The Colorado statesman., 1912-02-24

we nave DSeH ludI IL Will De
New York Age
With all the impetus and pressure
brought to bear in favor OF indus
trial education of the negro, this be-
ing as it should. there still remains
great friendly feeling and cordial
support in favor of the higher educa-
tion of the negro. Each succeeding
year brings a larger number to those
colleges that stand for the broad and
liberal education of the negro boy and
girl.
In every state and in many OF the
large cities of the south, there are
institutions that are turning out men
and women thoroughly equipped Tor
the higher duties Of life and educa-
tional opportunities afforded have
been taken advantage of by thou-
sands during the past 80 years.
White philanthropists have proven
themselves friendly in founding these
schools and colleges, and their SYM
pathy has not lessened, for they are
still giving healthy financial aid to
worthy ones. The negro's ability to
make good" and public sentiment in
this direction has been the cause OF
many splendid articles written by
journalists of the white race, namely
H. H. Kohlsaat, Chicago Record
Herald; Oscar Garrison Wizard, New
Work Evening Post, and in few
issues ago, The Outlook, with Lyman
Abbott, editor-in-chief and Theodore
A,,gI., ftNt. no a
following to say:
Many of our readers will recall
the romantic campaign of the Jubilee
Singers nearly 40 years ago by
which they raised 100000 for Fisk
university The money so labori-
ously earned was well expended. The
negro school started a year after the
close of the Civil war, has developed
into a true university. That it de-
serves the name is sufficiently demon
strated by the fact that the general
education board, which is very CON
servative in its judgments, vouches
for the standing of this university
by its offer of 100000, provided the
university will raise s240,00O more
before October, 1912. The time is
short the task difficult. Two circum-
stances make it especially difficult.
The interest of the public is more in
vocational and industrial education
for the negro than in the so-called
higher education. And there is more
than one negro university in the
south which is really simply high
school. Thus Fisk university has to
create an interest where it is lacking
and to remove suspicion which is
not wholly unfounded. Neither OBJ
stacle ought to operate against Fisk
university. If the negro race is not
to be absorbed into deteriorated
white race, nor to remain burden
of ignorance and poverty upon the
country, If it is to preserve its race
integrity and it's race existence, 1t
must have leaders of its own; doc
tors to practice in its families, teach
ers for its schools, ministers for its
churches, writer's to interpret 1t to
itself and to the community. And
Fisk university = this The outlook
affirms from direct knowledge-is do
ing this work of educating leaders,
and is doing it well. Evidence of
this is furnished by the fact that it
has the cordial sympathy and the
moral support of the citizens of
Nashville, who are familiar with its
work. One offer of aid has especial
interest as coming from a Hebrew
to a Christian college. Mr.. julius
Rosenwald of Chicago has offered
to be one of four to give S12.500 each
for current expenses, payable in five
yearly installments. Any reader who
desires more information on the sub
ject can obtain it by writing to Mr..
H. l.. Simmons, 50 William street.
New York city, or to the President,
the Rev. George A. Gates, d. D.,
Fisk University, Nashville Tenn"
Illinois Chronicle.