The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-25

was to give "tiis Impressions of this
Conference"
Or. Abbott Is a striking figure. When
he came forward. prolonged applause
greeted him.
hospitality of Richmond. From the mo-
ment the visitors reached the city Until
the present, they had been recipients OF
n hospitality which knew no bounds. It
was we'll, he said, that the president
warned them not to give way to the de-
lights OF being entertained at the neglect
OF the conference.
He had been seruck with the eloquence
OF Americans. He had been convinced j,
of this during the present conference.
He referred to the addresses OF DR.. Chas.
w. Dabney DR.. st. Clair McKelway. DR..
Francis g. Peabody. Prof. P. P, Claxton
and others. He said that DR.. McKelway's
tribute to Jackson and Lee brought tears
to his eyes. They of the North were
mention of DR.. McKelwaya name was
received with great applause. He had
greatly enjoyed the address OF Prof. Pea
body and when he was telling story he
wanted him to keep on preaching.
DR.. Abbott saw in this conference the
solution and settlement OF the Great ques-
ton which was discussed at the con-
ference two years ago at Wnston-salein.
N. c. Should the Negro be Educated7"
Now 1t was answered by all in tho at
firmative.
The Suffrage Question.
On the suffrage question. DR.. Abbott
said:
ut has been sometime suggested, by
no member of this conference to NE,
that some topics OF discussion had better
be avoided In such n gathering as this.
: 11,,a bo,, haf m
in this country, North or South, desires
speaker to- speak anything but his
sincere convictions. We are beginning
to learn, North and South, that suffrage
is perrogatiev and duty. rather than
a right. We are beginning to learn.
North ss we'll as South, that manhood
suffrage means manhood first and suf-
frage afterwards. We are beginning to
learn in the North, what it seeing to me
ought always TO have been an axiom,
that no man has right to govern MS
neighbor who has not the Intelligence
and the conscience to govern himself.
(Applause).
learning on the part OF the North. 1t 1s,
and 1t Is not If there was any man
in the North who had the right to be
called a friend Of the negro. II there was
any man in the North known as an UNI
compromising opponent OF slavery. II
there was any man In the North who
stirred the heart OF the North before
the war and was brave and resolute
throughout the war. it was Henry Ward
Beecher
What Beecher Said.
"In 1865. two months after the assas-
sinatton of President Lincoln and four
months before the reconstruction meas
ures were brought before Congress
(Which some of us in the North as many
OF you in the South wish had never
been adopted), Henry Ward Beech
er said: AN the laws In the world
cannot lift n man higher than the natu-
raj forces put him. You can pass laws
saying that the colored men are your
equals, but unless you can make them
thoughtful, self-respecting. intelligent.
unless, In short. you can make them what
you say they have right to be. these
laws will be In vain. I am satisfied that
while we ought to claim for the colored
man the right of the elective franchise.
you will never be able to secure 1t and
maintain it for him except by making
him SO Intelligent that men cannot deny
1t to him (Applause).
az wish that all OF the North had
agreed with Henry Ward Eeechar and
Abraham Lincoln that those propositions
were true, and i should like to print
them and put them in every colored
SCnOOi-nOuSe IN |tHe oCuSli Will ZIG
Of Henry Ward Beecher ut their foot.
Address Loudly Applauded.
The thought which DR. Abbott sought
in conclusion to drive homo was the iden-
THY In result sought by education and re-
ugion He could be heard distinctly In
every part Of the house, and the house
ranE and resounded with applause OF ap-
proval when he had concluded.
The few remaining moments OF the
session were taken up In announcements
by President Ogden. He put the resolu-
lions of the Committee Of Resolutions,
thanking the people OF Richmond for
their courtesies to a vote, and they were
adopted with a will. .-.a.s
The session conference at Richmond
closed with an earnestly delivered bene-
diction by Bishop w. N. McVickar. OF
| Providence. r. l.
Reception at the Governors.
Immediately after adjournment the
members of the conference were given a
| reception at the Executive Mansion by Ills
| Excellency, Governor Montague, and his
| wife Many OF the visitors went to the
| mansion, and delightful hour was spent
| in n social way the Governor and Mrs.
| Montague establishing themselves forever
as model hosts. Many friendships have
been formed during this meeting here
which will last lifetime, and they were
sealed, never to be broken, at this social
agHE#ssa71E2R1
1 + 3 T r T ri 1fa