Evening journal., 1917-05-26
GOVERNOR LAUDS
NEGRO Graduates
Tells Them Nation and
State Expects Much
of Them
SAYS WORK IS
HONORABLE TO ALL

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER. Del, May 26.-Governor
Townsend received applause yester-
day afternoon at the State College for
Colored students on the occasion OF
the annual commencement exercises,
after he delivered the address to the
graduates. He said in part:
Il well represent the best citizen
ship OF this State when l offer you
my sincere congratulations AT the
same time, this State expects full re-
turn for the opportunity given you
here. Never. and ] speak seriously,
was there time in the history Of
the country, when the chance and the
demand for service was as great as to-
day. Further, never was there such need
for men who think at their work as to-
day. Further, again, the opportunity
for the colored race is greater than
at any time since his freedom from
slavery.
"No student in this or any other
state goes out with the opportunity
and the responsibility that is yours.
You leave these college halls and the
pleasures OF student life with a feel
ing OF regret But let me assure you
that this work-aday world has its
pleasures too. To accept the duties
Of citizenship-to perform them well;
10 live and mingle with your friends
and make them happy; TO so conduct
yourself as TO serve your community
Is a source OF satisfaction. TO mas
ter the hard tasks. is q pleasure; to
so live as to merit the confidence OF
your neighbors, is an honor.
'Troday as never before, work Is an
honor. myself know what toll
downright hard work is. ! know the
pleasure OF work well done. I know
that honest work means always a
service 70 the community and the
state which we oft-times fail TO recog-
nize.
Now that you are about TO gradu-
ate. do you realize what. education is2
Pardon me for attempting TO tell you.
NV training was not in the college;
not even in the academy; not even
In the high school-iust a country
school at the edge OF a pine thicket.
No commencement no music sounded
when / went out in the world. no adj
dresses. no occasion whatever. just
quit TO 20 out on the farm in the
woods. / left school TO guide a mule
and harrow through row OF stumps
OF a cross-cut saw through knot. 1
loft the country school for the uni
versity OF hard knocks, and as
sure YOU IL is an interesting course or
study. But we were discussing edu-
cation and what is constituted in the
meaning of tho term.
"You can read Latin. but can YOU
keep a ledger? You can pass ball
by a signal. but can you build a wood
shed? You can extract square ioot'
but can you extract pine root? You
know chemistry. but can you keep al
cohol out Of your. system? You can
square a circle. but can you plant an
acre OF corn? You know the styles
but can you make a dressG You know
he poetry Of literature, but can you
make a pound of butter?
II am merely asking these ques-
Mons. I can do some OF them' yet l
did not 60 to college. wish IN no
wise TO discount books or their IN
@auence But do not think for minute
these are the only essentials TO the
best living. the greatest honor OF
widest service. This Is day OF the
working man. who thinks while he
works. The opportunity Is yours. ou
ought 10 have the incentive. Your
race leaders. such as Booker T. Wash
lngton and Or. Jason, should urge
Won 10 YOUR best. Booker Washing
ION. did not care for wealth, but ne
aid care for a living. A colOred man
with a farm that raises everything
but a mortgage Is pretty independ-
ent man. There are exceptions. but a
man making money is reasonably
sure TO keep out OF mischief. home
oaid for neat farm. well-kept crops
DIV a colored man makes his position
iurc. ,,,.
nreiudice at times that you do not de-
serve. Il comes from the smitless ciai
shooter. working two days a week. Ia
YOU comes the duty of so living ana g
serving that others Of your race VIII SCI
The advantages gained.
II want to say that | am one, wh'
As a private citizen gives TO the coioie,
man the same rights and privileges thai
accord TO any man. Further l wan
TO saw that as Governor, i shall en-
deavor 70 do the same. Honesty, goo'
citizenship is to be rewarded irrespective
Of race or creed.
~Just now we are approaching Mla
seems to be the greatest crisis IN our ma
tional life. We have been enjoying ON
prosperity for so long that we car
,carcclv realize that we can be at war
Even vet there is hope. But condition
ana facts so stare us in the face tina
we must be ready for any emergency
Nor need you think that your service
will not be needed. To date we are II
such confusion that plans are not com
pIete / want to say that so far as
am concerned the colored man Will b.
niven equal opportunity to serve nm
country with the gun as well as VIII
The hoe. From the record you made ~
the Revolution of 1872; in the Civil wa
and in the Spanish-American War, l an
sure YOU will be called OF the volun
.eers Of the Spanish-American War, n
was the colored regiment that received
the highest praise from the inspector
general. Your record in war cannot be
questioned. Until you are called, let me
urge your best efforts in the ways OF
preparation.
Il wish 70 congratulate the board of
trustees. They are doing a piece of
work that can scarcely be recSoned. In
conspicuous. but none the less important
II congratulate the faculty. Dr. Jason
and his corps Of teachers have reason Ia
feel proud The impress of their work
will be felt in the several communitic.
sc fho State Sarxfoo lovof 81