Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-07-28

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other nationality. has cheerfully and
patiently progressed in education,
business and other honorable pursuits
as rapidly as any other race was ever
known to do. When we consider the
evolution Of the negro from bonds
man to a citizen, we have a chapter
In history which should stand as q
beacon OF encouragement to every
one of us
EDUCATION THE GREAT soLU.
TON.
'syou have realized as race that
education 10 the great solution. the
basis essential. of good citizenship.
Education and Christianity 90 hand
in hand. To carry to the less fortu-
nate the light of wisdom more than
10000 of your people. men and wom-
en-, have earnestly striyen through
secondary schools and colleges, to
obtain certificate which would en-
title them to do their share In the
splendid work Of peoples uplift. I
understand that practically all ofNthe
teachers in the district schools. train
ing the minds and morals of more
than $4,000 school children, are grad
yates of this splendid M Street High
school. l have said that education
leads to good citizenship. Education
IL the very keystone to Individual
s0Guess 4nd racial advancement. You
as a people. as soon as the opportu-
nifty was given you. eagerly sought
the advantages of an education. The
colqred schools rapidly advanced
from the old Freedman's Bureau to
include in their number such splendid
schools as Hampton and Tuskegee,
Howard university. Fisk university,
and other great parts Of the educa-
tional machine which today throw
open the door OF opportunity to every
colered child to receive an education
fitting 1t to cope in every walk OF
life with their white neighbor.
MUST GO INTO BUSINESS.
these are only necessary incidents
to successful racial progress and de-
velopment. While you have more
than Thousand alb e lawyers prac-
ticing throughout the United States.
two thousand Or more physicians. and
hundreds of bankers. brokers, archi-
tects. musicians and other profess
sional men, do not for single min
ute think that it is not equally as
honorable to 60 into business, into
farming, into mechanics. into any
honorable labor, and do it well.
THE SOIL IMPORTANT.
II hardly need admonish the ne
gro Of the great Importance OF
tilling the soil. It is an acknowl-
edged fact that the real future OF
this country, its very backbone, de-
ponds upon agriculture. You as a
people have recognized this as
readily as have the whites, and to-
day more than 100000 negroes are
engaged In agricultural pursuits, and
ten years ago owned over 100000, 1000
worth OF farms. And in the great
state Of Virginia, looking at re-
port from the auditor Of the state for
1904, the negroes Of the state In
creased the value of their property
more than 81. 900. 900 in nine years, thus
making their, total property holdings in
that state alone $19,50O.000.
AL SIDES NEED ATTENTION.
fear that / weary you with these
statistics, but am trying to impress
upon you the fact that am as proud
OF the fact that millions are engaged
as farmers, as am that thousands
are engaged in professional pursuits.
Both classes of citizens are needed to
properly solve the future Of your race.
| am proud of the fact that over 275,-
COO negroes are engaged in mechan-
ical and manufacturing pursuits. Too
many are prone to the mistake that
education Is not necessary for manual
labor, agriculture, and occupations 9th.
er than professional. Let me say ct
this point that the best teacher is the
one best educated. The best lawyer,
doctor, professional man or woman is
the one who has the best trained mind,
and this rule applies with equal force,
for wherever you find an educated
farmer mechanic or laborer, there will
you find the best equipped Of his
class.
HANDS AND BRAIN.
The hands are but the instruments
OF the brain, and well developed
brain will produce the more skillful
manual labor. One cannot pursue any
vocation successfully with his brain
dormant. One can reach high de-
gree OF proficiency in his chosen line
only by a high degree Of development
OF his mental processes. We cannot
all be teachers, we cannot all be law
yers II such were the case 1t would
be a great calamity. 35
COURAGE AND FAITH.
And now the one thing that be-
lieve we must remember most Of all.
II Is naturally customary with young
people, going out into the world as
you are today, no longer guided. in.
structed and aided by your preceptors,
entirely dependent upon your own abil.
tiles, courage and resources, to feel
that the world is at your feet, when
in fact unless you clothe yourself In an
abiding faith, an undying courage, and
ambition that will not falter when face
to face with difficulties and discourage
ment, you are at the feet Of the world
and will be trodden upon unless there
is In you the stamina which will force
recognition Of your merits, be those
the merits Of q teacher. doctor, law.
yer, minister, business man. mechanic,
farmer. nurse, laborcr. or domestic
servant. / place no one OF these oc-
equations above the other.
ALL LABOR HONORABLE.