The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-09

So Said Theodore of a
North CaroIinian.
Greatest Ovation Ever rendered a
Harvard Commencement Speaker
Received by William a Lam
beth. of Townsville.

An incident of interest to all North
Carolinians took place at Harvard
University during its commencement,
a few days ago and it has not been
reported i'm many newspapers. The
report needs no coloring, and is as
follows:
Five young men about to receive
their diplomas, delivered short
speeches at the Harvard commence
ment exercises Wednesday morning.
The last one of these was William A.
Lambeth, of Thomasville, n. c., whose
subject was he Spirit of the Present
South" Mr.. Lambeth's argument is
best summed up in his own words
In the South of today the three grea,
mCvements of the past century are
doing beneficent work for they have
api cared in the rise of industrial.sm
in uffrage restriction, and in popular
education"
oeaking Of industrialism he men
toned the growth of lumber and cot
ton anufactures in this section ana
cCacerning popular education he
prs s. i the work of Governors Mon
tag nc Aycock and other Southern
state. men. But the theme most en-
phaSiZed was that of suffrage restric,
ton. On this subject he said:
"Tlese men, interpreters of the besi
spirit of the South, rejoice also in
the Sc of suffrage restrictions, for
the believe that these restrictions are
the l1aster strokes of statesmen for
the undoing of the evils of the recon.
struction period. They know that the
South is thus blazing out a new and
even hazardous path, just as the ma
ton is doing in the Philippines, but
thty IRE determined that the restriC~
tons shall not fail in the accomplish
menI o. their purpose and that they
shall be applied to both races with
identical justice. They think that th-
spirit which prompted the heart OF
America to fit the Filipino for suf-
fraSe before giving him the ballot
something which he can now neither
appreciate nor use = the same which
prompted the heart of the South I.
eliTnin9Ce1he incompetent negro vote
until that vote can be fitted by edu-
cation for intelligent suffrage. But
VIXEN ever n black man, who has beer
dis franchised by these new LAWS
comes to possess the qualifications re.
CURED for suffrage, they are decided
that he shall be received into the bod
politlc and east his vote along with
the more highly favored. In the spirit
of Governor 1dtt N the PhIlipp.het
they have thoroughly and fervently
committed themselves to the task oI
making not color not aristocracy, but
fitness and ability the test of South
ern citizenship.
These men, who are both inter
prefers and representations of the
spirit of the South, rejoice still further
i'm education, for they are fully and
finally committed TO the policy of edo
cation that is. training of hands, mina
and morals, IS the one solution or The
so-called race problem. They know
that the negro is present in the South
through no fault of his. bit because
% tire crIIn llaI fony OF sur fathers
Conscious that This folly has laid cn
them the heaviest responsibility, Trey
are looking upol the settlement oi
the negro problem as the South's share
in the great service o. the world. ~
the spirit of Governor .NCcCck and
Governor Montague, they are pI1et.c-
ing race superiority in deeds. but no.
in words; in actions thai blfss, no.
in sentences that irfitate.
Now any one who Is at All ac-
ouainted with New England viii re-
cognize the boldneSs which is reIuir-
ed to utter such sentiments on an oc-
casion like this. But the effect wa
surprising. Again and again M
Lambeth was interrupted BY roG.id.
of applause in which President Loose.
welt was often leading. Among tho
on the platform were the Pr9slG ant
who sat next to Lieutenant Governor
Guild, of Massachusetts. Next aSaili
were Secretary Taft, Justice Whi'e
and a number of other men OF nation
al importance. All these men Hollow
ed the speaker with intense interest
frequently commenting among THEM
selves on his statements
When the speech was concluded, ac-
cording TO the Boston Globe, MT
Lambeth received the greatest ovation
ever rendered a Harvard commence
mon, sneaker. This was due partly
10 commentator of his delivery, part.
ly to endorsement of his views, bu,
largely to the fact that President
Roosevelt was himself offering per-
sonal congratulations, in the presence
of the audience. / have the pest au'
tbority for his words at this time.
First he said: That's corker.
AGAIN he called MIR. Lambeth to him
"a I'D by George, that's wheT- =
stand!"