Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-18
DIR. PAGES ADDRESS.
HIS GRAFTON BEFORE THE SOCIETIES
OF RICHMOND COLLEGE.
livery of the Medals.-Trustees to
Meet TODAY.


Meet TO-DAY.
Last night, the second Of the commence
nent Of Richmond College was tho occa-
ion Of the annual address before the Phi
ologian and Dlu Sigma Rho literary so
ieties.
Despite tho threatening weather and the
meetings. of Rev. Sam Jones going on across
he street the college chapel was crowded
With the friends Of the orator and Of the
tudents.
Hon. b. A. Hancock. of Chesterfield, had
,een chosen TO preside, and DR.. Thomas
,elson Page was selected as the orator;
Promptly al $50 these gentlemen marched
n, accompanied by several members oithe
}oard OF Trustees.
SIR. Hancock then requested DR.. J. c. Long, OF
to leel the meeting In prayer.
Iiter which the President rose and in behalf OF
he societies welcomed tho largo audience 10
lear tho final oration. lie said there we're
many men now In Richmond College VINO Wal
make for themselves professional records In the
rear future. Here il the unIried physician. VINO
las never cut OF IN arm or sent patient To tue
here the coming merchant, WHO
'as pever made an assignment; here the young
preacher, who has never married. couple OF
preached his congregation into droWsiness'
lere IA the future statesman, who has never run
or Council, but who j. always ready 10 make
One AMI tiresome speech on the Griu. Inere
rOung men have chOsen as their orator on this
occasion distinguished sou OF Virginia, an Bi-
Orne, well known throughout the south and an
intbor whose name Is familiar on TWO cont-
tents.
THE ORATOR.
Mr.. Hancock then said that he took great
pleasure IN introducing 70 The audience Or.
hOma8 Nelson Page, the orator OF the evening.
AZ the WertiOn Of his name there was great Ap-
Dlause, and it was some time before he could oe-
,in.
az have deemed il my duty AZ well as my high
privilege said Dr. Page, "tO speak 10 you upon
,Ome eublect of moment rather than OF mere
.phemcrsl interest, and rather than entertain
gou with bubbles OF fancy, 20 10 yon me
lonor 10 deal with II 10 the best 81 my poor
ability. To casual Observer tho difference bo
ween the present conditions Ot the two 500
.ions' Is painfully apparent We have ono
blood. enc religion, and one government. but ihe
\ Orth and the South are distinctly the Two see
ions should on. take the map Of this Amer-
AN Union and study 1t he would probably be of
tie opinion that iho two sections OF the country
lr9 the East and Wcst Diva & ss 20 commerce
t Is evident that iho Fast aud the West are tho
two great sections. but all OF us familiar win
he preselt condition ot affairs, know that tho
country should be divided thus-ihe South and
he rest OF the Union.
TIL CAUSES.
alt my purpose TO show briefly why this un-
happy condition exists, 10 lay tho responsibility
9hero II ~ properly attributable, an TO suggest
4 few th.nGs which may, II carried out, solYc
he difficulties vlich confront us-
The right OF secession is no longer an active
ssue. That n once existed is undeniablc; that
& passed away With the armies OF the Con
'ede-sry at AppOmattCx Is equally beyond con-
alHasN a. -
his ricnt are willing 20 simit hat tho Union
q indissolub,e and. II need be. stand ready 10
establish the fact against all who shall galnsay
T."
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
SIR. Page said further: In nity years tho de-
enco Of slavery will be doomed the world oyor
IS beruarOus "a we now deem the slave trade 70
laye baen There is but one way 10 tOTestgll tho
impending dlsaster-oy showing 20 tho world
what the south was: by establishing that what
.ycr may have been he immediate aud appR-
-cnt causes of hcr reaction, the ultimate cause
Ess her nrm, uncompromlsing, and uuilnching
devotion 10 principle.
" But af,er twenty-five years Of peace and
freedom a question cOniTOnts the South which
af;er generation Of peace still keeps the South
)ne section and the rest OF the I nion tho other.
This il the eyer-p present. eYer-threateninE, ana
sver- growiDg negro question. Upon the proper
solution OF this question depends tho progress
snd security OF tue nation"
Dr. Page tnou repeated an extract from
speech Ia tho senate by senator llCDr. OF Mhssa-
,nusetls stating that Within fifty years there
would be 50.OCo.0o0 negroes in the southern
states, end pointed out tho pcrils arising there
rom.
