Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-30
THE TALK AT HOWARD.

philanthropist and President William
II. Taft, the distinguished Ohioan de.
livered addresses at the dedication
Of the Carnegie Library at Howard
University. Monday. April 25. 1910.
They made some admirable asser-
tions Mr.. Carnegie is quoted as FOL
lows:
Abiding to President Tart, Mr..
Carnegie said.
President ThirkieId wrote me
that the President was DESTROYS OF
having me present. Now. there is a
rule in the old country that the
king must be obeyed That being
true. surely the President or the
United States must be Obeyed
President Thirkield has shown
me your library. ana although / have
seen hundreds OF them. have not
seen one that exceIs yours. as
library. II is only during the last
few minutes that have gained an
adequate conception OF this univer-
sity. The impression 10 has made is
unequaied- I see here the nucleus for
the uplifting Of a race have seen
Hampton and TusKegee- Here you not
only give the practical training. but
YOU have also set a standard equal
to that Of the other higher institu-
tions of learning. and the Carnegie
education trust believes you are en-
titled 20 a share IN the Carnegie
fund 90
Here Mr.. Carnegie told about his
early access 20 a library in the days
OF his youth. when he was a tele-
grapher.
Then he continued. Il saw that
I was bound 90 make = fortune.
had made up my mind 90 that. and
I resolved that ! would provide H.
braries for all. All my success I owe
TO books. Books are the best kind
OF philanthropy. They give nothing
without work. / don't believe We can
10 much for the submerged tenth.
The State will have to take care OF
them. like 70 help others 20 help
themselves.
The best society 20 get into is the
society OF a library. A library is
triumphant democracy: 10 is no re
spector OF persons. When the colored
race becomes truly educated the prob
lem Of the races will be settled In
the equality OF education. believe
what DR. Abbott said. that the col
ored race has rlade more progress in
40 years than any race In the his
tory OF the world. and the day is not
far distant when you will take your
place With every other race ana the
race problem will De no more for
ever"
This then was the keynote sound
ed for higher education. We are
pleased 90 note that Mr.. Carnegie
realizes the necessity for the high
er education OF the colored man Just
as much as the necessity for the
higher education of the white one.
An industrious student can secure
much information from books and
when he is in possession OF sterling
common.sense. good books are of in
estimable value.
But we are doubly Interested In
the remarks of the distinguished oc-
cupant Of the White House. He
struck no discordant note in the
happy utterances which electrified
the great audience at Washington.
He is quoted as follows.
u am glad 10 be here 70 celebrate
/ the function OF the dedication of this
| library, which the university and the
country owe 10 the generosity of
Andrew Carnegie. We do not envy
Mr.. Carnegie his money and the for
tune that has attended his efforts.
The thing we envy him is the hap
piness that 10 must give him to be
able 20 do so much good 10 his fell
| iowmen as he is doing every month
in the year
President Taft certainly told the
truth and demonstrated that he be-
lieved In the divine declaration that
IL is more blessed to give than to
receive. Certainly there is as much
Joy in giving to a thankful person
or organization as there is happiness
on the part Of the organization or
person that receives il.
He is quoted further:
Now. 7 am not going 10 make a
speech on negro education or on the
! advantage of this university. We
have listened. and I wish TO pay the
highest compliment possible. 10 the
beautiful, the discriminating, the ell
eyating. and interesting address Of
the librarian OF Congress, and GER
tainly I could add nothing 20 this
description OF the importance OF A
library as an fundamentally in the
university for the proper education
OF its students.
but 20 come again 10 this uni
versity: This university offers to the
colored race what II needs, and With
out which IL cannot make advance
ment. to wit, colored leaders Of