The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-01-24

proper direction, DuJ the SOluuOn OF
the question still must come from
within the race. Let them win their
reward by diligent service" This is
only another way of saying to all
races: No improvement can come ex-
Icept from within. / I'm sur this
trace that has made such wonderful
strides in so short a time will gladly
take up the gauntlet that has thus
been thrown down.
Further hight on the advancement
of the Negro may be had by read
ing Negro Homes" by DR.. Booker
n. Washington, in The Century Maya
zine for May, 1908, and in the jan
uary, 1910, issue Of the same maya
zine an article by DR.. Hiram Tong on
THE Pioneers of Mound Bayou"
But perhaps the most Illuminating
thing yet published, from the view
thing yet published, from the view
point of the Negro, is a finely written
article asking the direct question, Is
the Negro Having a Square Deal?
This article appeared in the Novem-
Der Century-do l apologize for men
Itioning the Century so many times?
and is from the gifted pen of DR..
Washington of Tuskegee fame, and
above referred to.
Now l have said all of these things
to let you know that the advancement
of the Negro is receiving some atten-
ltlon outside of Tennessee, and that
while we are almost the last to give
him state aid, in a large way we have
all along given him considerable help
in High School work and IN the ele-
mentary schools. Now let us see
what remains to be done.
This School.
1t is significant in this busy day
that the Governor of our great state
should count it worthy that he should
be present and deliver the principal
address Of the occasion; also that
the State Board of Education COM
posed of busy men of affairs should
take its valuable time to be with you
in an official capacity. But that is
not all nor is it the most significant.
THE most outstanding thing is the
fact that today there dawns a new
era for the Negro in Tennessee. I'm
der the magnificent leadership Of
your President, William ]. Hale, you
could not fail if you wanted to-. Ger
tainly no Negro school in the entire
territory has a more capable president
and a very few anything like approach
him in efficiency and in the ability to
do things. Furthermore he has the
hearty cooperation of a strong facul-
ty largely of his own selection. And
moreover he has the endorsement and
confidence of the State Board of Edu-
cation which has absolute control of
this school. With this large respon-
sibility upon President Hale he can
not help measuring up to the great
requirements of his position. 1t is
our hope that this school will in time
be for Tennessee what Hampton and
Tuskegee are for the Nation. We
hall be greatly disappointed if it does
not measure up to this. Your build
ings and grounds are the most choice
in the state and your architectural
designs are the best we have seen.
The City of Nashville and Davidson
County have done much for you and
they as well as the State of Tennessee
will do much more if you show your
selves worthy as no doubt you will.
1t has been suggested that on this
occasion l make some reference to
the Negro in politics or rather to his
keeping out of politics. And l sup
pose l had just as well be plain about
it and say to you Negroes here that
the whole thing is meant for you
to keep out of politics. To do much
good at this l might have to write a
history Of your rac in politics. But
that is not necessary here. To you
men Of experience and wisdom l need
not point out the evils of these things
to a race just in its formative period.
Practically all the white political
"bootlegger" wants out of you is the
rounding up Of the fellows. He does
not want you at all unless you can
deliver so many votes, and is never
half so friendly the day after the
election as the day before. 1t is far
more beneficial to you from every
standpoint to take no part in politics
except to go to the polls on election
day, cast your vote for the best man
on the ticket regardless of politics
even though it be a choice of evils as
is frequently the case, return to your
place of business and work industrl-
ously until the next election day at
which time you should repeat the
above suggested performance! You
know as well as | do that it is not
for the best interests of either rae
for you to hold. Office in this country
under present conditions, therefore
your way to preferment Is owe the
sometimes hard but entirely safe road
of industry and economy. Here in
this school you have every chance tC
become a wage Garner that will bring
you always a comfortable living
Moreover, if you develop the ability
to receive a classical education, thai
door will not be closed to you but al
opportunity will be afforded for the
pursuit Of such studies as will give
you the same education as enjoyed by
any other race. Too many Of YOU
!, people, like many of ours, try to q
/, far beyond their abilities and actua
/, needs in life. In other words you
cannot sharpen pot metal and LEAF
will not hold edge. | have seen IL
t my experience as a teacher man!
t good practical people Of my own rae
ruined by too many establishment
3 and the forgetting of the practica
side of life. 1t has been said by som,
a that VOur race initiates manV of tn