The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-06-03

(Thompson's National News Bureau.)
Washington, d. c., June 1.-The
mastery address Of President William
Howard Taft at the commencement
exercises of Howard University last
Wednesday came as a refreshing
breeze after a season OF drought. Mr.
Taft's deliverance before the faculty,
students and friends Of the races prln-
cipal institution for the higher educa-
ton was simple, direcc and earnest
His sentiments, spoken in such plain
and unequivocal manner, admitted of
no mlsconstruction by the most cap
tious. He INDUCED In no rhetorical
frills, bolstered up no false theories by
an attempt at fine phrasing, and gave
no hope to the enemies of our people
by placing any limitation upon the
possibilities Of those who strive in
telligcntly and perslstently for the
highest goals of citizenship. In short,
the President, in the language of the
commonalty, s"got right down to brass
tacks" from the outset, and handled
the educational aspect Of the race
problem without gloves.
No speech that the President has
heretofore delivered has contained SO
much solid encc~sagement> W the
F<5ro people. At no time has he shown
more conclusively that he Is deeply
- concerned about our welfare as a race
than on this occasion. He spoke as q
personal friend, as we'll as q national
magistrate. In pointing out our ele-
ments Of strength and not overlooking
some timely warnings as to our weak
nesses, he rendered the race a service,
for only in candid statement can we
discover the helpful truth. In ex-
posing the insincerity of the South on
the Negro question, and in encourag-
ing racess to- cultivate friendly rela-
lions ana mutual respect and coph-,
dence, ho, struck a Keynote that met
the sanction of all WHO wish for
united,epEe sEass7'eps sssEd happy nation
The PTesident's reception on How
ard Campus was enthusiastic to the
last degSSe2 Owing to the Indictment
weather, the, exercises planned for
out-of-doarsu had to be held in Andrew
Rankin MeInorial Chapel. twenty-five
hundred persons fought their way into
this building. and heard his thrilling
address,, In the course Of his remarks
he was frequently intercepted by long
and hearty applause, and particularly
we'll pleased were all with his declara-
ton that Howard University stood
as the partial repayment Of a debt to
a race to which the government and
the people OF the United States are
eternally indebted, concluding with
the pledge that he would do all that
lay within his power as an executive
to help the institution, an ideal agency
for moral, intellectual and material
uplift OF the Negro people. Every
heart was touched. by this frank
avowal and the house rang with con-
tinued cheering and fervent "amens."
Six thousand men, women and chill
dren witnessed, the laying of the cor
ner stone Of the $4,000 Carnegie Lii
= brary by the President and the brief
speech Of dedication, coupled with the
echo Of the chapel deliverance made
Mr.. Taft. at. that moment the most
popular living American, "as far as the
Negro could make him so.
The Presidents speech was delivered
upon a fitting occasion for the empha-
sis Of Negro opportunity and Negro
duty, and he made the most Of it. 1t
will easily rank with the most notable
state papers in the history Of our coun-
try, and will live long in the memory
of grateful constituency. 1t should
be read in full in every Negro home
in the land, and should form perma-
nent part Of the archives Of every
school house controlled by our people.
More and more the thinking colored
citizens OF the nation are coming to
realize that William Howard Taft is
statesman Of the Hottest type, and a
Chief Magistrate who will do his level
best to administer this government in
the spirit Of the Constitution written
by the fathers Of the Republic and
strengthened and re-vitalized by the
War Amendments.
Last week was indeed educational
week" In Washington. The several
departments Of Howard University
held their commencement exercises at,
various times, according to the widely
circulated program. ON the 26th, as
has been told so graphically by the
Associated Press, the "big event" took
place, with the President Of the United
States as the stellar attraction. With
his own hands the Chief Executive
handed out the long-coveted sheep
skins" to about $50 graduates in the
arts and science department, in medi-
cine, theology, law, pharmacy, ped
agogy, dentistry, and other divisions
and special courses. The annual COM
petitive drill OF the 1--WE companies of