The herald., 1898-12-19
"WHITHER ARE WE DRIFTING?"

deeply touched with the eloquent words and
the exalted sentiments which have been ut
tered by the gentleman whom you dele
gated to speak in your behalf. 1t gives me
peculiar pleasure to meet you and to greet
you in this institution OF learning, presided
over by one whom | have known for more
than twenty years, and whom L have come
to admire and respect as one of the
splendid leaders of your race. congrat-
ulate him and all associated with him in the
good work done here for the exaltation OF
your race. l congratulate all OF you upon
the splendid advance made by you in the last
third of a century. You are all entitled to
praise and to high commendation, which
am sure you receive from your white fellow
citizens in this and every part of the coun-
try. l congratulate you upon your ac-
quirement of property. Many of your race
have large properties on the tax lists in sew
eral states, and in that way contribute pro-
portionately to the support of the govern
ment l congratulate you on what you
have done in learning and the requirement
of useful knowledge; on the fact that there
is not a foot of ground beneath the Stars and
Stripes where every boy and girl, white or
black, cannot have an education to fit them
for the battle of life. Keep on, is the word
| would leave with you today. Keep on in
the effort upward, but remember tina in ac-
quiring knowledge there is one thing as i'm
portant as that, and that is character.
Nothing in the whole wide world is worth SO
much, will last so long and serve its purpose
so we'll as good character. 1t is something
that no one can take from you, that no one
can give to you. You must acquire it for
yourselves.
"There is another thing. Do not forget
the home. The homa is the foundation of
good individual life and organized govern
ment. Cultivate good homes. make them
pure and sweet elevate them, and other good
things will follow. l congratulate you that
this institution is not only looking after the
head, but after the hand L congratulate
you that it is not only making good orators,
but good mechanics. 1t is better to be
skilled mechanic than poor orator or an
Indifferent preacher. (Great applause).
In word, each of you must want to be best
in whatever you undertake. Nothing in
the world commands more respect than skill
and industry. Every avenue is open to it.
Il congratulate you upon the splendid
valor of your race. My friend, the presi
dent of your school, has made an allusion in
his speech to what many years ago L said
in public address. 1 told of white
colonel who had delivered the flag of our
country to his black color sergeant and said
to him: Sergeant, l place in your hands
this sacred flag. Fight for it. Yes, die
for it, but never surrender it to the hands
of an enemy That black soldier, with love
of country and pride in his heart. answered:
L will bring the flag back, colonel, in honor,
or report to God the reason why In one
battle, in carrying that flag OF freedom, he
was stricken down. He fell with the folds
of that flag wrapped about him, bathed IN
his blood. He did not bring it back, but
God knew the reason why. He did all
he could, all any man could do. He gave
his hearts blood for that flag. At San
Juan hill and at lei Caney-but General
Wheeler is here. (Great applause).
know he can tell you better than | can of
the splendid heroism of the black regiments
which fought side by side with the white
troops on that historic field. Mr.. Lincoln
was not far from right when, speaking of
the black man, he said: The time will come
when they will help to keep the jewel
and in a third of century since you have
helped to give liberty in Cuba to an op-
pressed people.
"I leave with you this one word, Keep
on You will solve your own problem
Be patient. Be progressive. Be honest,
be God-fearing, and you will win, for no
effort fails that has stout earnest heart
behind it."
OTHER SPEECHES
At the conclusion Of the presidents
speech "America" was sung by all present,
with possibly more vigor and spirit than
harmony. General Joseph Wheeler was in
troduced as "the hero of Santiago" He was
given an ovation which lasted for several
minutes. He spoke briefly of the hope and
glory of the country, and of the efforts
which were being made by both white and
colored people to secure educations. After
General Wheeler's speech he wa9applauded
for several minutes.
Secretary Gage also spoke. He said that
he had not fully realized, until this trip
south, that there was any such thing as a
negro problem and that it was of such wide
spread proportions. What he had seen,
however, had opened his eyes. There was
such problem, and it was very serious
one. However, the information derived by
him at Tuskeegee and the school which he
was addressing had led him to believe that
the true solution of the problem had been
found, and that it lay in the industrial ed
ucation of the colored youth on plans that
were being worked out at the institutions
named.
Returning from the college, the presiden-
tial party passed through the camp of the
Indiana regiment, which is to embark for
Cuba on the transport Minnewaska tomor-
row morning. The president graciously
wished the officers and men godspeed and
safe return.