The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1919-05-17
HAMPTON ALUMNI AT
TEND SEMI CENTENNIAL
BY VIM. Anthony Aery.

| lTuSlttS, Sl)tuhlnE OSuNh lam ~
the fifty-first anniversary exercises of
Hampton Institute, which included the
celebration of the schools semi-cen-
tennial, paid tribute TO the work of
Armstrong, Frissell and Gregg. "Hamp-
ton is great national instrument of
progress, invented by General Arm
strong and perfected by Doctor F'ris-
sell. 1t is given to few schools to be
a pioneer in education, as Hampton
has been. Hampton is the mother of
a new system of education. General
Armstrong, with the problem of fitting
| thousands of backward race for life
and progress, conceived the possibility
of uniting mental training with that
of the hand in useful trade. 1t was
especially adapted to the need he
sought to satisfy. But his conception
worked out TO successful, practical
result. has been given application
around the world. Not only for back
ward races, but also for Il considerable
part of races advanced in civilization
| is the union of manual and intellect
ual training regarded as the best prep
aration for life"
Hampton's Training.
Rev. Dr. NJ. Ashby Jones, of At
lanta. speaking for the white South,
outlined champions contribution to
National Education" DIR. Jones said
'''The glory of Hampton is that she is
the first TO give the Negro an oppor-
tunity to speak for himself. The dead
| ly sin of slavery against the Negro
was that ii predetermined his life for
him, marked the limits of his achieve
ments. and determined the quality of
his contribution to the world. 1t said,
The Negro is this kind of man and
can be no other Even as the years
have gone by much of the world has
continued to say, The Negro is cap
able thus far and no farther Hamp-
ton said, We do not know what the
Negro is capable of, for he has never
had an opportunity to speak for him
self
Il glory in the fact that Hampton
does not strive TO teach you what to
think, but how to think for your
selves; not what TO say, but how to
speak for yourselves. Hampton has
taught you loyalty to your racial in
stincts and your racial inheritances.
Pour into the word. Negro all the
definition of honor, of high and holy
aspiration, of splendid achievement,
and hand it down to your children.
not as curse, but as a blessing TO
those who are to come
DR.. Motion. Speaks
Dr. Robert II. Motion, principal of
Tuskegee Institute, declared that Gen
eral Armstrong hoped that through
Hampton'S work there would come
better understanding between the
| North and South and more syInpa-
thetic and helpful relation between
the two races"-and the hope has been
realized. DIR. Motion said:
while we do not overlook the need
and value of other systems of edu
cation, it is evident that the Hamp-
ton type of education has more than
proven its worth and justified its
place in the scheme of national prog
ress. We have found that the trained
man is a contributing factor in de-
veloping the vast resources of the
country The South is. therefore, no
longer willing to tolerate ignorance,
awkwardness or fawning stupidity in
either black or white, which retards
human progress and hampers national
prosperity. The world today cares no
! less about what you know, but it in
sists upon what You can do and how
well you can do ii.
II have never seen more earnest
desire and effort on the part, not only
of the leading white people. but also
| the average white person in the South,
that the Negro should be treated fair
| ly and justly, educationally as well
as in other ways, and no people in
our country are more chagrined and
Inundated when injustice is done than
this very large element of Southern
white people.
Gratitude to Hampton.
81 am grateful to Hampton Insti-
| tute because it has encouraged the |
buying and more intelligent cultivation
of land among my people. 1t has also
deepened our love and appreciation of
country life. l am thankful to Hamp |
ton because it has encouraged and de- |
veloped higher type of artisan among |
the members of my race. 1t has also |
stimulated a greater and more per- |
sistent and n more intelligent indus |
trial life among us. Through Hamp- |
ton, we have more captains of in
dustry,. with many more contractors |
and builders. Our people have also |
been taught to exercise greater econ
omy and thrift and there has been
created stronger desire for better
homes and schools with larger educa-
tional aspirations and opportunities. l
am also thankful for the large contri-
button that Hampton, directly and in
directly, through its large army of |
graduates and former students, has
made to the educational ideals of the
nation.
I'm other words, Hampton has more
than any other single institution. first,
taught the dignity, beauty and grand
our and the absolute necessity for
decent surroundings; to have first
class treatment in public conveyances,
when required to pay first class fare.
and chance to be of the highest