New-York tribune., 1909-05-27
Mr.. TAFT TO NEGROES
THEIR FUTURE BRIGHT.
Mast Work ont Their Ozcn Destiny,
He Says at Hoocard University.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington May 26-President Taft took part
in the the laying of the cornerstone of
the library presented Howard University by
Andrew Carnegie, this afternoon. He left the
White House shortly before o'clock. accompanied
by Captain Archibald Butt, his military aid; As
sstant Secretary Mischler and two Secret Service
men. Arriving at the university, he was escorted
to Miner Hall the main building by the Secretary
of the Interior. the Minister from Hayti Commits
sfoner Macfarand. of the District; Dr.. P. Thir-
kield, president of the university the alumni
Citations and several hundred others. Here the
President conferred the degrees the members of
the graduating classes. President Taft then went
TO the university chapel. where several hundred
persons awaited his arrival. and delivered ad-
dress The Marine Band furnished the music at
the chapel service and led the procession to the
scene of the library building. where President
Taft spread mortar under the cornerstone.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Because of the inclement weather the President
delivered his principal address IN the university
chapel. He declared that never has the future OF
the negro, as a race, appeared more hopeful and
bright than at the present day He impressed on
his hearers the fact that it is for the negroes
themselves to work out their future and to
make themselves valuable citizens in the COM
munities in which they live. Conditions for the
negro in the South he said he believed were grow
ing better and better. Southern people of the bet
ter class coming to look more and more on
the negro of their most valuable as
sets. he declared. and he again urged on the negro
friendship of the white people among whom he Is
to 1--we.
The task of educating the negro. and especially
OF educating leaders among the the President
asserted. was a debt owed by the governments
debt only too difficult of repayment because of the
constitutional limits OF the government in dealing
with the individual.
This university" said the President. is the
partial repayment OF the debt TO race TO which
the government and the people of the United
States are eternaIly indebted They brought that
into this country against its Will They
planted 1t here irretrievably. They first put II IN
bondage, and then kept 1t IN the ignorance that
that bondage seemed to make necessary under the
system then in vogue. Then they freed It and put
upon II the responsibilities of citizenship. Now
some sort OF obligation follows that claim Of facts
with reference to the people who are Responsible
for what that government did. The obligation
would he cIearer-or rather the method of its
discharge would be easier-were it not for our con
stitutional system. which throws generally upon
the states the burden Of education and leaves TO
the general government only certain limited Juris-
dction with respect TO the people
Mr. Taft said the negroes needed in the south
a great many more physicians 10 teach them how
TO obey the laws of hygiene more strictly.
BENEFITS OF EDUCATION.
The benefit that teachers educated here can do
to their race goes without saying" he continued
Of the basis Of the education OF the colored
people is in the primary schools and in the indus
trial schoolsLin schools framed after Hampton and
TuskeEee. In those schools must be introduced
teachers from such university institutions as this.
l know there many who dispute the wisdom OF
large contributions to universities for the colored
race, and at time very much perplexed
with the argument to know whether or not It was
proper. But what is the fact? There are four
universities in this country. besides Howard Uni
versity devoted TO the colored race; those
Lincoln. Fisk Atlanta and Talladega. and they
have not. taken together. endowment that
ceeds $4,000. Now, when you consider that there
are millions OF negroes in this country you
how utterly inadequate. even for the education
Of the leaders. those universities together with this.
are, and there is opportunity for tho founding OF
more certainly for the enlargement OF this
II delighted TO think that conditions
getting better and better for the negro In all
the growing communities Of the South the white
men OF progress beginning 10 appreciate the
advantage OF having a class like the colored men
there. They anxious that they have an indus
trial education. They are anxious that they should
make their way in the world and show their use
fuluess in the community. The truth Is that the
greatest hope that the negro has is the friendship
and tho sympathetic interest OF the white men
with whom he lives.
1T TO that the future is in the hands
of the race itself" said Mr.. Taft in closing his
address I do not mean to say that crueties are
not to exist In the future and lntustices and a
great many why complaints should be
made against the inhumanity OF man: but I do
mean TO say that there never has been a time in
the history of the negro race when The future
offered such basis FOR belief in your success
race and for the belief that you have It in your
hands 10 make that success It does to-day
Everything that can do as the Executive in the
way of helping along this university expect to do
expect to do II because believe II is debt of the
people of the United States. It is obligation OF
the government Of the United States. and it is
money constitutionaly applied 20 that which shall
work out in the end the solution OF one OF the
great problems that GOD has put upon the people
of the United States.''
Secretary Ballinger made brief address. The
honorary degree OF doctor of laws was conferred
on Secretary James R. Garfield.