The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-31

sink into hopeless inferiority in all TIE
trades and lines of work. The right kind
OIL education was what was needed for
the negro, the kind of education that
would teach him TO work well and con-
mand good wages, to do well something
that people wanted done.
And the most hopeful line of work for
the negro seemed to be in farming. But
IL most OF the school books, what do we
see? A picture of the great suspension
bridge spanning the East River between
New York and Brooklyn. And never
| picture of tree or domestic animal or
any of the things that large portion c.
the school children will be called upon
to deal with in after life No wonde"
the boy longs for the city, and grows &c
dislike the farm work that he has not
| been taught to carry on lntelllgently 50
that he can make a good living out of 1t.
And once in the big city, he finds himself
| lii competition with the trained white
man. The chances are that, untrafccd
| himself. he will find it next to impossible
to make living, and will join the great
army of those who live by their wits.
As it is, it is in the country that
we find the best class of negroes, HE
most thrifty ones. The worst class IS
found in the towns, as a general thing.
In agriculture lies the negro's best
chance in this day. And in agriculture,
AS well as in the trades, he must be
taught so that he can compete with the
best labor. The speaker compared the
white man IN Iowa, seated on his new
style corn cultivator that does practi
cGlly everything ploughs the ground, runs
the burrows, plants the corn, and throws
the earth over it, while the mar sits uG.
der a red umbrella and holds two spirited
horses, to keep them from working them
selves to death; this he compared with
the colored man of the South, ploughng
a cornfield with blind mule. that would
travel, perhaps. half mile an hour. TIE
old darkey would now and then with q
long pole that he had with him, belabor
the poor mule, whenever he stopped
which he did frequently to rest. Then
every little while the harness, which was
made of rags and leather, would require
mending. And ever and anon the o.d
darkey would pause to repair a break IN
his one gallows. Once IN while TOO,
he would have to stop and pick up n
rock with which to hammer the old plow
together.
That was his idea of a one-gallus man.
Now what the coored people must do is
to educate their young men so that thev
can sit on machines under red umberias
when they plant corn.
THE MEETING
President J. B. Dudley, of the A. and
NJ. College at Greensboro, and Secretary
of the North Carolina Industrial Assocla-
ton, called the big meeting 10 order, and
briefly stated its objects. The assocla-
ton, he said, recognizing the great valus
of education, had set aside this day az
Educational Day, in charge of the North
Carolina Teachers Association, with Prot.
S. G.. Atkins, of Winston, as director
He then introduced Prof. Atkins, who
commenced by saying that the objects or
the North Carolina Teachers Assoclati'si
were in harmony with those OF the North
Carolina Industrial Association.
Prof. Atkins said this occasion was the
effort of the colored people of the State
to place ii premium upon education. TheJ
had met together rather TO discuss what
the colored race had done for and against
themselves than to exploit the short
cCmings and mistakes of the white race.
L. this they were assured OF the support
OF the best of the white race, from our
magnificent Governor down. 'WhG-
should | do to be savcd?" was the queY-
ton that interested them.
Then Prof. Atkins presented DR.. y. w
pcgucs, of Shaw University. representa-
tive Of the North Carolina Teachers As
ISOLATION He said that Prof Atkins had
sounded the keynote of the purposes OF
this meeting, self-help. The true ann OF
education was to produce the truest types
of manhood and womanhood. All the leg
slation in the world all the acts Of Con-
gress cannot make man. Character can
not Ge legislated into man. Education
is simply one of the necessary means Tor
the development of the highest manl>oou.
and not an end in itself This develop
ment is not only in the training of the
head, but in service.
He spoke of the question Of the POI
tax, and said he could understand "a,
feeling OF the people on this matter, tha,
they certainly did have some grounds for
complaint. Some educated persons were
urging the negroes not TO pay their po'i-
taxes This he considered a great mis-
take. for the reason that great part OF
the poll-tax went to the educational fun'i.
He urged upon the educators to recon-
mend the payment of the poll-tax.
eve should not care" said he, IF par;
Of our poll-tax went toward the educa
ton OF the children of the white race.
The best way to protect ourselves is IT,
help educate the white race.
He was not here to speak of rights. 1t
was not a question of rignts. but OF
which was wisest and best for them to do
Ninety per cent. Of the colored people
for the present must make their living
by their muscle. So their only hope IS
to learn TO do intelligent work. The dig
nifty Of labor should be impressed upon
the pupils of every school.
At the conclusion OF Dr. Pagues' re-
marks, Prof. j. r. Hawkins, OF the Kit
hrell school, was introduced by Prof.
Atkins Prof Hawkins said in part:
In every chapter of Americas history.
there are bright pages teeming with evi-
dcnces of the negros fidelity citi-
zen and the part he has played as
contributor to its glory. Interviewing
cold facts with fancy, we rise to the DIN