The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-29
N. s. c.


brought him convictions and knowledge
on other broad lines.
| These several forces produced in
Armstrong a remarkable philanthro-
pist, statesman. and educator. His let
| tLrs upon the questions involved in
the education and treatment of the
| Negro, written in 1868, when read in
| the light of present conditions seem
like inspired prophecy; and but little
| has been added to the principles in
volved in the uplift of the Negroes and
Indians evolved by his clear thinking
between 1865 and 1873. His annual re-
ports as the principal of the Hampton
Institute to the board of trustees are
State papers that will prove of great
value to the future historian. The last
of his reports, for the year closing
in May, 1893, was written and the
printers proofs revised by his own
hand. Among other remarkable pas
sages it contains the expression, Re
construction measures were a bridge
of wood over a river of fre'-an Illus
tration of his epigrammatic style. He
was in his grave when this report was
presented and the effect upon the
board of what seemed a voice from the
sp;rit-world will never fade from the
minds of any who were present.
DR.. Mayo, the veteran observer of
education in the South, says in a paper
prepared for the United States Bureau
of Education, that the largest contri-
button to popular education made by
any Individual in America since the
days of Horace Mann was that made
by General Samuel C. Armstrong.
Interest in Armstrong; life and work
is increasing with the wider apprecia-
ton of his services to education and
national progress. He forbade a biog-
raphy. But no violence is done to his
command in the preparation by his
daughter, Mrs Talbot, of her book
concerning his life, published on his
birthday. He was willing that infor-
nation concerning his army record
should be printed, and was particular
that it should be accurate. In this fact
is found a large measure of justifica-
ton for the publication of the book
My last interview with Armstrong
was on a Sunday at Hampton, late in
April, 1893. The afternoon service in
the beautiful church was over. The
choir had fingered at the Generals
suggestion to sing some of the old
slave hymns. The singers had retired:
oiiiS We Two remained. Inc yOungSter
of 1860 was now prematurely old. his
hair was white, his left side was para
lyzed, but his eye was undimmed and
his brain unclouded We talked
through the twilight and into the dark
ness, his theme being the school. the
Negro, the country; and never in all
the years had 1 heard from him more
intelligent and hopeful expressions or
greater enthusiasm for the future His
soul was marching on with faith and
courage undaunted. We left the
church and parted beneath the shining
stars-I to go North, he in a few DAYS
to say My work is done L must co.
The Hampton Institute stands as
Armstrong; monument Since his
death ten years have passed. But SO
strong is the spiritual life of the or
ganization that everything which he
originated and planned has gone for
ward with a progressive, cumulative
power. The creation of an organism
composed of human elements that re-
tain the power of vital growth after
the inspiration and will of the creator
Is Withdrawn is positive testimony to
the genius of originality and spiritu
atty. Armstrong was fortunate in his
associates and successor at the Hamp-
ton institute. Through his spiritual
legatees the continual growth of his
great experiment station is assured
ana his memorial stands a witness To
MS hfe-work-The Worlds Work.