The Athenaeum. (Atlanta, GA) 1898-1925, December 01, 1922, Image 12

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

62 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. ATTENTION! Please Trade With Our Advertisers.