herever we see great Negro
ability it is our office to light upon it not tardily, not hesitatingly;
but warmly, ungrudgingly, enthusiastically, for the honor of our race,
and for the stimulating self-sacrifice in upbuilding the race. Fortunately
for us, as a people, this year has given us more than ordinary opportunity
for such recognition. Never before, in American history, has there been
such a large discovery of talent and genius among us.

Early in the year there was published by one of our members, a volume of
papers and addresses, of more than usual excellence. You know gentlemen,
that, not seldom, we have books and pamphlets from the press which, like
most of our newspapers, are beneath the dignity of criticism. In
language, in style, in grammar and in thought they are often crude and
ignorant and vulgar. Not so with "_Talks for the Times_" by Prof.
Crogman, of Clark University. It is a book with largess of high and
noble common sense; pure and classical in style; with a large fund of
devoted racialism; and replete everywhere with elevated thoughts. Almost
simultaneously with the publication of Professor Crogman's book, came
the thoughtful and spicy narrative of Rev. Matthew Anderson of
Philadelphia. The title of this volume is "_Presbyterianism; its
relation to the Negro_" but the title cannot serve as a revelation of
the racy and spirited story of events in the career of its author. The
book abounds with stirring incidents, strong remonstrance, clear and
lucid argument, powerful reasonings, the keenest satire; while, withal,
it sets forth the wide needs of the Race, and gives one of the strongest
vindications of its character and its capacity.[5]

Soon after this came the first publication of our Academy. And you all
know the deep interest excited by the two papers, the first issue of
this Society. They have attracted interest and inquiry where the mere
declamatory effusions, or, the so-called eloquent harangues of aimless
talkers and political wire-pullers would fall like snowflakes upon the
waters. The papers of Prof. Kelly Miller and Prof. Du Bois have reached
the circles of scholars and thinkers in this country. So consummate was
the handling of Hoffman's "Race Traits and Tendencies" by Prof. Miller,
that we may say that it was the most scientific defense of the Negro
ever made in this country by a man of our own blood: accurate, pointed,
painstaking, and I claim conclusive.

The treatise of Prof. Du Bois