The colored American., 1903-06-27

allCy. II lney Du1lQ Tor themselves
goodly mansion on the highest noun
tain top of achievement and fame, the
feat and genius are yours; if they
fail their failure is your failure
We are charged with incapacity for
the higher things of thought and ac-
ton. They are our answer. We have
bOasted that ignorance shall be ban
ished from our class and our fellow
ship linked with the highest desti-
nies of this republic. They are our
pledge. We have said that, to the
declaration that human freedom and
human equality are the right and por-
ton of every man, woman and child,
there shall never be found an excep-
ton by the failures or short comings,
by the incapacity of the black race in
this republic. They are our guaran-
tee. We have challenged those who
declaim against our fond hope, who
curse our strivingS. who Sneer at our
efforts. who would curtail our privi-
legeS, who would cut short our rights.
They are our gage of battle. With
them and the thousands of others,
such as they are, we are armed with
invincibility. Our defense is impreg
nable, and when the bugle shall sound
the charge down the whole line of
these young resolute, educated, de-
lined young men, look then to see the
shining genius of liberty rise glori-
Gus and immaculate from the ruins of
two discordant and warning centuries;
look then to see the clouds dispelled
and the bow of hope arch our skies,
radiant with a destiny for thousand
years obscured.
Do you ask for floral wreath fit
to decorate the graves of all who fell
fighting the battle of freedom? Be
hold them. Do you ask for an offering
holy enough to place upon the affairs
of the republic? Look at it. Do you
ask for fruits worthy of the blood,
which has watered the tree of our
liberty; of the dew of tears, which
has refreshed it's leaves? Look
upon these and smile. Have you
doubts as to what the future will
bring forth by the hands of those
who shall come after you? Look upon
these young men and be cOnsoled. DO
you ask for Gods answer to our hum
BILE, patient fathers prayer? Behold
them and lift your voices in Thanks
giving. History with its record of
daring tales of valorous sacrifice, i'm
mortal struggles for justice and
right, throws before them its beacon
light. Two thousand years of thought,
investigation and discovery support
and reinforce their simple human
strength Three centuries of trials
and suffering, harsher than anything
which the spirit of human kind ever
endured before and lived, have hard
ened their inheritance of endurance to
withstand and fight against any NOR
tai fate. Justice with its infinite heav-
emily hosts and avenging purpose does
not always fight beneath the teeming
banners of the strong, nor are her
judgments decreed or her mercies
meeted out in measure and quality
suited to the pleasure and caprice of
numbers or majorities. Wealth, proud
and vain, nor power selfish and un-
reIenting, are the only sources Of hui
man strength.
A Pagan once observed that the
Gods were sometimes propitious with
those whom they wished to destroy.
We shall not despair, because they
who be against US are more numerous
than those who be for us. The an
nointing hand which was once laid in
conservation upon the heads of holy
men, setting them apart from ordina-
ry mortals, as the ministering serv-
ants of God, does not now fall upon
the dilated foreheads of our Southern
opposers, ordaining their acts with the
power and dignity, which belongs to