The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-10-04

gro president at Fisk, just as they
said When the presidency of Howard
University was vacant. A second
rate white preacher who had retired
The ministry with no especial
reputation ior executive ability, was
elected to fiji that vacancy, with the
acquiescence of Howard Uniyersity's
Negro constituency.
so it will be with Fisk, and yet
these things could not be if the Ne
gro as a unit would say: After for
ty years of education there must be
men of the Negro race qualified to
fill these posts. We demand that
they be given a chance to show what
they a do, thus get the necessary
experience and develop executive
ability The Fellowship Herald.
The Globe is in full accord with
the opinion expressed by the Herald.
We believe that the time is oppor-
tune when the administration Of af-
fairs at Fisk University should be
placed in tse hands of a Negro presi-
dent. The men who have been at
the head of this institution have.
without exception, been able and
worthy men. The name Of the late
DR.. Cravath will always be revered
by the Negroes of the South and the
nation. DR.. Merrill, who succeeded
him, was an able man, and a big
hearted, Christian gentleman. All
regretted to see him leave the insti-
tuition, and today he is as deeply in
terseted in Fisk University as he was
when active president. DR.. Gates,
who succeeded him, was a man with
ripe experience, and the trustees
were very fortunate in securing him
as a successor to DR.. Merrill. And
now, broken down as he is in health,
he is also broken hearted because
he cannot continue the work so well
begun.
1t must be admitted, however, that
white men who can fill such posi-
tions as president of Fisk University
can in most cases find positions that
will pay them better, and which will
not deprive them of their social
standing with their own race. 1t Is
not human nature for men to love
other races more than their own, and
right here lies the danger pointed out
by the Herald when it says that in
the case Of Howard University a re-
tired, broken down, unknown preach
err was elected president of that uni
versity in preference to an able,
strong, energetic Negro that could
have been found.
There are men who still hold that
it is yet too early to place a Negro
at the head of Fisk University. Such
persons are without courage and
wise foresight. There are Negro
men who are thoroughly able to
guide the destiny of that institution.
There are graduates of Fisk who
have been recognized by the leading
educational organizations Of the
world, having studied in the highest
institutions of this country and In
the Old World. They have spent
their lives preparing themselves to
head their own people. They are
acknowledged to be the peer Of the
ripest scholars in this age. They
have proven their executive ability,
and yet there are some Negroes who
are so blind as to say that these men
are not capable Of filling the Office
of president Of a university. They
are compelled to admit that their
opinion is wholly suppositional. Nc
Negro has failed as president Of that
institution, for no one has been tried
The idea that Negroes cannot col
lect money for educational purposes
should not be advanced, for they
have proven beyond contradiction
that they can do 30. And If they ar,
able to collect money for other edu
cational institutions, both for highe
learning and industrial training
why is it a Negro man cannot b
found who can do the same thin.
for Fisk University?
The time is ripe for such a move
and there is a great host Of Negroe
= who are anxious and who are prayin
-, that the trustees of the universit
!, will arise to the demands of tn
times and place at the head Of thi
-. great institution one Of the man
Negroes who have fitted themselve
for so lofty a position.
Our Young People.