Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-17
AT TUsKEGEE INSTITUTE.
Procession of PupiIs With Sugar
cane, Cofton-BniIs, and Mistletoe.

| cane, COttOn-Bnfls, and Mtstietoc.
| TUSKEGEE. ALA. December l6.-Pres-
| ident Mckinley today visited the Tus-
| kegee Normal School and addressed its
pupils TWO hours before the President :
! train reached here special brought the
| members or the Alabama Legislature
| and a large crowd from Montgomery.
A procession formed at Tuskegee depot,
| and marched through the city on its way
| to the school.
The Presidents carriage was drawn by
| four beautiful bays. In the carriage with
the President were Governor Johnston,
| OF Alabama: Colonel Foster, of Tuskegee,
and Booker r. Washington. In the other
carriage were Mrs. Mckinley and other
| ladies OF the Presidents party, members
| OF the Cabinet and Generals Wheeler,
| Shafter, and IAwton.
ARCH OF WELCOME
At the entrance to the normal school
grounds was q beautiful arch inscribed
"weloome to the Chief" and decorations
| of bunting. holly. and moss. and products
! OF the field were scattered in profuson
along the road through the grounds.
The President and party first reviewed
more than six hundred boys and three
hundred girls of the normal school, and
two hundred children Of the training
school.
Each Of the boys carried stalk Of
sugar-cane with a palm in the top. and
each of the girls Il stalk with cotton bolls
at the top. and the children carried stalks
tipped with mistletoe.
PRESIDENT INTERESTED.
President Mckinley showed much in
terest and pleasure as with uncovered
head he viewed the procession. After the
students had passed, there came some
fifty floats, representing all departments
Of the school work
After the procession, all followed the
President To the beautiful chapel. About
three thousand people gained admittance
Here singing by the students of planta-
tion melodies, the most quaint and beau
tiful of the Black-Belt section, was
special feature, and was greatly enjoyed
by the President and the entire audience
WASHINGTON INTRODUCES GOV
ERNOR JOHNSTON.
Booker r. Washington, the principal. in
troduced Governor Johnston. He said:
ION this occasion do not trust myself
to give expression 10 the feelings that
iii the heart OF every white man and
men Of the South because Of the fact
who has the deepest place in the heart
Of every citizen. high and low; the mem
bers Of his Cabinet the Governor of Ala
bama, and the State Legislature. to-
gether with other distinguished citizens,
including our own brave and gOod-hearted
General Joe Wheeler should lay aside
their immediate duties and responsible
ties, to pay visit TO the town Of Tus-
kegee and TO this institution.
I'VE welcome you all 10 this spot.
where. without racial bitterness, but with
smiles and friendship. with the aid of
the State. black men and white men.
with southern help and northern help. We
are trying to assist the nation in working
out one of sthe greatest problems ever
given to men to solve.
ACTN'r. SOUTHERN AID.
"In the presence Of the Chief Magistrate
Of the nation, | am glad 10 testify that
in our efforts to teach our people to put
brains and skill and dignity into the COM
mon occupations Of life, We have not
only the active help Of all classes Of cit
izens in the little town OF Tuskegee, but
of the best people Of the South.
said our present Governor, I'm his re-
cent message TO the Legislature: Every
dollar given to the cause of education
becomes invested capital that cannot be-
lost or destroyed. but that will continue
To pay dividends from one generation TO
another
These are the words. This is the
spirit that governs the action of the pres
ent Governor Of Alabama. and | am sure
that no one can more fifty welcome our
distinguished guest to the State than
Governor Johnston, whom / take great
pleasure in introducing"
THE pRESTDE.N1vS SpE-If,u
Governor Johnston introduced the presi-
dent, who delivered an address, as fol-
lows:
Teachers and Pupils of Tuskegee.- TO
meet you under such pleasant auspices
and TO have the opportunity of a per
sonal observation of your work is in
deed. most gratifying The Tuskegee Nor
NAL and Industrial Institute is ideal I'm
conception, and has already a large ana
growing reputation In the country. and
Is not unknown abroad. | congratulate
all who are connected with this under
taking for the good work which IL Is do
ing in the education Of its students 10
lead lives of usefulness and honor thus
eXalting the race for which it was estab-
lished.
LOCATION OF INSTITUTE.
Nowhere, think. could more de-
this unique educational experiment,
which has attracted the attention and !
won the support even Of conservative |
philanthropists, in all sections of the |
40 speak Of 'Tuskegee' without paying |
special tribute to Booker T. Washing
tons genius and perseverance would be- |
impossible. The inception of this noble |
enterprise was his, and he deserves high |
credit for it. His was the enthusiasm |
and enterprise which made it's steady |
progress possible and established I'm the |
institution its present high standard of |
accomplishment. he has won a worthy |
reputation az one of the great leaders OF |
his race. widely known and much re- |
spected at home and abroad, as an ac-
educator, good orator and |
astrue philanthropist
LIKES PROGRESSIVE POLICY.
zone thing / like about this institution |
is that it's policy has been generous and |
Ii is not so self-centered or |
interested In Its own pursuits and ambi- |
tions as TO ignore what Is going on in the |
rest OF the country, or make IL difficult |
for outsiders TO share the local advan- |
tages l allude especially 70 the spirit |
In which the annual conferences have !
been here held by leading colored citi- |
zens and educators with the Intention OF |
improving the condition OF their less for |
tunate brothers and sisters. Here, We |
can see. IL an immense field ana one which |
cannot too soon or too carefully be uul- |
lied.
"An evidence OF the soundness OF the |
purpose o. this institution l. that those J
in charge OF its managem. M evidently |
do not believe In attempting the unattain-
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