The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-05-13

means a compliment to the Negro race
for Liberia to go down as a failure
after these many years effort at ma
tion building, but that is the verdict
of many of It's own citizens and others
who really know conditions.
Fundamentals in Nation BuIIding
Seems to Have Been Neglected.
Assuming those things OF spirit that
any effort at building Christian
nation would imply I address my
self In this letter to the material
phase of the matter. 1t seems at the
very beginning all emphasis was
higher education-there can be no
doubt that higher education Is needed
to run government. buff one is to
be dispensed with, the man with the
ordinary educatiopI and not afraid or
ashamed to work, the latter is always
to be chosen. In laying the founda-
ton for the republic of Liberia. all
stress seems to have been placed on
the training of the mind to the alb
solute neglect of the hands which re-
suited in producing a class of men
that have not wanted to soil their
hands. You find among them some of
the most eminent lawyers, fine schol-
ars. good doctors and a host of the
most shrewd politicians but nothing
to sustain them. 1t presents the pill
able object of man starting to conr
struct a house by attempting to put
up the sur Nrstructure before making
foundat iOn-we ALI know what the
result is compelled to be. If the LII
IBERIA college had been a big indus
trial Institution, where the young men
could have been taught all the indus
trial arts necessary to building a ma
tlon, we could point to Liberia today
with unmeasured pride. l cite one
instance to fix my contention on those
who may chance to read this article.
The Liberia College Just referred to,
Is situated on lofty hill overlooking
the ocean, the st. Pauls River, the
Measurable River. the town OF Mon
rovia and an almost limitless stretch
of the continent, an ideal situation.
From this historic institution the pres
ent leaders of the nation have come,
but what are the facts in the case,
that splendid three story brick struc-
ture has been allowed to deterioate
to the extent that II has been aband-
oned--it Is in plain words rotting
down. The only service 1t is render
ing the community now, 1t is being
used to segregate contagious dis
eases.
Who will deny that If some of these
gentlemen that have gone out from
these walls had been given useful
trades instead of a college education
with the idea that their hands must
not be soiled IL they maintain their
dignity, not only would that building
not be in ruins, but that beautiful
site for miles only would be dotted
with houses and truck farms. The
history of America has demonstrated
the fact, very few of her presidents
have been college graduates, but they
have been men Of industry and good
common sense, the same has been true Of
the men who have built up the great
est Industries on earth. / have always
had great admiration for the good
judgement and practical horse sense
of the late Booker t. Washington,
but my visit to Liberia has stimulated
that admiration, IL possible, a hundred
fold. II really needs president and
leadel of his spirit.
Another fundamental of nation
building has been neglected in the
Liberian program seems self evident.
that of dealing with the growth OF
the American nation am sure any one
familiar with the history of the
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