The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-02
MUST EDUCATE
The NEGRO RACE
EDUCATION A PANACEh
SAID SUPERINTENDENT EVANS IN
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES.

Address by Augusta Superintendent
nay Programme at Georgia state
Industrial COIlege-The Negro
SbouId Remember That the Labor
or Receives the Wages He De-
seryes-DiplOmas Presented by
Col. p. w. MeIdrim.
With appropriate exercises the Geor-
ola state Industrial College yesterday
closed the years work. Diplomas
we're granted to twenty three gradu-
ates The feature of the commence
ment programme was the address by
sunt. Lsawton B. Evans of the Rich
r,ond County Public Schools.
Mr.. Evans called attention to the
nrogress that the negro has been
taking in all lines. He has paid $19,-
ooo 900 for schools, $4,000 for churches
and s15.OOO,O00 worth of school property
&c now owned by him. This is a pro-
gress. he said, which is not to be
laughed at.
strong plea for the education of
+be negro was made, the speaker call
ing attention to the necessity of both
mind and hand being educated.
Among other things Mr.. Evans said;
The South needs labor, and skilled
labor at that. The place OF you grad
nates is not so much to do the labor
as to take your places as directors of
labor. 1t is your duty to teach others
what to do.
LAS long as negroes work in the cot
ron fields for so cents a day they are
worth no more. When they become
skilled workmen, their wages will be
increased, homes will be purchased by
them and their condition would be
greatly improved. The home enters so
largely into civilization that without
the possession of good homes the ne
gro would not be doing the best for
himself.
Il think that education is a panacea
for all ills. The possession of lands
and money does not completely solve
the problems of life. 1 have no pa
thence for those who believe that edu-
cation should be reserved for the few
The ignorant negro is a dead weight
upon the South. Educate him and he
will add greatly to the wealth and
prosperity of the country.
After laboring with the negro for
twenty years it is my deliberate opin-
Gated, both in hand and in mind.
Thousands of men in the South be-
Heve that the negro ought not to be
educated, and on the other hand
thousands believe that he ought. l
am one of those who believe that he
ought"
Essays and OrBtiOns.
The essays and orations by the stu
dents of the college were among the
oo1o
showed careful thought and prepara-
tion and reflected credit not only on
the essay ists themselves, but on those
who have had charge of their training.
The Purpose of Our Education" was
discussed by Marie Jones. the essayist
pointing out that the great end was to
fit each graduate to assume his and
her place in life, to make them self
supporting and peaceful, law abiding
citizens.
Kind of Education Needed" was
the subject of an Grafton by Thomas A.
Baker, in which he plead for that edu-
cation which made the negro useful
citizen, not a useless waste.
The Negroes Place in the Industry
of the South" was discussed by Robert
r. Holmes. Forcefully the speaker
pointed out that the negro is best fit
ted for the industrial lines, and that
his preparation must be to fill the notch
Which is distinctively his in this
sphere.
A strong and forceful address on
"Altruism" was delivered by Rev. H.
5. Bradley, D. D., of Atlanta, in which
he plead for the development of that
spirit which did not bind the soul and
heart up in their own interests, but
stood ready to lend a helping hand
to struggling fellows.
Presentation of Diplomas.
All of the numbers on the programme
were interspersed with musical select
ions, both vocal and Instrumental. The
selections by the College Band and
the quartette were very good. The
solo, ION Golden Wings" by Nellie
Smith was one of the musical features
of the programme.
At the close of the programme the
diplomas were presented to the grad
yates by Col. P. W Meldrim, chairman
of the College Commission. Diplomas
were given to the following students:
College Department: Thomas A. Bak-
err. Theodore Butler Gordon, Robert f.
Holmes and James M. Washington.
Normal Department: Ophelia Boze-
man, Turner L. Bright, Lizzie z. Coop
er, Samuel T. Forrest, Maseline
Greene. Eugene R. Harrison, Marie
H. Jones, Rebecca D. Milledge, Hen
ry S. Roberts, Julian r. Ross, w.
F. G. Sherman, Malina o. Smith, Mel
lie P. Smith, Madeline Victory, r. c.