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

iePoHSiOiiity Oh CltlZenSnlp. NOW, some
sort OF obligation follow that chain OF
facts with reference to the people who
are responsible for what that govern
ment did. The obligation would be
clearer, or rather the method of it's
| discharge would be easier, were it not
for our constitutional system which
throws generally upon the States the
burden Of education and leaves to the
general government only certain limit.
ed jurisdiction with respect to the peo-
pie.
| Carrying Out Obligations.
| However, in so far as the District
of Columbia is concerned, and the es-
Enlistment OF institutions of learning
in this District, we are free from any
embarrassment with respect to the car
rying out of the obligation, and it is
fitting that the government Of the Unit
ed States should assume the obliga-
ton of the establishment and main
tenance Of a f1rst-class university for
the education of colored men. I am
to this coveat in advance, in order not
to be met by an argument which has
weight, but has not weight when i'm
properly used-that the colored race
today. all OF them, would be better off
if they all had university education
II think they would be in a very bad
way if they had, because they would
not know how to use it, and they
would not find means of using it. No
race would be better off if they were all
educated as university men. The great
body of the colored race, as the great
body Of the white race, must depend
for their livelihood upon their manual
labor, skilled or unskilled, or upon
some occupation which requires less
education than that which is conferred
by a university, and if it is too widely
extended the effect of it is to put q lot
of men into life who do not find oc-
equations which are suited to their
taste, and to make them unhappy and
really not fit for the life which is be-
fore them.
"On the other hand, that admission
is far from q concession that it is not
necessary for the success Of the colored
race that there be among them leaders
of that race fitted by university edu-
cation for that leadership. There is
not any likelihood, with Difference to
persons who occupy a different posi-
ton. that either in the generosity of
the general government or in the gen
erosity of individuals who found color
ed colleges and universities, there Is
to be much of an opportunity given
as is likely to lead too many colored
men to acquire university education as
men that there are in the community,
and especially south of Mason and Dix
OnS line.
'The opportunity that there is for
educated colored men to aid their race
in the struggle before them for eco
nomic success and the maintenance of
themselves as worthy and valuable
members Of the community, the oppor-
tunity that there is for university men
among colored men to assist in that
movement, [ say, is very great, in
deed.
Il am delighte to think. because I
have been in the South a good deal of
late, and have studied some of the
conditions there, that they are getting
better and better for the Negro race
in certain respects that are not pub
liShed to the world, but that really
affect very much the condition Of those
who live there. In all the growing