Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-28
CLARK HOWELL'S SPEECH
OF WEI COME TO PARTY

ATHENS. Ca, April 25.-The eloquent
speech of Hon. Clark Howell welcoming
the Ogden party to the state, follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
You could have selected no more appro-
pirate place for the holding of this meet
ing than this center Of Georgia's educa-
tional system. where every environment is
hallowed by the glory of historic associa-
ton and blessed by the sacred memory
OF noble men and glorious women whose
names and deeds illumine the pages of
the history of Georgia, of the south and
of the union.
1t is not inappropriate in extending to
you in behalf of the state a cordial well
come, that 1 should also speak for Ath-
ems, for here is my alma mater, and
will ever worship at the shrine which is
still as dear to me as in the days when
1t seemed that the solar system cOursed
around the belfry of this old chapel, and
when all the world appeared to move to
the music of it's ringing chimes.
For city, therefore, as we'll as for state,
l bid welcome to this distinguished body
of men and women, gathered to deliberate
in. behalf of civilizations paramount
cause-a cause more potential in import
and more fruitful in possibility of de-
velopment than any which commands the
attention of the thinking men today. It's
purpose is the elevation and betterment
of all mankind, by the erection of bea-
cons of learning where every child. rich
and poor, may live in the light of hope,
and grow in the realization of golden OPP
portunity
This welcomed made doubly hearty in
the declared purpose of this organization
to conduct it's work along lines which
will recognize the necessities of the great
masses of the whites as well as of the
blacks, who compose our population. In
the excited rush of some of those philan-
thropically inclined to pile up funds to.
be devoted exclusively to the education
Of the negro, the struggling masses of the
whites have been too often lost sight of.
Sometimes in the very shadow of the
gilded domes of negro universities which
bespangle the armament of our southern
educational system, pitiful white children,
threadbare and footsore, have turned
their eyes appealingly for help-not only
from the friends of knowledge, but from
the state, which gives as best ii can and
which must give more and more and
still more. If it does it's duty by the help
less children who have a right to ask
and whose call the state has no right to
refuse.
1t is best to be frank in this matter of
so much Importance to our well-being.
The failure to secure heretofore the real,
sincere and practical cooperation of the
south in external educational movements
normally entitled to the very fullest sup
port and sympathy from all the people
Of the section most directly affected, has
been due to the fact that the philanthro-
py which has directed it's energy toward
the south has been expended almost ex-
clusively in the behalf of one race, over
looking the greater necessities of the 9TH
er. AS a result of this course vast ar
mics of poor white boys who could not
help themselves have been, since the civil
war, working out their own salvation
against odds which have required super
human endurance to surmount.
Thus, for the protection of their own
masses, for the making of good citizens
of those who, unaided, had neither en-
enlargement nor opportunity, the whites.
out of the very exigencies of the situa-
ton, have been forced to care more for
their own rank and file than for others
whose self-appointed guardians from
distance have rendered them less de-
pendent upon home effort in their behalf.
Notwithstanding this, the whites of tho
south have since the war, from their OWE
pockets, contributed to the cause Of
negro education s. to every 81 given from
outside sources This they have done IN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES than that cheerful
~, while carrying their own great our
dens which might have been lessened &c
the betterment of educational conditions
of both races in the south, If the restrict