The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-06-22

L
forty-ffth commencement Of Fisk
University, the college for Negroes,
at Nashville, was observed here this
week. The largest class but one in
the history of the college was grad
uated and received bachelor degrees.
heV. Charles Edward Stowe, son of
Harriet Beecher Stowe, made the
commencement address and read let
ters from President Taft and Col:
Theodore Roosevelt.
Mr.: Stowe said in part: Owing
TO the exceeding difficulty, delicacY
and intricacy of the race problem
IN the United States. it Is essential
that those young people Of the color
ed race who are being trained for
service among their own people as
ministers, teachers, lawyers and do.-
tors, nave the very best possible
training, and the broadest outlook to
give them the efficiency which the
task before them urgently demands:
More industrial training Is utterly
inadequate. Let us suppose that
Booker T. Washington had received
only industrial education, fitting him
FOR agriculture, or one of the
mechanical colleges, would it not
safety and prosperity of our COM
try in this present very serious cri-
sis3 Must we not believe that there
are in the race that has produced
Booker II. Washington and Profess
sor Dubois and other leaders, young
men OF ability and young women
too, who can be trained for this
larger usefulness? It Is not the in
terest Of the Negro race alone that
it is at stake, it is the peace and.
safety and prosperity of our COM
mon country both, north and s6hbd&
for the negro is not the problem Of
the South alone, but Of the whole
nation. And as long as prejudice
against the colored man continues it
will be absolutely essential that there
should be institutions. devoted es-
pecially to his training for the very
difficult struggle which is before
which he has somewhat abruptly
thrust through the emancipation of
his race. The sate, owes every in
dividual, white or black, and ade-
quate equipment to fit him for the
great struggle for existence in which
he must take his part. The history
Of Fisk University, It's stragetic posi-
tion, all call for an immediate and
and adequate provision for its most
important work. I will help in
every way l can to secure the $780,
900 fund which Is SO greatly needed
to lift the burden Of debt, repair the
buildings and begin an endowment,
the income Of which will enable the
college to proceed in its work With
out financial embarrassment. That
the negroes have undertaken to raise
$4,000 and the white people Of
Nashville $4,000 Is very encourag-
ing as it shows a disposition to help
yourselves
Continuing Mr. Stowe read the
following extract from a letter:
The White House,
Washington, D. c.,
"I am not one Of those who be-
leve that it is vel to educate the
mass Of Negroes with academic or.
university education. On the con-
trary, I am firmly convinced that
the hope Of the negro Is in his in
dustrial education throughout the
South, and in teaching him to be
better farmer, better carpenter,
a better machinist, better black
smith than he is now; and to make
more blacksmiths and more good
farmers than there are among the
Negroes.
But, have studied the matter
considerably, and have also becoms
convinced that 1t Is necessary to
have few high-class negro. univer-
stiles for those who are to be the
leaders Of the race and who are to
figure prominently in professional
way---ther ministers, their physi-
clans, their lawyers and their teach
ers---because we have got to treat
the race as distinct from the whites.
believe that nothing can do so
much toward establishing real
nucleus for leadership among them
as the maintenance Of such a univer~
sity as Fisk.
It has the largest number OF
Negro college students Of any school
Of the standard which 1t sets, and
if any university Of the kind Is to
I've encouraged, it s Fisk University,
This IS proven not only by an exarni-
ration Of its college statistics, but
by the testimony of the best white
men in the community where 1t ex7
ercises its in influence.
Sincerely yours, :,
William II. Taft.~
In conclusion DR.. stowe read tho