The Monitor
A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Eight Thousand Colored People
in Omaha and Vicinity, and to the Good of the Community
The Rev. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$1.00 a Year. 5c a Copy. Omaha, Nebraska, December 25, 1915 Volume I. Number 26
Colored American
When War Ends
Will His Industrial Opportunities in
This Country Be Improved?
HIS AMERICANISM UNDOUBTED
Young of Race Advised to Fit Them
selves for Employment That
May Offer.
New Haven, Conn., Dec. 24.—What
industrial opportunities will open up
for the Negro with the closing of the
present European war is a question
that has been taken up for considera
tion by some of the Negro students
at Yale. William M. Ashby of the
class of 1916, has summarized some
of the suggestions made by the stu
dents, considering the question from
the standpoint of those who believe
there will be a large influx of aliens
after the war, as well as from the
point of view of those who are of the
opinion the necessities of the Euro'
pean countries will compel the would
be immigrants to remain at home.
Writing of what he calls “The In
dustrial Opportunity of the American
Negro After the War,” Mr. Ashby
says:
“Various and many have been the
opinions expressed as to what proba
ble effect the result of the present
European conflict will have on Amer
ica.
“Sociologists, moralists, historians,
theologians and philosophers, all bas
ing their conclusions on upheavals of
a similar nature, though not nearly so
destructive as the present revolution,
have contributed a great mass of
speculation as to the consequence of
the terrible strife on the United
States. Some are saying we shall be
overrun with low Europeans of dif
ferent ideas from our own, different
standards of living, morals and relig
ions. Others say we shall have no
immigration at all for the commerce,
industry and reconstruction of their
respective governments will necessi
tate that all foreigners remain at
home.
But out of all these generalizations,
no one, except a few alarmists, has
deemed it fit to consider how the
American Negro will be affected by
the outcome of the war.
Aliens Are Never Americanized.
“All over this country there have
been convocations whose main pur
pose was to draw up resolutions and
ordinances against the hyphenated
American and the alien. A year ago
societies everywhere were giving con
certs, oratorios, banquets and the like
for the poor foreigners. Is the same
so much in evidence now ? Only a
few days ago we heard from the lips
of ex-Senator Chauncey Depew words
to the effect that aliens never become
Americanized and that America does
not profit by having them.
“What do all these things indicate
in the trend of thought in this coun
(Continued on eighth page)
Merry Christmas!
Cfyxietm ae
*
Christmas is first and foremost a Christian festival. To overlook this
fact, as so many apparently do, is to rob it of its real significnace. Its very
name identifies it with Christ. It is therefore first a holy day, the Mass or
Feast of Christ. And because it is a holy day, it is and should be happily
and joyously observed as a holiday. Holiday means a holy day, that is to
say, a day set apart, consecrated, and kept in memory of some event or per
osn. The religious idea underlies the very thought of a holiday. This being
so and freedom, happiness and joy being constituent elements of a holiday
it must be evident that those who would make religion a thing of gloom and
sadness arc grievously in error.
A holiday is kept in memory of an event or of a person. It commem
orates not a myth, but a fact. ..A fact of history. Independence day, or July
Fourth, commemorates and perpetuates the historic fact of the declaration of
(he independence of the American Colonies and THE BIRTH OF THE
AMERICAN NATION.
Christmas Day commemorates and perpetuates the historic fact of the
human birth of Jesus Christ, the only-Begotten Son of Clod, “Who for us
men and for our salvation was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin
Mary and was made Man.” The motive underlying this wonderful fact was
God’s love for the world, for all mankind; the intention of the Mystery, the
salvation of all men, the uplifting of them to wholeness and sweetness and
purity and goodness and truth; the making of them worthy sons and daugh
ters of the Most High, that they might be inheritors of Eternal Life. This is
the Faith of Christendom, founded upon an historic fact. This fact alone
accounts for Christmas.
It was because “God so loved the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten
Son” to redeem the world, that we have Christmas Day, with its joy and gift
making, symbols of our love for one another, and of that unfathomable Love
of the Father of ALL, Who longs for our love and service in return, and Who
would have all His children happy.
This should teach us how Christmas Day should be observed. Fervent
religious services should be the first duty of the day. Gratitude demands as
much.
Then there should he the manifestation of peace and good will towards
all with whom we may have been at variance, and generous remembrance up
to the measure of our ability of those into whose lives we can carry joy: the
poor, the aged, the neglected; and then the tempered and well-balanced fes
tivities of the home circle, wh-'re merriment should reign supreme. Where
the laughter of children should make the hearts of the elders rejoice.
Not a time of wassail and wine and swinish indulgence; but a nierry,
happy holiday, keeping in mind what holiday means.
We wish all our readers then a Merry, Merry Christmas, and add the his
toric words of Tiny Tim, made famous in Dickens’ Christmas Carol, for the
child had caught the true spirit of the season, “And MAY GOD BLESS US
EVERYONE.”
Chosen Successor
of Dr. Washington
Major Robert Rusa Moton Elected
By Trustees of Tuskegee
Institute.
CHOICE WAS UNANIMOUS
Was a Close Friend of the Late
Principal—Has Had Successful
Career—Has Visited Omaha.
New York, Dec. 20.—Major Robert
R. Moton of Hampton institute,
Hampton, Va., was selected to suc
ceed Booker T. Washington as presi
dent of Tuskegee institute, Tuskegee,
Ala., at a meeting of the special com
mittee of the trustees of the institute
here today. The choice was unani
mous.
Major Moton will not be installed
as head of the famous Negro insti
tute until the commencement exer
cises in May, 1916. Until that time
he will give his services to the cam
paign for the Booker T. Washington
memorial fund.
The new head of Tuskegee has been
commandant of cadets at Hampton
since 1890. He was bom in Virginia
and is of pure Negro parentage.
Major Moton tells in good faith
this simple graphic story of his an
cestry:
About the year 1735 there was a
fierce battle between two of the
stronger tribes on the west coast of
Africa. The chief of one of these
was considered the most powerful of
his time. He succeeded in overpower
ing his weaker rival and slaughtered
and captured a great many of his
band. This chief delivered to his son
a dozen of these unfortunate surviv
ors, to be sold to an American slaver.
“The young African chief delivered
these men to the captain of the ship
and received his pay in trinkets. He
was then asked to go out to the ship
to see this wonderful sailing vessel.
After he had inspected the ship he
was asked by the captain to dine. He
said that they gave him some nice
food to eat and some strange things
to drink, all of which he enjoyed so
much he fell asleep. When he awoke
he was chained to one of the creatures
whom he himself had sold, and the
vessel was headed toward the United
States.”
Major Moton was bom in 1867 in
Amelia county, Virginia, and spent
his early years at “Pleasant Shade,”
known as the Vaughan plantation, in
Pripce Edward county, Virginia.
There he made “Mr. Willie,” the
planter’s son, his ideal and copied the
young white man’s language, walk
and dress. As a worker in the man
sion house he had a great deal of
leeway and was encouraged to learn.
Hampton Days.
In October, 1885, Robert R. Moton
entered Hampton institute. When
asked if he was afraid of hard work
he assured the commandant that he
(Continued on seventh page.)