The Denver star., 1915-12-25

who have surmounted all obstacles
and approached great heights OF fame
and usefulness from the most humble
and lowly beginnings. There is Il re-
markable similitude in the life chap
ters of Franklin, Lincoln and Garfield,
and that of Brooker T. Washington in
theid vicissitudes of hopes and fears,
their joys and sufferings, their strug-
giles and triumphs, their achievements
and ideals. Nor does our hero suffer
in comparison with even the greatest
of these. DR.. Washington was essen
TALLY a leader in the highest signifi-
canoe of the term as well as an orator
and educator. His racial identity car
ried with it no stamp of inferority
and instead of being a serious menace
it was at times valuable asset. Like
the Moses of old he was an intense
lover of his race He never failed
to glory in the picturesque grandeur of
its achievements and to the very last
held faith in its continued progress
and success. One of the loveliest
traits of his character is the fact that
he never sought to get away from his
race. The plaudits of the multitudes
only served to strengthen his face
loyalty. Whether in this southland
or in the north, whether in the coun-
ellis of Presidents of the United
States or in conference with hundreds
of his own race of less ability and less
opportunity. whether in England or
Denmark or France, royalty received
and royalty entertained. DR.. Washing
ton was ever proud of his Negro an
cestry. He builded upon sure ground
and the height of fame never blinded
him to the fact that he had once been
slave, a cabin boy and penniless
pilgrim. He never for one moment
closed the windows of his soul to the
precious legacy of honesty and integ-
rity impressed upon him by his noble
mother
These principles We're the key note
of most of his public utterances. He
believed in helping men to arise but
dwelt upon the security of character
building. He urged with incessant
voice and power that we as race
should always strive to gain the up
ward goal. but insisted there was a
greater element of common sense in
beginning at the bottom and going up
than in starting at the top and falling
to the bottom. He believed that the
corner stone near the ground of a
building was just as essential to it's
beauty and durability as the cap-stone
near the heights. His able leadership
extended to all lines. his valuable
counsels sought on every hand. Per-
haps next to Tuskegee, with its hum
bic birth, its marvellous growth and
unquestioned greatness today. the
i,,o ,f
tons foresight and executive genius
is to be noted in the National Negro
Business League which he founded
some years ago. Nothing has so strik-
ingly brought before the eyes of the
nation the Negroes business ability,
his commercial activity, his property
holdings and his general value to the
community in which he lived as has
this wonderful organization. It's
growth and inspirational value has
been truly phenomenal The magic
of DIR. Washington's touch. likened un-
to that of Moses was never more
clearly emphasized than in the his
tory of this Business League. Its COM
manding influence is as wide as the
confines Of the nation itself and the
Negro is better understood and bet
ter respected today as a business man
than ever before. DR.. Washington has
been effectionately designated. and.
by almost universal consent, the
Moses of his race and no truer com
Darison could be made of two great
leaders of two great races.
Both were instruments in the hands
of God, and both served their day and
generation well. Both saw their peo-
pie in bondage and both Witnessed
their glorious liberation. The leader
ship of Moses was beset with monu-
mental difficulties, repeated conflicts
with hostile races, jealousy among the
elders and murmurrings of discon-
tent among his own people. The
leadership of Washington had its de-
tractors and fault finders as well as
encountering at first the skepticism
Of the north and the rabid prejudice
of the south. Moses exhorted his peo-
pie to lift their minds upward to God
and his creation of the world. Wash
ingtOn advised his people to lift their
minds upward to God but to make
the most of their opportunities in this
world. Moses taught that man was
the most excellent creature on earth
and urged. the Jewish race to be ever
courageous and thrifty. Washington
gloried in the physical excellence of
Negro manhood and womanhood and
also urged industry, the dignity of
labor and eminent preparedness in
commerce, agriculture. domestic
science and the professions. Both