The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28

the candor with which they had
spoken. sat down. They were all dis
appointed. as they expected that he
would attempt 4 excuse himself of
the things they complained.
At another time at one Of the
Tuskegee farmers conferences. in 1894
] think. Gov. William G. Oates Of Ala
bama was on the programme to make
an address. and the multitude was
expecting great things OF him. He
was not a polished speaker, although
he had served n great many years In
Congress. lie was Il rough soldier.
vino had lost an arm fighting for the
Confederacy. He liked DR.. Washing
ton. however, and his ideas about the
industrial education Of the colored
people.
John {. Dancy, n college man. ~
that time Collector Of Customs at VII
m'ngton, y. G.. was 10 speak before
Gov. Oates. and ! was to follow the
latter. Mr.. Dancy is an unusually
bright and eloquent man. The W
made "A brilliant comparison between
h Puritan civilization Of New Eng
land and the Cavalier civilization OF
the South. Mr.. Dancy paid a glow
ing tribute 20 the New England men
and women who had built up the edu-
cational interest among the colored
people after the war, of which the
Hampton and Tuskegee institutes
were lasting monuments. Mr.. Dancy
had plenty of applause from the great
c%oncourse Of countrymen. but his adj
dress made Gov. Oates furious
When the Governor was called upon
To speak he showed plainly that he
was agitated out OF his self-restraint.
without any Introductory remarks
whatever, he said, as l remember it:
81 have this written address for
you" waving It at the audience. but
] Will not deliver II. want to give
you niggers a few words OF plain talk
and advice. No such address as you
have just listened TO il going to do you
niggers any good, it's going to spoil
you. You had better not listen to such
speeches, You might Just as we'll
understand that this is a white mans
country, as far AZ the South Is con-
cerned. and we are going to make you
nisgers keep your place. Understand
that. ! have nothing moro to say to
YOU"
The audience was taken aback as
much by the bluntness and vulgarity
Of the Governors address as If they
had been doused with cold water. In
dignation was everywhere visible on
the Countenances OF the people. But
DR.. Washington appeared unrutfled.
on the contrary his heavy Jaw was
hare set and his eyes danced in n
merry measure. II wa a time to keep
ones temper and wits. and he did so.
MS usual. Without b%etraying any feel
ing in the matter, and when everybody
expected him tn announce the next
speaker, he said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: am sure
You will agree with me that We have
had enough %eloquence for one occasion.
We shall listen to the next speaker at
another session. when we are not 80
tagged out. We will now rise, sing
the doXology and he dismissed"
The audience did so. but it was the
most funereal proceeding ] had ever
witnessed upon such an occasion. DR..
! Washington's imperturbahle good ma
ture alone saved the day.
After the meeting OF the Business
League. in Chicago. in August. 1904, ]
think, DIR. Washington. who was much
run down, planned to spend some
weeks in camp on the Gauley River.
In West Virginia. There were only
half a dozen in the party. AS soon as
It was noised abroad that DIR. WASH
In gton was to go into camp in the
State invitations poured In upon him
IN small M yariOia poipta in Waot VT