Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-30

miscuOusly, some OF them going
close 10 the presidents head. There
was excitement for several minutes,
when the students, moved by com
mon impulse. marched out Of the
chapel, hooting and singing songs. "
These facts We're published In the
same issue of the PLANET in which
appeared the editorial comment that
Mr.. Twister criticises. We presume
then that he accepts the statements
as true.
Ii may be well TO state mere that
we are opposed to DR.. John Gordon
and we believe that a mistake was
made in placing in charge Of Howard
University, q gentleman who knew
at the time and VINO has found out
since that the surroundings were
uncongeniai TO him. He is opposed
to the higher education of tine Negro
and Howard University was not in
tended TO be an industrial school.
Students seeking that kind of edu-
cation should attend Hampton Nor
NAL and Agricultural Institute. Tus-
.kegee Institute or our own state in
stitution at Petersburg.
We can understand too how peo-
pie who on the ground, swayed by
the impulses of passion can attempt
to justify such outrageous conduct
But there are colored men elsewhere
who viii not stand for such "a spe-
.cics of lawlessness. Mr.. Twister is
lin error when ne states that we are
.of the opinion that the students
were mistaken iu the revolt of De
ccmber Sth. 1905. We think the
method was all right. but that the
manner of execution was all wrong.
Organized protest against outrage
or tyranny can always be justified.
but when the methods of the mob
are countcnaucej and practiced the
students Will have against them the
united opposition OF every conserva-
tive man of color in the United
States. I.awlassness and mobocracy
are two-edgod swords that cut both
ways. We stated that qualification
and adapubuity were the character
istics most nccled IN q president OF
an institution of the kind referred
to and that executive ability was
more essential than scholastic train
ing
We are of that opinion now. We
do not mean to infer that O man
without scholastic training could
succeed. but we mean that of the
two qualifications, executive ability
should be predominant. We be-
ueve that the universal opinion of
those men in this country regardless
of color. who are qualified to judge
viii side with us in this statement of
the case. Learned professors and
educational geniuses are often she
poorest presiding officers both 30
church and state. They are so
wrapped mp i'm the cocoons Of their
own wisdom that they can see
uaugbt else and their horizon is linn
tied.
We bcg leave 90 state that there
are many brilliant exceptions. Mr..
Twister's assertion that Howard u
University is the great beacon light
of liberty to the man in black. and
whatever threatens her should APP
peal 10 the highest and best there is
In every true Negro American and
spur him on 60 make every effort TO
save her from destruction" justi-
des an that We nave said and en-
phasizes the necessity for a race
journal of the PLANETS kind TO
state its disapproval Of all methods
that bring shame upon the institu-
ton and disgrace upon the students
participating ia such a discreditable
warfare.
Before leaving this phase Of the
discussion, II may be well to OBJ
serve that the treachery Of
some kind of Negroes is proverbial
II was one Of the legacies handed
down from slavery. Who knows but
what some of these kind Of citizens
of color did tell and lead Doctor
Gordon TO believe that they and
more like them would cry II he
should leave? Who knows but what
they impressed upon him the fact
that the opposition TO him was
promoted and backed up by a
small number of agitators2
They benled the supple hinges
of the knee that favor might follow
They Will cry should he leave be
cause the day Of favoritism for them
will have passed perhaps. But the
students went too far in their efforts
to disprove the statements and they
will now merit the criticism of their
friends as well as the condemnation
of their enemies. While a few may
have made the blunder, all will suf-