The Athenaeum. (Atlanta, GA) 1898-1925, December 01, 1922, Image 12
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THE ATHENAEUM
Since there is nothing to expect of the two most powerful parties
in the country, the next mfost logical questions which come into
m:y mind are these: Shall the Negroes organize themselves into an
independent party, stipulate their own platform, run only their own
nten as candidates for public offices? Or shall they line themselves
up with the existing party wihose platforn^ is most liberal toward them
and which never has had the chance to prove its liberality? To my
m4nd the idea of organizing an independent party is impracticable
and rather early for existing conditions, The bulk of the Negroes is
politically ignorant still and is as yet unable to unify for most ef
fective political actions. Many are pessimists on the whole situation,
others are indifferent, others are desirous.to know, but don’t and
others are still hunfble, compromising,, wonderfully tolerant, too re
liant on sheer miraculous, divine salvation, too broad-smiling and
even deceitful. Besides, in the South where the masses live, multi
tudes do not possess the suffrage, for they are legally disqualified.
The above facts touch only slightly on the fundamental reasons
why an independent Negro party is impracticable for the present.
What move shall we take next?
HOW THE COLLEGE CAN BEST SERVE THE COMMUNITY
By Troas Lewis, ’21. •
Dr. E. B. Sutton has said, “we are living in a silk stocking age.”
Nowadays the value of things is not based on the intrinsic and ex
trinsic worth, but on material display and comfort. Many of the
great things in life are so commonplace, so unassuming, that we pass
them by unnoticed. We see m’en and women, but fail to penetrate
beneath their exteriors. Man is judged by his external appearance
and his bank account, regardless of the means used in obtaining
them. Years ago many believed that sacrifice and heroism were suf
ficient to revolutionize the world and to make it a fit place in which to
live. The present condition of social unrest proves that civilized man
is not far removed from the domination of primitive instincts. Some
of our colleges are laying stress on the m&terial and practical things.
The students are taught to minister to the comfort of others, to work
intelligently and to m'ake money. These things are necessary, but are
not the highest things.
Our colleges must supply the greatest ideals. If college men
stand for anything, they must be advocators of the noblest ideals.
College mien cannot perpetuate an ideal, if all go to the factories and
market-places and indulge in light entertainments. The colleges must
instil in their students ideals of service, co-operation and character,
in order to best serve the community. One who obtains an educa
tion and does not benefit others thereby fails to reap the richest
reward obtainable and appreciable.
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