Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-06-05

1 He went far. but he came back and
, this is the language he used in doing
so:
ION the other hand. that admis-
| sion is far from a concession that IL
/ is not necessary for the success of
the colored race that there be among
them leaders of that race fitted by
university education for that leader
ship. There Is not any likelihood.
with Difference 70 persons who oc-
cupy a different position, that either
in the generosity OF the general gov
eminent or in the generosity Of in
diyiduals who found Colored colleges
and universities there is to be much
OF an opportunity given as is likely ]
20 lead too many colored men TO ac-
Quire university education as COM
pared with the number of colOred |
men that there are in the commu- |
nifty and especially south of Mason
and Dixon S line.
The opportunity that there is for |
educated colOred men TO aid their /
race I'm the struggle before them
for economic success and the main |
tenanCe OF themselves as worthy and |
valuable members OF the community. |
the opportunity that there is for uni !
yersity men among colored men 10 |
assist I'm that movement I say. is |
very great. indeed
Here then was an effort on the part |
of President Taft TO harmonic his
position upon the industrial educa-
ton proposition with that of the high
cv education of the Negroes. StiI he
succeeded very well in his effort and
yet AN along his utterauces lack that
ringing quality of great statesman
ship that has been so much i'm evil
deuce i'm the cases Of many Presidents
who have gone on before.
He should know that the question
OF higher education adjusts Itself.
The drone or the middle man will
not aspire 20 secure IL and should ne
do So. trial viii land him below the
belt line where he belongs
Statistics will show that only a
very small per cent. OF the pupils
attending school ever go to the high
or normal schools. There is no reas-
on then to- worry about this matter
and stiU less even TO discuss it.
President Taft said.
81 am dehshted 20 think. because !
have been Bra the South a good deal
of late. AMI have studied some oil
the conditions there. that they are |
getting better and better for the ne
gro race in certain respects that are |
not published TO the world. but thatI
really affect very much the condi-l
tons of those who live there. In an !
the growing communities OF thet
South. I mean where there is a touch
Of the modern. and touch OF pro-
sress. and touch OF civilization
the white men of progress are be-
ginning 90 appreciate the advantage
Of having a class ike The colored
men that they have there. They
are anxious that they have an indus
trial education
Yes. conditions are improving. but
IL is the result OF the Negroes wisdom
and the white mans judgment. He
continued:
They are anxious that they J
should make their way and show
their usefulness i'm the community.
The truth is that the greatest hopp
that the negro has. because he lives
chiefly in the South. is the friend
ship and the sympathy OF the white
men with whom ne lives in that
neighborhood. / know il is not the
habit TO think so. but il Is growing.
and ore OF the things that misleadsl
as most is the desperate. the extremej
statements OF white men from thel
south on the subject. but really they
don mean what they say. They
are the last people that want 10 be |
taken literally. They have a theory
mat u may give them sometimes a
nIlle boost politically 90 talk in ex-
lremes and superlatives but I have
heard expressions from leading ne
sroes in various cities that confirm
my Judgment that the situation is
growing better and better
This is no new logic. but a facti
known by all observant men who re-
side in this section. In speaking of
he Negro in a condemnatory wav
here are thousands of white men.
who are much like some women
hey don't mean what they say.
President Taft said:
remember hearing Rev. DR.
"alker, that negro who went abroad
and preached in Surgeons pulpitI
and was worthy TO preach in thatI
pulpit express his friendship for thel
white people of Augusta, where /
spent i've or six weeks, and express
his view Of the proposition that the
negro race should be moved TO someI
Dther country than this He said
-hey were mighty we'll satisfied to
I'VE IN Augusta until they went TO
SIory and that they did not want 70
20 GlNW here else npffu 81 4