The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-09-13

the time of his emancipation the
Negro was left wholly without wise
guidance and direction. The sud-
den severance of personal relation
which had existed complacently I'M
der the regime of slavery left the
Negro dependent upon his own in
ternal resousces for Leadership of his
higher and better life. The disci-
pline of slavery had lily fitted him
for this function. 1t had impaired
to him the process without the prin-
ciple; the knack without the know
ledge; the rule without the reason;
the form without THE philosophy. If
the blind lead the blind they will
both fall into the ditch. For want
Of vision people perish. The profess
| fessional class constitutes the higher
light of the race, and If that light
within this race be darkness, how
great is that darkness.
The Negro teacher meets with
every form of ignorance and peda-
gogical obtuseness that befalls the
white teachers; the Negro preacher
has to do with very conceivable form
of original and acquired sin; the doc
| tor meets with all the variety of
| disease that the human flesh is heir
| to; the lawyers sphere covers the
whole gamut involving the rights of
property and person. The problems
growing out of the contact, attrition,
and adjustment of the races involve
issues which are as indicate as any
that have ever taxed human wis
dom for sutton. TT, then, the white
man who stands in the high place
of authority and leadership among
his race, fortified as he is by super
Tor social environment, needs to quail
| ify for his high calling by thoro and
sound educational training, surely the
Negro needs no less thoro general
education to qualify him to serve as
philosopher, guide, and friend Of ten
million unfortunate human beings.
The federal government should
make some provision for those who
are to stand in the high places of
intellect and moral authority. In the
western states where philanthropical
million aires are scarce. and where
the average citizen is not able to SUD-
port the system of education on the
higher level, the state undertakes the
task of maintaining high institutions
of learning for the leaders in the va
rious walks of life. The Negro is
unable at present to maintain such
institutions for his own race; he is
dependent upon a remote and vicari-
Gus philanthropy. The chief bene-
- n
Negro peoples insures to the COM
munity. to the state, and to the ma
ton. DR.. James. the president of the
University of Illinois, has for years
advocated with great power of per-
suasion the establishment of ma
tional university. Any of his argu-
ments may be multiplied by ten, when
applied to obligation of the govern
ment to support at least one higher
institution for the education of the
Negro race.
Already thru Land Grant apd other
federal funds, the government in CO.
operation with the several states, is
supporting agricultural and mechani-
cal colleges for white youth. Some
provision is also made for the Ne
groes in the states where there Is
scholastic separation Of the races.
But these agricultural and mechani-
cal colleges are essentially schools Of
secondary grade and can not be
maintained on high level of collegiate
basis. 1t is easy for the federal gov
eminent to extend the application by
establishing and maintaining at least
one institution of technical character