The Denver star., 1915-12-25
A Masterpiece of Oratory.
CONTINUED from page ~

CONTINUED from page ~
wishes for his people were realized.
The bitterest disappointments re-
manned for him alone. He was not
permitted to see the Israelites set
tied in their new country, but on the
contrary surrendered his leadership
to Joshua and going high upon a
mountain his earthly career was end
ed: "a mighty somnambulist of a
vanished dream" His was large re-
sponsibility, but God had given him
large powers of endurance and faith,
just as He later gave humility and
meekness and leadership to His only
begotten son, Jesus of Nazareth, in his
generous plan for the worlds redemp-
ton, and as he still later gave fervor
and magnetism to that powerful lead
er and religious liberator of the Ital-
ian people, Chrome Savanrola. Dur
ing the year OF 1858 there was born
near Hale's Ford, Franklin County,
Virginia, another destined leader and
educational statesman, this time OF
the despised Negro race. His was
also a most humble birth, squallid,
one-room log cabin of plantation
model without so much as a single
window to adorn it, and without d
floor of any character to add to its
comfort The period when he came
into the world was the most perilous
in the history of the Negro as well as
the most momentous in the life of the
nation. 1t was the period when the
entire country was within the vortex
of mighty struggle over the question
of human rights and human liberty.
1t was in 1858 that Abraham Lincoln
and Stephen A. Douglass grappled
like enraged giants and rocked to and
fro over the question of slavery. The
very fabric of our national govern
ment was quivering like an aspen leaf
before the approach OF an awful
storm. Sumner and Garrison were
laundering against the iniquities of
existing slavery no less fervently than
against its further extension.
.Jno Brown of Ossawatomie was
blazing pioneers path across the
country and was nearing the final
scene of his martyrdom. That grand
old patriarch. The noblest Roman of
them ALL as it were, Frederick Doug
lass, whose name and memory is dear
to every American heart and to every
American fire-side. was thrilling thou
sands on each side of the Atlantic in
The surging seas of human passions
were at the highest tide. The giant
armies of the contending foes We're in
their primitive forming. The coun-
try was resting upon smoldering
volcano soon to burst forth in rag
ing furnace or mighty crucible into
which mems souls were to be tried.
Mid such conditions and AT such a
n hi ,efr fNr q
of him / would now speak as the Mod
ern Moses, first saw the light of the
day. He was but a tottering infant
when Ft Sumter was fired upon and
but a strip of a youth when her sur
render to Grant at Appomattox. But
his brain and quick wit readily caught
something of the significance of free
dom's spirit and enthusiasm. The
early life story of this remarkable
child and destined leader stands to
day as one of the most enhancing and
inspiring. records to be found in all
the history of this nation. 1t is the
one life in which it is not possible to
record a single failure. From the day
as a penniless barefoot boy, he left
home in response to a feeling and a
vague unrest of soul, he could neither
fathom nor explain. and started for
HAMPTON Institute in October, 1872,
until he entered upon his chosen field
and profession at Tuskegee in June.
1881, there were struggles plenty,
hard-ships undreamed Of and heart
aches beyead number, but never a
feature. He evaded no condition and
never once wavered in his high pur-
poses. Life to him was an ever open
ing vista, constantly unfolding and re
vealing some new and glorious destiny
beyond, that always called for increas
ed power and courage. but he always
measured up to them with splendid
precision Perhaps when the truest
history Of DR.. Washngtons life has
been written it will be found that nc
one factor contributed more to the
moulding of his character than the
fact that early in his career he came
under the influence of Genl Samuel
C. Armstrong, one Of the greatest edu
Gators America has produced. From
this splendid man he gained the in
spiration, the theory and working
method Of system Of education
nnioue In the history of this govern
ment but the one best suited for the
millions OF Negroes in the Southland
American history is heauteous with
eminent characters and giant figures