The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-11-02
The Presidents Address.

Inc PRESIDENT Address,
To the white population as we'll ,s
To The black it is Of the utmost i'm
pcrtancc that the negro be encour-
'"ed 10 make himself a citizen OF the
highest type Of usefulness. 1t is to
the interest OF the white people that
this policy be conscienttiouslv pusued
and To the interest of the colored peo-
pie that they clearly realize that they
nave opportunities for economic de-
yeiopmen here IN the South not now
offered elsewhere Within the last
twenty years the industrial! operations
of the South have increased 50 ire
mendously hat there is a scarcity of
labor almost everywhere; so that il
IS the part Of wisdom for all who wish
the prosperity Of the South TO help
the negro TO become III the highest
degree useful to himself, and there
fore to the community III which he
lives. The South has always depend
ed. and now depends, chiefly upon her
native population for her work
Therefore III view Of the scarcity not
only OF common labor. but of skilled
labor, it becomes doubly important to
train every available man to be of the
utmost use, by developing his intelli-
@ence, his skill and his capacity for
conscientious effort. Hence the work
Of Tuskeeece Normal and Industrial
Institute is a matter Of ihe highest
practical Importance to both the white
and the black man, and we'll worth the
support Of both races alike in ihe
Sonth and III the North. Your fifteen
hundred students are not only beng
educated in the head and heart. but
also trained to industrial efficiency:
for from the beginning Tuskecgee
has placed especial emphasis upon
The training Of men and women In
agriculture, mechanics and house
hold duties. Training in these three
fundamental directions does not en-
brace 81 that the negro or any other
race needs, but it does cover N very
large degree the field in which the
negro can 1T present do most for him.
self and be most helpful to his white
rel@hbors. Every black man who
leaves this institute better able to do
mechanical or industrial work. adds
by so much to the wealth of the
whole community and benefits all peo-
pie in the community. The prptes-
sional and mercantile avenues to sue
cess are overerowded. for the present
the best chance of success awaits the
intt igent worker at some mechanical
trade or on farm; for this man Will
almost certainly achieve Industrial IN
dependence. ] am pleased, but not IN
the least surprised TO learn that many
among the men and women tral"ed at
TuSkeeeee find immediate employment
as leaders and workers among THEN
own people, and that their services are
eagerly sought by white people for
various kinds of industrial work, the
demand being much greater than the
supply. Viewed from any angle, lS-
norance Is the costilest crop that can
be raised in any part OF this Union
Every dollar put into the education OF
clilloT WHILE iildl bl bidCh 1ii0ii3 ~
head, in hand and in the heart, yields
rich devidends to the entire commun-
". Merely from the economic stand
point it is of the utmost consequence
TO all orr citizens that institutions
such as Tuskeegee should be sue
cess. But there are other and even
higher reasons that entitle it to our
support In the, interest of humanity.
Of justice, and Of self protection, ev-
cry white man in America. Nc matter
where he lives, should try to help The
negro to help himself. It is the in
terest an for the protection Of the
white man to see that the negro is
educated. It is not only the duty of
the white man, but it Is to his in
terest, TO see that the negro is pro-
t-cted in property, in life. and in all
his legal rights. Every time law is
broken every individual in the COM
munitv has the moral tone of bis life
lowered. Iawlessness In the United
States is not confined TO my section;
lynching is not confined to any sec
ton; and there Is perhaps no body of
American citizens who have deserved
so we'll of the entire American people
as the public men, the publieists, the
elnrgymen, the countless thousands Of
. iigh-minded private citizens who have