduced, and said:
| Il hope l can give you practical illus
tration that 1 am a free man. in that
can restrain myself from making Ions
/ speech Laughter)
II am here as the representative of the
I American Baptist Home Missionary So
ciety which was the founder of this in