Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-03
THE PRESIDENT
Spends a Very Interesting Day
at New Orleans.
Addresses Colored Students at the
Southern University.
Received by Gov. Heard and Stale Officials al
Famous Cabi!dO.


in New Orleans will live long in the
memory of the President and of the
members of his party In no other
city in the United States is the old and
romantic preserved and placed in such
sharp contrast with the modern as in
the Crescent city and, today, as the
Presidential party drove through The
city from the new into the old French
and Spanish quarter il was like pass
ing mysteriously from America into n
foreign land. from this century into
another that has gone. And the illu-
| sion of the transition was heightened
! by the interesting ceremonies, which
occurred in the old Cabildo. the seat of
! the government Of the former Spanish
and French rulers, which is yet pre-
| served in its original integrity by the
Louisiana Historical Society.
The entire population apparently was
/ out To see the Chief Magistrate The
| party paid a short visit to the South
ern University. where 1900 colored stu
dents greeted the President with wav-
| ing bits Of colored bunting so arrang-
! el as to make the whole an American
| flag.
| As the President entered the grounds
of the University. he was welcomed
| with Hail to the Chief sung by a
chorus of 1000 school children and ac-
| companied by the student orchestra.
| Brief addresses were delivered by Geo.
Alexis and Ernestine NJ. Theophile
| bright pupils of the school. The Pres
ident made a felcitcus response in
which he said 10 the negro children:
Il am glad to know that all over the
| South where most of YOU dwell. the
| states have provided institutions of
learning. where everybody and every
| girl can prepare themselves for use
| fulnesS and honor under the govern
ment in which they live. The thing to-
day is the practical. What you want
| is to get education and with ii you
want good character, and with that
you want unfalterinS industry; and il
you have these three things you will
have success anywhere and every
where God bless you"
Five thousand negroes attended the
reception. among them the leading To-
cal members of the race.
The party passed across Canal and
| Rampant streets. the boundaries of the
new city into the old town with its
narrow streets, its quaint gallcried
residences, its cathedrals. old Spanish
buildings and French market all now
unfortunately going into picturesque
| decay.
There was 4 striking picture when
the party drew up before the moulder-
ing Cabil1o, over $50 years old. Around
the entire streets the balconies were
IAN.-
4 crush of people.
Drawn in line before the building
We're the young cadets from the Jesuit
college and up the winding stairways
| at the entrance of the building was
ranged the Continental Guards in the
buff and blue of the Revolutionary era.
AS the President alighted. squad of
the cadets blew Il fanfare on their
! French trumpets. the Louisiana Field
| Artillery fired a salute OF Il guns and
| the bells of the cathedral and all the
| churches pealed out their welcoming
! greeting. Up the stairway. past the
| Continental Guard. the President and
his party mounted into the crimson
| draped audience chamber where the
| exercises took place.
| -Alcte fOTtleI, pIeSlueIll VI tiie
Louisiana Historical Society, delivered
| the address and the President in his
response spoke of the memorable day.
nearly a century ago when the keys of
\ the city of New Orleans were delivered
| to Wilkinson and Claiborne. the Ameri-
can commissioners by the representa-
tlves of France. The notable speech
was received with enthusiasm by the
distinguished gathering present. When
the President appeared upon the bal
cony the cadets below presented arms.
| The applause was tremendous as the
President. an impressive figure. stood
waiting for the cheering to subside He
| acknowledged the demonstration with
| 4 bow and spoke as follows
| MY Fellow Citizens: l have great
| honor in standing on this historic
| ground, to receive the greetings OF my
country and to recall the fact that here
nearly 100 years ago great scene was
| enacted that dedicated larger area
| than the original l3 states to liberty
and union forever. applause.
The party then returned to the hotel
for luncheon and in the afternoon en-
barked On a Mississippi river steam
boat for a trip along the river 'front.'
from Audubon park to the battlefield
of Chalmette.
| The ladies of the party had remained
quietly at the hotel during the cerc-
monies of the morning but they par
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