Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-07-28
In Eloquent Address to Wash
ington High School Con-
gresham Taylor Takes
High Position.
RACE PRIDE NEEDED
READING THE STIRRING REG.
oRDS OF ADVANCEMENT,
STATESMAN BIDS THE YOUNG
TO TAKE couRAGE--Do NOT
sPURN THE SOIL.

ING IOuE-ycdT dCduCtAN COWpC OhciC
at the M Street High school. the exer-
cises taking place at the Howard
theater before an overflow audience
which had gathered in large num-
bers, not only because Of the inspir-
ing spectacle, but also because the
commencement address was delivered
by the Hon. e. L. Taylor, at present
a member of the house of representa-
tives from Ohio. and recognized as
one of the greatest friends of educa-
ton effort in behalf Of the negro in
the country
It had recently been made known
that 1t was very largely through the
efforts of Mr.. Taylor in congress that
the sum of 100000 was appropriated
for the purchase OF q site for new
M Street High school for colored
students, and that the congressman
had exerted himself to such good pur-
pose for two years that appropria-
lions had been made on more than
one occasion based on the ratio Of
colored population In Washington as
compared with the white population
which is nearly one-third.
The congressman was given an
ovation when he stepped upon the
platform and another when he had
concluded his eloquent remarks. The
exercises were presided over by Mrs.
Mary Church Terrell, and the diplo-
mas awarded the graduates by Rev.
w. ". Tunnel, both members of the
Washington board Of education. Con-
gressman Taylor's address is still the
chief talk among the people.
Mr. Taylor said in part:
Il consider 1t distinguished honor
to have been invited here today by
the officers of this school, to meet
with and address for a few short
minutes the graduating class and so
many Of the representative colored
citizens of the District Of Columbia.
An audience like this Is an inspira-
ton to any one, and particularly one
who, unlike myself, may be inclined
to be pessimistic as to the progress
and future of the American citizen Of
negro persuasion. am further hon
ored by being permitted to speak, to
class graduating as It does today,
from the oldest high school In the
city OF washington. The M Street
High school has compelled my inter-
est from the time took UP my du-
ties as a congressman, representing
as do district in which large and
intelligent negro population reside. l
was gratified to learn that there are
now more than $4,000 young colored
people enrolled into the various
grade schools OF the District Of Co
lumbia, and more than 1,600 enrolled
into the high and normal schools.
SCHOOL TYPICAL OF RACE.
''The growth of the M Street school
typifies the development Of the race.
Starting as 1t did with but one teach
er and forty-five pupils, today 1t Is
represented by thirty-five teachers
and an enrolment of seven hundred
and forty young American citizens,
determined to prepare themselves
properly to take up life's duties ac-
cording to the bent Of their individ-
ual ambitions, and this not including
that splendid institution. the Arm
strong Manual Training school. the
outgrowth of the old business course
Of the NJ Street High school. The
effects Of high school education
upon your pupils seem to have been
to inculcate courage, ambition and a
desire to rise as educators, ministers,
business men, lawyers and every 9TH
er avocation to which you are indi-
vidually suited. For l find that out
of the class OF 1910, at which time
eighty young men and women grad
uated, Is per cent are now pursuing
higher education in colleges or pro-
fessional schools, and about So per
cent are furthering their usefulness
by a course in the normal school.
PURSUING HIGHER THINGS.
This total Of 80 per cent who, not
content with the education resulting
from course In the high schools,
proposes to still further At them
selves for useful lives In an effort.
not only toward self-protection. but a
more laudable desire to help better
the conditions OF others who will fol-
low them. It has been my good for
tune to have kept in close touch with
the negro citizenship of my native
state In particular, ana having from
boyhood known many Of the race,
both In school and In business, / have
been at all times, even when others.
both colored and white. were dis
couraged and inclined to pessimism,
ardently optimistic as to the future OF
that portion Of our citizenship, whose
ancestors came to this country under
the unfortunate circumstances Of
ssrvitude. 81
EXAMPLE OF GOOD FAiTH. a
One has but to look back d very
short cycle Of time, less than half :
century, to see that the negro hiss
accepted his duties Of citizenship IN
good faith, with true courage, and
WONDERS or THE ENGLISH Ian.
oUAoE. .
The construction Of the English
language must appear most fornid-
able to q foreiEDer. One Of them
looking at q picture or q number Of
vessels said, See what a flock Of
ships!" He WIS told that a flock OF
ships was calico a fleet, and that a
feet Of sheep wtls called a flock. And
It was added Ter his guidance In mas
tering the miracles OF our language