The American guide., 1896-08-08

Kansas, July 10. lsae,
NM PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN: feel highly gratified to be in your
midst this evening and see such nu-
merous and intelligent audience assem-
Bile upon this occasion, and especially
to the fair portion of my auditors do
feel under lasting obligations for this
place and honoring me and those before
whom appear with your presence this
evening. Mr., President, | crave your
kind indulgence in referring to the
ladies OF this race, for under their ten
der love, gentle smiles, steadfast and
unshakeu confidence, purity nnd vir-
tue, we, the young men OF the race,
look for our inspiration, and we feel
that our life's wurit will not, be done
until we have placed the Pthe6piah
hanncr upon the dizzy heishte Of dis
Nnction, and there 10 stay.
Mr. President, ! thought would at
tempt to say few words about that
member of the human family commonly
called the Negro. 1t is subject OF
much interest TO me and believe, sir,
to every true lover of the race, and in
the consideration of this truly great
question, involving as it does vital and
permanent national interest | shall, |
trnst, take no position and indulge in
remarks that may not be listened to II
not with profit ut least with candor, by
every one under the sound of my weak
voiee- The past as it were rises before
The like dream. We are yet in the
struggle for national life and as look
in this sea of upturned faces feel that
there remains great duty, especiallyto
the Young men, To perform in the up
lifting aud restbration and the placing
Of this people upon the highest plane of
modern civilization, always remember
ing that eternal vigilcnce is the price
Of liberty, and II there are any little
boys and girls here ! must confess
that | feel jealous Of your future. And
now, to the dear old mothers and faith
ers | wish to say word of consolation.
You have played your part well In the
drama of life. The electric current of
modern times, which is to the world
what the nerves are to the human body,
in betting the globe IN II it@ volts nnd
bringing all civilization into touch in a
few seconds, is no more worthy of the
mead of praise than the transformation
of your hands with this once western
wilderness into the garden spot of the
world And now, Mr. President, par
don me, sir, for being so weak in my
Judgment to believe that when these
dear old heads are silvered with the
burden Of many winters and the mighty
arm has lost its stroke, nnd the def
hand OF labor its cunning, and tie ey,
its vigil, and the old building Is totter'
ing and almost fallen, believe, sir
these are worthy objects Of charity pne
should be remembered by the grea'
father at Washington by small allow
aucc to keep soul and body together Ia
their few last declining hburs. Al!
though the southern armies were un.
successful in establishing their princi
pies in the late unpleasantness, and
for one am mighty glad of 1t, in THEN
misfortune in life is sustained by the
libernlity Of the state, The Indian who
has done nothing but harrass and OPP
pose this government is taken under
her protecting wing, and yet the old,
brokcn-down and disreputed colored
friend who has been weighed in the
balance and not found wanting seems
to be forsakcn and forgotten by those
to whom he has always been faithful.
But thank God there are not many OF
these true, lsind-hcarted and generous
old patriots left, and we have not yet
decided to offer them to the government
as wards, though there has been much
said pro and con, want every lady
and gentleman to stand, stand up for
the race, God help you to stand,
have nothing but love and admiration
Tor the man who spoke these words
First, my tod and then my race"
need not call his name. 1t is Known by
ever man, woman and child in this
broad land Bishop Arnctt, These
words will make you dear in the hearts
Of your counlrymcn long after you hav,
passed this vale of tears. And here We
pause because | could not 20 further
without referring to the late lamcnted
Hon, Frederick Douglas-that fearless
leader, truly great orator, peerless di
plomat, great American statesman and
Negro philosopher, His name viii
brighten with the age and the futur,
historian will place him In the front
rank with all the truly great OF tho
modern world. l;ut we need not draw
on the great past for we yet have with
us our own intrepid and fearless leader
the Hon, Judge Miilin, w. Gibbs, U, $
senator u. X. Bruce, Hon. James lIill
Congressman John NJ, Langston, Dir
Booker 7, Washington, OF national rep
utation. and others that time will not
permit me to name.
desire now to speak of the Negro
as laborcr. lie first opened his eyes
on the American continent, not II free
man, but us slave, lie first took
hold OF the axe, next the plow and then
the hoe, and soon followed In walt,
this great and glorious country which
is ours now to enjoy. He made this
land TO blossom like the rose, lie now
stands knocking ut the door for ndmis
sion to the higher arts of mechanicisn
and when he has been admitted he has
made u reputation Of which he fcel'
justified. So rapid and persistent ha,
been his strides In the mastery OF tho
trades that the trades union In many
parts Of our free America, contrary tc
the constitution Of our free institution,
have barred their doors against Us
and the gates leading to every lucra'
tive employment is shut Permit ius
to say right here u some Of our Anan'
ciol men would come together and es
tnblish u non-partisan, non-scctarian
school, teaching the higher mechanical
arts, 1t would be the philanthropic
event OF II closing Of the century. We
all cannot be d. Us, neither LII. Ds,
nor Drs, but wc cun nll be nruducers