The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-06-14
COLONEL YOUNG AT WESTERN U
(By Prof. VIM. H. DawleyD

p Under an immense tent erected in
front of Ward Hall were gathered
Bishop Parks, President f. Jesse Peck,
the twenty-five graduates of Western
University and their four thousand
frineds to witness the Commencement
exercises. The musical program was
superior and the orations stimulating.
The Hon. N. c. Crews introduced
Col. Young. Even if space allowed,
words would fail to convey the i'm
preston produced by this inimitable
encomium. So when Col. Young arose
he was given an ovation that was over
whelming After wittily commenting
on Hon. Crews epithet, THE acme of
achievement" he launched in true SOL
der fashion on what he termed the
basic principles of Negro success
sorrow songs, trust in God, love of
mankind patronage of race enter
prises, pride in race, hero worship.
Some of the midgets of this won
derful address: l am not ashamed of
the Old-time religion of my fathers,
nor the new-time religion of our
bishops. Quit hating; hate gets no.
where. Love, gentleness, kindness,
courtesy gets us everywhere. Love
black fold, love white folk, yea, love
all men.
How many here can give several
onn1 yt-h nd nf
the black race? | can give several.
Here are few l am proud that God
made me black. The sphinx of Egypt
is fashioned with the flatnose and
mouth of the black man. No one
knows when it was carved from the
rock or what early nation or artists
fashioned it. We need more knowl-
edge of our history. In Africa l have
seen stalwart erect, handsome black
men six and seven feet tall Their
ancestors had kingdoms and civiliza-
tiOns when the Germans were still
wearing skins and roaming their track
less forests, centuries before the Ro-
man had visited Britain. l am proud
that | belong to a race that in Africa
has solved problems that we in Amer
lea are struggling with today. In AT
RIGA among the black nations there is
no poverty, no prostitution, no lack of
harmony among peoples. l am proud
that | belong to a race that is resist
ent. | am proud that l am of a race
that has a higher sympathy for its
fellowman, and that has a more beau
tiful disposition and a more appreci-
ative view of art, literature and cul-
ture, in spite of its poverty.
Cultivate hero worship. How many
know Toussaint L'Overture? | did not
hear his name mentioned today. He
is the father of free trade He made
the whites of Haiti the equals of his
own people and the French regard
him as the present soul after Jesus
Christ. But we do not have to go
far Here's Groves, your own potato
king. | saw Prof. Grisham in the au-
dience a moment ago. He made Lin
coin High School Have you ever
been in his library? l have, and until
then l thought | knew some German.
found DR.. Grisham consulting Ger
man authorities in their own tongue
and giving the results of his re-
searches to the boys and girls Of Kan
sas City.
We must patronize our own, and our
own must price their wares to elicit
our patronage. l wish we could ap-
preciate the maXims: Saw wood and
say nothing. Life is more than feat
and the body than raiment Consider
the driver ant Right is stronger than
might and will prevail Despite her
initial victories, l knew Germany
would be defeated. For there was not
God in her plan. The fate of the
League of Nations is sealed for the
same reason.
Colonel Young was escorted from
Missouri to Kansas and the University
by the Lincoln High School Cadets
under the supervision of the military
instructor and Professor Thomas ].
Taylor, accompanied by Prof. ]. r. e.
Lee, who had secured from the Board
of Education the privilege of allowing
Lincoln Highs entire student body to
attend Western University's Com
mencement. Rev. Holmes, major OF
the Negro wing of the Kansas State
Guard. met the procession near the
state line.