The North knows not tho negro question OF
Today, -" sAid Dr. Page, at thinks II knows H.,
but i does not; Il discusses, inspects, ponders,
but II does not comprehend it."
SLAVERY IN THE NORTH.
IL. e a ~
he Horth ELO 10 uot kuOW That slavery ever
really existed at the North. Tney may accept II
historically in q dim sort Of theoretical way.
,ut they do not take II Is living fact. 10 fact,
slavery was until within Historically speskine)
short time ago 40 much northern institution
- il was a sontharn ono. Il hes heen charged
-hRt tho south imported the Gr-t African 10 this
continent ond made a slave Of him. Tho charge
"a false, liko many other charges growing out OF
no same subject. Tho FIRST African slaves we're
imported 10 this country by q Dutch ship which
lut into Hampton Roads IN 1919 with 20 african
,laves aboard. SO favOrDly vas slavery re-
,arded that NcW England participated actively
"a the traffic and tho 'Desire was built ana
az Marhleheed as a slayer In lb'.i ana
became the prototype NJ q long line Ot slaVers
gnich piled their hcils7 tranic between the
African coast and tho slsvo-holdng countries.
1NrERroRrTY or THE SEGRo's INTELLECT.
"Yet what Of value 20 the human race in oil its
IiFf0rF
Iu art, In mechanical development, in Iitera-
ure, In mental o. moral science, IN all the
-angs Of mental action no notable work mas
.ome from the negro IN the earliest locorN5 OF
no human race-the monuments OF Egypt AID
svria-hs is dapic,ed az o slave. After centuries
IA is stili a meniaL Tho leopard cannot change
lls spots nor the Ethiopian The color OF his skin
low any moro than they could 10 tho days OF
Jeremiah.
~ DO not argue" con,inuoi tho spe akcr,
Ia n Non
4 any intellectual Development On the con-
rary tho observation has Led ma 20 think that
lnder certain conditions Of intellectual environ
ment and OF sympathetic ENCOURAGEMENT from
he Caucasian race he may Individually attain
a fair degree OF mental Development"
Mr. Page then spoke OF Ito wfetched and
miserable condition of Hayti and Liberia and
thor negro countries; also OF the political ras-
,ality in louisiana, Mississippi, AMI south caro-
ina.
COMPARISON OF THE RACES.
Continuing. the speskcr sail: aside by side
ri,h tnis racs is one which, os view il IN no
teht OF its past. sprang into eclng from min-
,ling OF elementary forces Ia the cruciblc OF
progress, such ns never met beioro-a rae
yaich Was the inhcrltOr Of ell tho ages-Whifh
iai governed all that vas good AMI al ina
vas strong and all that was noble al the
attn and Greek rnces, n raco which
yns tue lln.al descendant ot Ieu-
onic people, which had Ia its barbsTlsm
flsrlavrl a courage which Ia1 oYtrNLSllhtA
some and a virtue which hal astontshcd tho
,,rt9rlau-a race which had preserved chiYary
md Incorporated II into its lifo which ha1 cs-
acisned trial by jury and the great charter OF
itcrty aud race which had Oh principle oman-
.ioated i,self from dogma and from e4Iernal
'ulc.
MUST CARE Tor HIM.
"Buf whatever the solution Of these questions
nav be. however tho political and social status
III tho negro may be determined By the lneHora-
,ie logic OF events. we cannot BbsOlve ourselves
rom the rcsp5rs 3. billy which lics upon us 20 aid
md 10 eleyate the negro. We may not admit him
,s sAlaw-fnakcr, but We must uplif. him us man.
Vo owe This Guty % him. 20 Our-eiYes to posterity
10 our conntry. alf 10 God. ~ brought him here
luder the Providence OF God he VIII stay here
,r ha-d by, aud woe De 10 u j. We 30 not rec0S-
liZe the duty lsil uron us 6ni a.; accordingly.
Ie Is entitled 20 kindness and G usiieratiOu ~
,ur hauds. BY virtue Of tho long years oi falth-
'ul dnd devoted service OK the patience ho hs3
,xhibited, tne friendship, and the ahec-
.ion hs has borne as: by vir ne ot all these
ls Ia entitled 10 our nrmest frlend-hlp.
la all that record ~ four years thero
: no siLgle act o! ireachery or OF horror.
Every cabin was a barrack every seryant was
, boiy-gu ard. really 20 dcfond. and II need DO,
,erily believe. TO die TOR hs mistress. We owe
heai a debt Of gratitude and OF friendship. It
: duo tbsm that We rroat thctn with Kindness