Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-19
THAT GREAT ADDRESS OF DIR.
THTRKIELD.

DIR. WILBUR p. THIRxIELD in discus.
sing 1.-The Higher Education of the
Negro said:
But how about the actual resalss of
this higher education? Take this object
lesson as an example OF the college, bred
man. Thirty five years ago there might
have been seen on the benches-of q
University in Atlanta two young men.
They were struggling through the
college course; wrestling with the
problems of the higher mathematics,
and digging away at the roots of Greek
aud Latin vSrbs. OF their teachers, two
were Yale graduates. and one from
Dartmouth College.
Now, wasn't chat a, piece of folly
urging IL ese men, of q race just ont of
bondage, through such course of
among a people who couldn't cipher or
speak good English. How much better
co give them a practical education-a
mastery of the elementary three RS"
and send them out at once to teach their
lowly and illiterate peoplei What can
Greek roots and Latin phrases ever be co
them?
But wait. And here it is Just rs we'll
to admit that one OF the serious mis-.
takes in what may be called the eXper
mental stage of Negro education has
been the forcing of hundreds OF minds
through long and difficult courses of
classical training, which, by che lack of
capacity and previSus discip inc, were
utterly untitled for such courses of
study.
But to RETURN 10 these two young
men They graduated. They went
forth as teachers. One in a so-called
university, where he taught all the
English branches. But he held on Co
the classics and to his lofty ideals.
After awhile he had pupils ready for
college courses He kept up his own
studies, gathering about him a library
of the worlds undying literature. The
best that this man gave his puD ,ls was
himself-the fruitage of a well-stored
and thoroughly disciplined mind; a life
enriched and ennobled by this larger
knowledge of the imperial men and
books of the ages.
What the outcome? Four of his
graduates are able and successful college
presidents, giving inspiration and guild
ance to their people. Many are minis
ters of high character, lofty ideals, ana
wide influence. Scores of them are
judicial, conservative, helpful leaders of
their race.
That other student of the University
founded a high-school in Augusta; was
editor of a paper of high moral tone;
never held office, but was the wise
political adviser of his people.
This is view of the situation that
many people in this country had over
looked. And again:
These two old students met the other
day on the Commencement platform of
the Georgia State Industrial College at
Savannah, of which Prof. r. R. Wright
the second man, is President. The
chapel was crowded with students and
an eager, expectant throng of people
Distinguished officers of the State were
seated on the platform. After the
Commencement address of DIR. w. III.
Crogman, Chancellor Boggs, of the
State University arose, and in highest
terms commended the wise, considerate
and well balanced utterances OF the
speaker. TIE the other white citizens, it
was a revelation. They had never heard
it on this wise The Savannah TRIB-
UNE printed the address, with its in
dorsement in terms of highest praise
On that platform President Wright con
ferred the diploma of the institution on
his son, Richard r Wright, Jr., who
entered the University of Chicago for
further training.
He asks question and then answers
it in the following languages:
Does it pay? How far shall the
higher education of the exceptional men
of the race be attempted? Let this
81 1aacnn male QDawar If all that
| this University had accomplished was to
make such history and such an
occasion possible, as an inspiration to
the race and as a practical illustration to
his white neighbors of the possibilities
and powers of the Negro. it would have
paid for the entire investment.
No conservative, unbiased, fair mind
ed man can read this remarkable disser-
tation without being convinced by the