The courier., 1902-03-01
Il H f COU RI f r

SIX. All responded COnventiOnally to
the invitation and regretted, etc, that
it was impossible to accept Number
seven was Booker +. Washington. and
as he had been instructed by the vote
of the class the chairman sent him
an invitation to deliver the class
Grafton on commencement day of 1902.
After the invitation was sent and ac-
cepted some of the southern members
of the class announced that they were
opposed to listening to a speech from Il
cOlOred man and threatened not to re-
ceive their diplomas if the invitation
which had been offered by the author
lied representative of the class was not
withdrawn.
Now the majority of the class are
not afraid of negro domination" They
believe that the stronger race will win
and that petty persecution by the white
race will not help either race. The class
chairman has delivered an invitation
to one of the few good speakers in this
country to address the graduating class
at commencement. The good faith and
dignity of the class is involved and the
strong members insist that they will
take no part in a discourtesy of the
kind contemplated by an insignificant
fraction who are anxious to advertise
their prOvincialism and lack of a deep
seated respect either for themselves
or the university which has erred in
attempting to cultivate them.
When We and they are dust and
ashes, blowing about the country into
places where it is not wanted at all,
the name of Booker T. Washington will
be enshrined in the hearts of his cOun-
trymen and his ashes will repose in a
catafalque too massive for meddlesome
time.
1t is of no consequence to the univer-
sity whether the young men and wom-
en- who now breathe threats against il
fulfill them or not. They can take their
diplomas or leave them. The universi-
ty will never know the difference. The
university is large and potent A man
might as we'll threaten to leave the
state. Whether he stays or goes is of
no consequence to Nebraska. 1t is a
coincidence that the students whose
class standing is of so high an average
that there is no question of their not
receiving a diploma are not objecting
to Mr.. Washington. 1t is occasionally
convenient to be supplied with another
reason for the failure to obtain a dip
Iona.
The men and women of breeding,
standing and influence in the senior
class are not afraid of derogating their
dignity by listening to one of the most
enlightened men of his race and of his
time deliver an Grafton.
On the other hand the discussion is
hurtful to the black race. Because of
the narrowness of our prejudices and
our underbred fear that our insignifi-
canoe will not be mistaken for i'm
pOrtance, We do not lose an opportunity
to taunt our black brother with his
blackness, poverty, with his past from
which he has escaped and in which we
children from him. and with his pres
ent condition in the south where he
has meekly given up the right to vote
rather than claim it with a loaded
shotgun. The black race is not in
debted to the white race Their score
against us is deep enough. After hav-
ing freed the slaves, the north. as the
north, can do nothing more for the
cOlored race. Mr.. Washington has told
the whites SO, more or less distinctly,
a number of times. They must work
put their own salvation, for however