The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-30
THE NEGRO EXCEPTIONALLY.
Prof. n. n, Wright's Idea of the
Elevation of His Race.

Prof. II. X. Wrtghts ldea OF tne
Elevation of His Race.
The opinions of Bishop Turner's
speech before the educational gathering
in Atlanta Sunday. printed in the
Morning News yesterday have aroused
a great deal of interest in the race
question. One of the speakers at the
meeting was President r. r. Wright of
the State Industrial College. His talk
was on the line of what the colored
race has accomplished educationally
since the war.
Educational statistics and imposing
school houses be they ever so preten-
tious and boastful," he said, will not
help to solve our race misunderstood
ings in the South. unless these rem
der themselves the sure evidence of
the incubation and growth in the peo-
pie of the Christian spirit of humility,
patience, good will and mutual re-
spect; that education and wealth which
bring with them arrogance and peev-
ish sensitiveness will only complicate
the problem.
touch with the whole nation: that we
must somehow or other cease to be
an alien and stranger in the land of
our birth. an object of peculiar legis-
lation; that somehow or other there
must possess us a common national
purpose, and an esprit de corps, which
shall make us feel at home. To ac-
complish this we shall have to forget
some things and shut our eyes and
ears to others. We must raise up
leaders who will not only do this them
selves. but who are willing to teach
the masses to cut loose, so far as hind
ers us, from our past prejudices, both
racial and political.
ours is the arduous duty to lead the
rest of the country to recognize that
there are locked up within the negro
great physical, Intellectual and moral
forces which this nation needs and
which, when drawn out and used will
make the American nation greater and
grander. This cannot be accomplished
by strife and recrimination; our weap-
ons are not carnal. Our schools are
not to forge a battery for perpetual
assault upon adverse prejudices and
criticisms. In my Judgment, gentle
ness, patience, good will and mutual
respect must be the implements of our
warfare. Educational statistics and
imposing school houses. be they ever
so pretentious and boastful, will not
help to solve our race difficulties IN
the South. unless these render them
selves the sure evidence of the in
culcation and growth in the people of
the Christian spirit of humility. pa
thence, good win and mutual respect.
That education and wealth which
bring with them arrogance and peev-
ish sensitiveness will only complicate
the problem. Therefore, in answer to
your last question, / will say that if
the schools are instructng their youths
along this line, the education they are
giving is indeed conducive to the
south's substantial development.
Education must continue to be our
watchword. Educate in books. in work
and in morals In fact there Is no
true education which does not train
the head, the heart and the hand
There Is no occupation IN life which
cannot be more successfully engaged In
by trained man than by an ignorant
one. Ignorance Is a great bane and
akin 70 viciOusness. An empty head
and an idle hand are pretty sure indl-
cations OF a vicious heart in a worth.
less man. Our sons and daughters
must be educated 10 do the work which
u az hand, whether In the Office, home
shop or field. II II be any ones lot Il
De servant, he should prove a BET
Ter servant in freedom than he was
~ slavery Any kind Of work BY which
man can honestly earn HE dafis
bread and be- enabled % discharge hi
duties a. man and citizen. Il hon.
ofahle, whether b. De- labor - the head
hanq On heart on the farm or As 4 a..
nestle servant
Among che greatest evils witch AZ.
me- our people 10 lack Of deanlts