The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-10-22

the human voice could nGI be heard from
Maryland to Texas-whle on the threshold Of
nearly every house in New England stands
son, seeking, with troubled eyes, some new
land in which to carry his modest patrimony,
the strange fact remains that in 1886 the south
had fewer northern born citizens than she had
in 1870-fewer in 70than in 1860 Why is this?
Why is it, sir, though the sectional line be but
a mist that the breath may dispel, fewer men
of the north have crossed it over to the south
than when it was crimson with the best blood
OF the republic, or even when the Shareholder
stood guard every inch of its way?
There can be but one answer. 1t is the very
problem which we are now to consider. The
key that opens that problem will unlock to the
world the fairest half Of this republic and free
the halted feet of thousands whose eyes are al
ready kindling with its beauty. Better than
this, 1t will open the hearts of brothers for
thirty years estranged, and clasp in lasting COM
radeship million hands now withheld in doubt.
Nothing, sir, but this problem and the sus-
picions it breeds hinders a clear understanding
and perfect union. Nothing else stands be-
tween us and such love as bound Georgia and
Massachusetts, at Valley Forge and Yorktown,
chastened by the sacrifices Of Manassas and
Gettysburg, and illumined with the coming of
better work and a nobler destiny than was
ever wrought with the sword or sought at the
cannons mouth.
The peroration Of this speech was per.
haps the passage in all his work which
will live the longest. He was speaking
of the great race problem, and in closing
he said:
The love we feel for that race you cannot
measure nor comprehend. AS attest it here,
the spirit of my old black nanny, from her
home up there, looks down to bless, and through
the tumult of this night steals the sweet music
of her croonings as thirty years ago she held
me in her black arms and led me smiling into
IL S, v,{o CIV
catch vision of an old southern home, with
its lofty pillars and its white pigeons fluttering
down through the golden air. l see women
with strained and anxious faces, and children
alert, yet helpless. see night come down with
its dangers and its apprehensions, and in big,
homely room feel on my tired head the touch
of loving hands-now worn and wrinkled, but
fairer to me yet than the hands Of mortal
woman, and stronger yet to lead me than the
hands of mortal man-as they lay mothers
blessing there, while at her knees-the truest
altar yet have found-I thank God that she is
safe in her sanctuary, because her slaves, SEN
tinel in the silent cabin, guard at her cham
Der door. puts a black mans loyalty between
her and danger.
catch another vision. The crisis Of battle
"a soldier struck, staggering, fallen. l see a
slave, scuffling through the smoke, winding
his black arms about the fallen form, reckl less
of hurtling DEATH bending his trusty face to
catch the words that tremble on the stricken
lips, so wrestling meantime with agony that
he would lay down his life in his masters
stead. / see him by the weary bedside, minis
tering with uncomplaining patience, praying
with all his humble heart that God will lift
his master up until death comes in mercy and
in honor to still the soldiers agony and seal
the soldiers life. / see him by the open grave,
mute, motionless, uncovered, suffering the
death Of him who in life fought against his
freedom. / see him, when the mound is heaped
and the great drama Of his life is closed, turn
away, and with downcast eyes and uncertain
step start out into new and strange fields, fal-
tering. struggling, but moving on, until hts
shambling figure is lost in the light Of this
better and brighter day. And from the grave
comes voice. saying: Follow him! Put your
arms about him in his need, even as he put
his about me. Be his friend as he was mine.''
And out into this new world-strange to Tie
as to him, dazzling. bewildering BOTH fol-
| low! And may God forget my people-when
they forget these!
A mighty duty, sir, a mighty inspiration i'm.
pels every of US tonight to lose in patriotic
conservation whatever estrangeS, whatever di-
vides. We sir, are Americans, and we stand
for human liberty! The uplifting force of the
American idea is under every throne on earth
France, BraZil-these are our victories. To re-
| deem the earth from kingcraft and oppression
| this is our mission! And we shall not fail. God
| has sown in our soil the seed of his millennia
| harvest. and he will not lay the sickle to the
ripening crop until his full and perfect day has
| come. Our history. sir, has been a constant and
expanding miracle from Plymouth Rock and
| jamestown all the way-ay, even from the
| hour when, from the voceless and trackless
ocean, new world rose to the sight of tse id
| spireG sailor. As we approach the fourth cen
| tennial Of that stupendous day-when the Old
World will come to marvel and to learn amid
| our gathered treasureS-let us resolve tC
| crown the miracles Of our past with the spec
| tacle of a republic, compact, united, ndisSolu-
| BILE in the bonds of love. loving from the lakes
to the gulf, the wounds Of war healed In every
! heart as on every hill, serene and resp!enden'
| at the sum I CT human achievement and
earthly glo.s. .5iazing out the path and max
! ing clear the way up which all the nations OF
| the earth must come in Gods appointed time!
1t was in the course Of this New Eng
land trip, at the close of 1899, that he in
Cured the illness which proved fatal
| After addressing the Boston merchants
he spoke before the Bay State club, and
then went to Plymouth Rock, where he
made talk in the open air in Decem
ber He was suddenly attacked there
with severe case Of pneumonia. He
| returned at once to Atlanta, and despite
! the best medical attention which could
have been had died in the course of !;
! few days. His funeral occurred on Christ
mas day, and was the largest ever wit
| messed in Atlanta. The usual holiday
festivities were entirely suspended
throughout the city by all classes oi
people from morning until night ON that
day.
The very fact Of Christmas festivities
being suspended in a southern cominu-
nifty is sufficient evidence of the estima-
| ton in which he was held by his fellow