The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1914-05-08
RESPONSIBILITY
Of THE EDU-
GATED NEGRO
ADDRESS OF PROF. BYRD PRIL.
ERMAN TO THE GRAD
- WTES OF THE KEY
sTONE-ECKMAN
SCHOOL.

appreciate the invitation of principal
Ram TO address you at the closing exer-
cises OF this school. think that ex.
Governor Atkinson Wa right when he
said that ''The hope Of the future lies in
the public schools Of today" wish to
speak to you this evening on THE RE-
SfONSIBILlTY or THE EDUCATED
NEGRO, for this state has only one OBJ
iect in establishing and maintaining
schools, and that object is to furnish the
State with exemplary citizens
In ds9eussing the subject before me, I
shall try 20 show what has been done for
the American Nesro 10y the Church and
State and what il his responsibility to
these sources OF help.
No greater mistake has been made by
the American Negro than his conception
Of the idea that this government has al
ways opposed his best interest. The in
culestion of this idea ha- done much
harm by making the race restless and
discontented with the be-t government
known To civilization.
Before the government had been form
ell. the Declaration ct Independence pro-
claimed that all men are CREATED equal !:
that they are endowed 10y their Crrator
with certain inaleinahle rights; that
among these are life. liberty. and the
pursuit Of happiness. Two months be-
fore the Constitution was adopted. sla-
very was forever prohibited from the
Northwest Territory. One 81 the first
acts OF our government after it, ertab-
lishment was the prohibition of African
slaves in her domain. In 1894, the Uni
ted States had forbidden any participa-
ton ny American subjects in ARE slave
trade OF foreign cOuntries- By the Peace
Of Ghent in 1914, the United States und
England mutually bound themselves u
do all in their power Ia extingnish the
slave traffic. In 1852, slavery wa- pro-
hibited in all the territories Of the United
states.
While the government was exhau-ting
its strength To give liberty t. the body of
the slave, the Church was putting forth
great effort 10 free his mind from the
bondage Of ignorance and ms soul from
the bondage Of sin. As the soldier of the
government marched through tlle south
with musket in hand, giving the world a
new idea Of loyalty and patriotism, the
soldier Of the cross followed him with
the sword of the Spirit in hand, impress
ing the world with the idea Of the Faith
erhood Of tod and the Brotherhood of
Man.
Every citizen in this republic j. in some
way responsible to the government the
higher the degree Of intelligence, the
greater the responsibility. The Negro,
occupying the most peculiar place in our
civilization, h~s upon him the most pc
culiar responsibility Of all our citizens.
The educated Negro should not only H.
an intelligent person, but he should lr.-
come an intelligent citizen he should l-.-
come familiar with the history 81 hi-
country, IL resources, and IT, institutions.
lie should esTecislly know men and
measures that he may vote D. the l.-t in-
tere-t- of his country. Webster ha- we'll
said that The exercise of the elective
franchise j. a social duty Of a. solemn q
nature a. man can be calle.. upon toper-
form. That every man and every meas
ure he supports has an important learimg
upon the interests Of others ~ we'll a.
upon hi- "wn." The educated Negro
should becoIne an intelligent citizen -
that he may be able D. instruct and help
his ls-- fortunate brother IN the exerci-.
of his suffrage and other lutte II the
government
Not every intelligent citizen should ex-
pct - be called b. serve hi- country in
the capscity a an officer. And certainly
no ignorant person should exf<.rt O. ~
called upon 70 serve his country IN this
way. 1bo-e sho aspire o. leadership
must qualify themselves. A community
Of Negros- should not support one ~ their
numlsr simply becsn-e African blood
oOur-- thrOngh his veins.
The e,iucsted Negro = expected 10 pro-
dnce something. Henoe. the irnrortancr
Of industrial education. Ifa lawyer ha-
not q client, he should be wiling and
able ~ take mp the tro~ei. n tho ply
sicisn cannot end patient, he should h.
willing - take pace in the machine
shop. II preacher cannot End charge.
he must 10 wiling to take hi- place in
the factory. II the teacher cannot End
school, be- must he willing 10 take hi-
place in the field among tie vins,- and tI,e
waving corn.
A man owes Il n hi- country n h.
economic with the irlits Of bi- daily Dol.
There must be leisure for reading and for
study Of the re>ourcs-, industries, and
institutions of ones country. Our ms-
nsr,ai wealth exieo mainly in the coil.