The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-08
COLLEGE DOORS OPEN.
GOV. NoRTHEN's ADDRESS AT TRz
COLORED INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

well, Chancellor Bogg5 OF Ine Cnl
versitv and Maj Msldrim, CHARM al
of the College Commission, ant
superlntendent of Schools Bake
Talra Part in the Exercises-Gov
Northen's Talk to the Colored
peonle-The College Turned Over &c
the President and Class Work to
Begin To-day.
The Georgia Industrial College for coloTed
vouih was formerly opened yesterday by
Gov Northen, State School Commissioned
RrsdwelI Chancellor Boggs of the state
university. and Maj P. W. Meldrim, chair
man of the commission for the college.
The day was a very unfavorable one. A
cold rain poured down steadily all the
morning aud the greater part OF the after
noon.
Gov Northern, Commissioner Bradwell
and DIR. Boggs arrived by the early MORN
ing train on the Central.
They were met at the depot by Maj. Mel
drim and were taken TO the DE soto, where
tha marty breakfasted. After breakfast the
oovernor and party were called upon by
Col. ]. II, Estill, Col. r. D. Walker and j.
r. Saussy, ESQ.,, of the county com mission
ers. Col. John Sore ven and other gentle
men.
THE DRIVE TO THE COLLEGE.
At11 o'clock the party left the De Soto in
carriages for the college grounds. It was
composed of Gov. Northen, State school
Commissioner Bradwell, Chancellor
Boggs, Maj. Meldrim, Superintendent
of Public Schools w. H. Baker,
Col. K. D. Walker, chairman OF the board
of county commissioners; Col. John
Screven Of the board of trustees of the
state university; J. R. Saussy, Esq,
and a representative of the MORNING
News.
The drive over the Thunderbolt shell road
to the college site was made in about halt
an hour. AS the party drove up to the COL
lege building Middleton's band, which had
been engaged for the occasion, struck up
"Dixien in honor of the governor.
4 large crowd was gathered in the col
lege building and upon the porticoes. A
stand for the speakers aud seats for the peo-
pie had been provided in the grove which
surrounds the college, but The pouring rain
prevented their being occupied.
WELCOMED BY THE PRESIDENT.
President Wright welcomed the visitors
and escorted them to seats upon the cast
portico, facing the sound. 1t was thought
to have the speaking from the porch, but
the crowd around was too great and the
rain having held up somewhat, it was de-
cided to carry out the original programme
OF holding the exercises in the grove.
The party adjourned to the grove,
but was hardly seated there before the rain
began to pour down with renewed force,
compelling return to the building.
1t was then decided to hold the exercises
in the assembly room of the college. This
was entirely too small for the crowd which
thronged tie hall and adjaining rooms.
Maj. Meldrim opened the exercises at
80 o'clock. Rev. Alexander Harris of
Savannah delivered the invocation. asking
the blessings Of God upon the institution es-
tablished for the upnuilding of his people.
Maj. Meldrim announced that Gov.
Northen had honored the occasion with his
presence, showing both bis personal interest
in the college and the importance with
which, as the states chief executive, be re-
garded the occasion.
THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
at the conclusion of Mai Meldrim's in
PRODUCTION the governor arose and was re-
ceived with applause.
"rhis is new day in Georgia" he said,
sand trust great day. A day that indi
Gates the dawn Of a new civilization, tht
effort Of new uplifting that marks the
progress ami advance of a people
Gov. Northen remarked that it was a
very bad day from weather standpoint,
but Iemin ied him OF the old saying that "a
bad beginning makes a good ending" In
support of this he referred TO his marriage.
He was married on a rainy day, he said,
and drove all day through the rain, and
there never was a marriage, he believed
that had been happier.
Gov. Northen said he had been referred
to as an educator of long experience, but
his experience was not confined to the
white people alone. He used to
gather his colored people together
every Sabbath morning in his dining-room
twenty-five years ago. at was one of the
greatest pleasures of my life" he said, ITO
teach them the truths OF the Bible. So, YOU
see, teaching the colored people is no new
thing to me-"
A WORK OF THE STATE.
"This is no spasmodic effort" continued
Gov Northen. "The state appropriates
$500 annually, and will keep it up. The
federal government supplements this with a
sufficient amount to make the college one to
be proud of by the people of the whole
state.n
Gov. Northern spoke at length on the
colored people of this country and their
growth and progress.
"Atth beginning of this century" he
sold, There wore ABOUT 100000 colored
people in this country, which was about 10
per cent. of the total population. Twenty
years after ii was 1000, 900. forty years after
it was 100000, sixty years after the
colored population wss 1000 900. or atout
IA per cent of the population
OF The country. Seventy years
After Of
it was 100000. and eighty years after il
was about 1000, 000 In North and Sonth
America ana the West India islands there
are. about l2,OU0,00O Of the colored race
These people are close enough to the higher
advantages of civilization and numerous
enough 10 begin to give them place in tn,
worlds history"
THE DUTIES OF A CITIZEN.
Gov. Northen the discussed the duties o
good citizen, white or black, ana tn
record made by the colored race on thi
line. 10 seek material prosperity, he said
was one duty of the citizen.
On this line the colored people of Georgia
who owned almost nothing at the close O
the wer, paid taxes last year on $i2, 500, 00
worth Of property, and this year they wi
pay taxes on $4,000. 900 Of property. o.
this line their record was good and improy
ing.
ssThe state cannot consistently ignore i,
colored citizens" he said They are build
ing up the state. Let US all 60 along togethe
and build up this great state"
Gov. Northen said that education is on
of the chief duties OF the citizen. He ha
taught school twenty-five years an
Thought he knew something about educa
tion. He had quit the business now, however
Il has been argued that education is nc
good for the coIored people. Gov Northe
did not agree with this He knew educa
ton to be good thing for the white mar