The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-01-09

United States the. Negro Is as sS$inuch a
citizen Of the natlonsas the man of
any othar> race. This fact cannot be
disputed, though it Is, in many parte
ofMthe country annuI1ed by special
legislation, but 1t would, be- unjust
TO The better clement OF the nation
TO assume that citizen was forever
TO betcurtailed In HIS rights because
OF his race. In discussing Ais iedu-
cation, therefore, it Is right to look
upon the Negro as man and a clti-
zen In the full sense OF these words.
Ior such In fact and by rights he, is.
ANY system 5of education for the Ne
gro race should be based upon those
things which as men and fellow ctt1s.
zens' we all share in common. our
duties and responsibilities,-ou hu--,
man hopes and ideals, our spiritual
aspirations and possibilities. To
grant the Opportunities Of a liberal
education to one race and withhold
them from the other world be not on
~ unfair hut unchristian, but also
dangerous for the welfare of our coun-
try. ..>....,. ..'.\ -.
There are some. however, who oues
tlon the possibility Of the Negro citi-
zen's@profiting by such education,
Probably nothing has resulted IN
greater injustice to individuals OF the
Negro race than the, habit of, mind
which easily classes them all in a.
homogeneous group, and having so
classified them refuses to recognize
ANY exception. And yet. according
to the testimony Of Professor Nath-
an1el Shaler, $50 1t has been I'm all
mems dealings with men OF other
races or tribes or classes This class
ihcation has been the cloak ofiignor-
ance giving a false/sense of scertaiptv
as to the basis of action. -" IT is
such classification based on igpor-
ance that accounts for the certainty
"1th which some people hold the Ne
gro cannot profit by higher education
for on every, hand there are notable
examples OF genuine attainment and
true devotion to the welfare Of 9TH
ers. '- ~ 49,, T
There Is another consideration
which marks the vital Importance of
opening the opportunities of liberal
education TO the Negro citizens. r
refer to the social isolation of the
Negro citizens. We sometimes fStE
TO realize how important a part sym
pathetic association between the
teacher and the taught has in convey
ing the best. results of liberal educa-
alQa; Such sympathetic association
pet#een% the cultured Of. the White
race: and tHeS eager, SRnd, asNirins
fyoafh ofgzhe- NSE ERo "a d xnI&1l b. ssxt
possible by the we'll 'esta abiisffed cfiss
tom of the land. How then is the
Negro race to receive the wholesome
and refining influences of the bes.
CHRISTIAN culture. except through
those Of their own race who have
mad exceptional opportunities At
ianta university always has been and
always Will be a place for >sympa
thetic association between teachers
ana pupils, Through the infuehces of
the classroom and Of the school home
IL IS our purpose to draw out and de-
Velop the best qualities that are lat
ent within, each pupil. and to inspire
him, If we may, with the spirit Of
tserV1ce, so that he may be a. source
or encouragement and inspiration to
the people Of his race. "For their
sakes | sanctify myself" said the
master, and We would have those
who come within the influence Of this
school receive the best gifts Of lib
eral education, In order that in the
splr1t OF the Master each may say,
FOR the sake Of the ignorant and
the poor and the oppressed and the
triendlsss- | educate myself. | realize
| myself, I sanctify myself"
Among those present were the
| president of Atlanta Baptist College
FISK university, Georgia State Col.
lege and the Florida State Normal,
V1ce~President Scarborough Of VIII
merforce university and representa-
tlVes OF the Atlanta Theolopical
For the sake of the Master each NAV
Seminary, Talladega, the Penn school
Calhoun, Hampton and Tuskegee
The state of Georgia was represent
cd by the chancellor Of the Univer-
s1ty of Georgia, Mr.. Hamilton Doug
! iaSs of the Atlanta hoard OF educa-
1on, tne president Of The North
georgia Agricultural College, ano a =.
.. McKelway, assistant secretary Of
the ehi1dSiabor committee. The
North was represented by DR.. Char
les Cuthbert Hall, Dr.. j.. w. Cooper,
OF the American Missionary Associa-
ton, Prof. Thomas ". Chase, a form
er teacher and trustee.
The day ended with reception
to students, graduates and friends.
Thus q new era for Atlanta uni
yersity begins and It is the earnest
nope Of those connected with the in
stitution that the new administration
may bring friends to the cause for
the higher training OF black men for
their work of social uplift and teach
! inc