Milford chronicle., 1916-02-25
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

The following address was delivered
before q large audience on the Pacific
Coast by Rev. Francis Burgette Short
and at the same time several very promi-
nent men spoke who are connected with
large educational institutions of this coun-
try. 1t is a brief testimonial TO man
who though born under the disadvantages
of having black skin, yet by real force Of
character and brilliance of mind, worked
himself to the topmost rank of men of
the United States, who have brought
about progress and Advancement for his
race, and a real benefit to the entire
human race by so doing. The address
follows
Measured by the ideals that actuated
him, the things accomplished by him,
and the far-reaching influence that his
life set into motion which shall 20 on
blessing his race and ours until the end
of time, Booker T. Washington is easily
America S Second Great Emancipator
Mr.. Lincoln gave to 4 1000 900 slaves the
opportunity to share with us the priceless
blessings of freedom such as are enjoyed
by no other nation under the Sun, but
those very freemen were still the slaves
of untold ignorance, abject poverty, race |
hatred and deadly superstition. Who |
should, indeed, who could break the |
shackles thus binding them to a life of |
servitude and degredation' Who should |
be the modern Abraham to point the .
Negro to a larger life and better9 It |
was confidently expected that this leader |
tvOHln from the t.t1Tfe II
even their cherished hope and fond
dream that knowledge and a betterment
of their condition would come to them
through political relations, and there was
some help even thus given but it re-
mained for them to produce, to rear, to
educate and discover their own Second
Emancipator in the life and the life
achievements Of the henceforth Patron
Saint of Tuskegee, Booker 7 Washington
Tonight, we bring credit to ourselves
and to our city in that we are recognizing
him who set into operation those infu-
ences which. were not only calculated to 1
bring the Negro race into a larger life
and life of conspicuous usefulness, but
that It was this Patron Saint of the
American Negro who setinto motion those
that were destined to foster
and to establish a better feeling and
more sympathetic relationship between
the two races. The first emancipation
was a consumation of heroic daring Tor
which its promulgator gave his life, while
the second emancipation was an achieve
ment wrought out by years of unexcelled
persistency and for which its hero also
gave his life.
when MIR. Lincoln died two races
poured out their tears upon his bier for |
what he had accomplished for them both
when Booker Washington passed into
the blessed Beyond, two races again gath
cred about his casket because he had, :
under the blessing of God, been the !,
means of leading the one to such splen-
did accomplishments in every persuit of I
life and in the leading of them each and
both to a better understanding of each 4
)ther and the perfection, may we fondly Il
nope, of that bond of human recognition n
If each others worth and welfare which II
Time shall never see dissolved. II
Like the first great Emancipator, II
booker I. Washington came into the H
world poor and had to fight his own yav II
o the top; and also like Lincoln, he was
he possessor of that wealth which tar III
fishes not and which endureth for ever
lie died richly enshrined in the hearts of III
AS an evidence of this, can III
lot even imagine a more striking picture III
han was the real fact on the day he was Nj
urried. Stop with me for moment v
nd look upon that multitude of eight II
housand men and women representing III
very class and creed and two races.
Why does that old Nanny, bowed upon
er cane and with bandana hardker-
hief tied oyer her head, weep? Why do IN
hose men of wealth dry their ewes ]
What great man has fallen? Who was it ? M
hall tell you? Listen it was he who III
new not his father who was born in the III
abin of slave; who walked to the in Ill
.itutiOn which he has honored thousand III
mes who made possible the Institution iii
nat has become so famous around the Ill
lorld who, when he was being buried Ill
Ould not have had more fitting setting iii
or a more appropriate song sung by his III
wn people than those words so express iii
we of the souls melody and the SOULS iii
ope, Swing low sweet chariot, Com iii
lg for to carry me home :" it was he III
no has inspired memorials of this char iii
cter all over our land. Who was he iii
he slave-born, the christian educator, lll
lie princely gentleman, the Patron Saint l
hie ntrt1 raCe noolyar ! NH