Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-05

throughout the south as well as in Africa
and one or two foreign countries.
After abiding to the various "momentous
transitions through which the American
negro has passed, beginning with the primf-
tive civilization which he had created IN
Africa, his introduction into the wholly
new condition of American slavery, and ms
rev life of freedom and citizenship Mr..
Washington said:
"The negro race In this country has en-
tered upon a wholly new period-a period
In which emphasis is being placed upon
side of life not covered in any OF the preyi-
Gus experiences of my people. mean the
era of free, independent and intelligent
economic and industrial development, az
companied with a growing sense or the
worth and value of their own qualities and
a desire to make the most of them, under
God. for their own good and the welfare OF
the world.
Meet Needless Obstacles.
Having to some extent become conscious
of the great task Imposed on them as a
people they are seeking to lay the founda-
ton deep in the essentials OF life. But In
this task they often meet many and some
times needless obstacles.
IF this country is to continue to be a
republic its task viii never be completed
as long as seven or eight millions of Its
people are In large degree regarded as
aliens and are without voice and interest
course will not merely fnf1ict great fn3us-
tice upon these millions of people. but the
nation will pay the price Of finding the
genius and form of its government
tainly in reality. and because of this the
world will say that free government is
failure
As 1 conceive It. Part OF the mission
of this school is expressed in the purpose
and determination to assist the race In lay
ing such a gradual and permanent founda-
ton in right living through the accumuia-
ton of property, industry thrift, skill. edl-
cation of all character. moral and religious
habits and all that which means our use
fulness to the community In which we
abide. that naturally, logically. sympa-
thetically we shall make ourselves grow
into the full and rightfui enjoyment and
intelligent use of the privileges and rewards
of citizenship ANY less ambition would
be unworthy of us. unworthy of you. Any
less ambition would make US perpetual
drags, instead of potential forces for good. "
Mr. Ogden delivered a strong address on
the significance of the celebration. He
spoke of the fact that Tuskegee Institute
stood out as the unmatched example of
the possibilities of an institution entirely
controlled in its diversified academic and
industrial curriculum. productive indus
tries, executive organization and business
affairs by a faculty and corps of managers
composed entirely of men and women OF
African descent
President Eliot of Harvard spoke on
What Uplifts Race and What Holds Ii
Down"
Secretary Taft spoke of the economic
development of the negro race and praised
the work OF Tuskegee.
1t seems to me a convenient method OF
discussing the negro question and consider
ing the future of the negro race, to take
up the operation and effect of these great
war amendments and consider what of ben
eft they have proven to the negro and what
security they are likely to offer to him in
his struggle upward toward better condi-
lions. Care should be taken In discussing
the issues which the subjects l have pro-
posed suggest. lest one may uselesSly stir
up the embefs of a controversy that has
seriously affected the welfare OF the whole
south. 1 shall nope. to avoid this as much
as possible by dealing only with present
conditions and by not seeking to place ths,
blame for the evils that have had to be
met | wish to consider the subjects only
from the standpoint OF the negro race.
The thirteenth amendment, which abol-
ishes slavery needs but little discussion. 1t
gave to the negro the boon of freedom,
but 1t left four or five million of people, not
) per cent of whom could read or write, and
all OF whom had been dependent upon
others for what they ate and wore and did,
emancipation was, of course. the first step
in their elevation as a race, but Ii involved
hardship and suffering and disbursement,
as all great changes in existing conditions
must to those who are the subject of them,
even though the changes are ultimately OF
the highest benefit
Enactment and enforcement OF this
amendment was, of course, essential to the
progress Of the negro. 1t is true In some