The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-19
TALKED TO coLoRED YOUTH.
PRESIDENTS VISIT TO THE INDUS
TRIAL COLLEGE.

Character as the Basis of True
Progress and PrOsperity-TOld
Them II Is Better TO he n Good
Mechanic Than "a Poor Orator or
IN Indifferent Prencber-Gen.
wheeler said the south VIII Al
ways Encourage and Applaud the
Negroes Honest Efforts to Improve.
Secretary Gage Now Realizes That
There Is Negro Problem.
in the shadow of a portrait of Abraham
Lincoln, the liberator Of the race, Presi-
dent William Mckinley yesterday after
noon gave some wholesome advice to the
students of the Georgia State Industrial
College for colored youths and their
friends.
It was plain, straightforward informal
talk from the President, one that every
one of his hearers could follow, under
stand and appreciate. He spoke slowly and
distinctly and with the evident desire to
impress upon his hearers the few thoughts
he desired to present for their benefit AS
at Tuskegee his advise was thoroughly
good and was well received. AS might
have been expected, he was received with
enthusiasm and cheered and recheered.
The President left the city at o'clock
in the afternoon in company with Gen.
Wheeler and General Chairman Purse,
while in carriages following were Secre-
tary Gage, Mrs. Gage and Mr.. Herman
Myers. and Private Secretary and Mrs.
Porter. AT the college they were met by
Mayor Meldrim, who had gone on ahead
to receive them, and by Superintendent of
Schools Ashmore and Mr. L. w. Nelson.
The auditorium of the college was
crowded with colored people, probably sew
en- hundred in all But for the fact that
it was not generally known among the
race that the President was coming, the
gathering would probably have run we'll
into the thousands. There were two pre-
Urinary addresses, an exceptionally able
address by Rev. j. J. Durham, and brief
speech of welcome from Prof. Wright. As
the President arose to speak he was Wild
~ applauded, and later when Gen. Wheel
err was called on there was similar eXhi-
bition OF feeling.
President Mckinley said yellow
citizens: 1 have been profoundly Impress
ed with this scene, and have been deep
~ touched with the eloquent words and
the exalted sentiments which have been
uttered by the Two gentlemen whom you
delegated to speak in your behalf. 1t gives
me peculiar Pleasure to meet you and to
meet you. in this institution of learning
presided over by one whom have known
for more than twenty years, and whom /
have come to admire and respect as one
of the splendid leaders of your race. l
congratulate him and all associated with
him in the good work done here for the
exaltation of your race. / congratulate
all of you on the splendid advance made
Icy you in the last third of a century. You
are entitled to all praise and to high COM
mendation, which 1 am sure you receive
from your white fellow-citizens in this
and every part of the coun-
try. / congratulate you on your
requirement of property, Many VI
your race have large properties
on the tax lists in the several states and
in that way contribute proportionately to
the support of the governments. 1 con-
| graduate you on what you have done in
learning and the requirement of useful
! knowledge, on the fact that in the United
| States there is not foot of ground be-
| meath the flag with Stars and Stripes
| where every boy and every girl, white or
| black cannot have an education to fit
| them for the battle of life. Keep on is the
| word l would leave with you to-day. Keep
| on in the efforts upward, but remember
| thing as important as that and that is
| character. Nothing in the whole wide
| world is worth so much, will last so long
and serve its possessor so well as good
| character. 1t is something that no one
can take from you, that no one can give
! to you. You must acquire 1t for yourself
There is another thing. Do not forget
| the home The home is the foundation of
good, Individual life and OF good govern
ment. Cultivate good homes, make them
pure and sweet; elevate them, and other
good things will follow. l congratuia ,e
YOU that this institution is not only look
ing after the head, but after the hand 1
congratulate you that 1t is not only max
ing good orators, but good mechanics. 1t
is better to be skilled mechanic than a
poor orator or an Indifferent preacher.
Great applause) In a word, each of you
must want to be best in whatever you
| undertake. Nothing in the world COM
mands more respect than skill and indus
Try. Every avenue is open to it.
Il congratulate you on the splendid valor
Of your race. My friend, the President,
| has made an allusion in his speech to
| what many years ago l said in a public
address. I told of a white colonel who
had delivered the flag of our country TO
| his black color sergeant and said to him:
| Sergeant, l place in your hand this sa-
| cred flag. Fight for it; yes, die for il;
| but never surrender IL to the hands of the
enemy. That black soldier with love OF
country and pride in his heart answered.
1 will bring the flag back in honor, colonel.
or report 20 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
al he could, all any man could. He gave
his hearts blood for that flag.
At San Juan hin and at lei
Caney-but Gen. Wheeler is here great
APPLAUSE; know he can tell
you better than l can of the splendid he
roism OF the black regiments which fought
side by side with the white troops on thai
historic field. MIR. Lincoln was not far
from right when, in speaking of the black
man, he said the time may come wher
they will help 10 keep the jewel of liberty
in the hands of the human race" and il
a third OF a century since you have helpe6