up from slavery-第33部分
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Three years ago； at the suggestion of Mr。 Morris K。 Jessup； of New York； and Dr。 J。L。M。 Curry； the general agent of the fund； the trustees of the John F。 Slater Fund voted a sum of money to be used in paying the expenses of Mrs。 Washington and myself while holding a series of meetings among the coloured people in the large centres of Negro population； especially in the large cities of the ex…slaveholding states。 Each year during the last three years we have devoted some weeks to this work。 The plan that we have followed has been for me to speak in the morning to the ministers； teachers； and professional men。 In the afternoon Mrs。 Washington would speak to the women alone； and in the evening I spoke to a large mass…meeting。 In almost every case the meetings have been attended not only by the coloured people in large numbers； but by the white people。 In Chattanooga； Tenn。； for example； there was present at the mass…meeting an audience of not less than three thousand persons； and I was informed that eight hundred of these were white。 I have done no work that I really enjoyed more than this； or that I think has accomplished more good。
These meetings have given Mrs。 Washington and myself an opportunity to get first…hand； accurate information as to the real condition of the race； by seeing the people in their homes； their churches； their Sunday…schools； and their places of work； as well as in the prisons and dens of crime。 These meetings also gave us an opportunity to see the relations that exist between the races。 I never feel so hopeful about the race as I do after being engaged in a series of these meetings。 I know that on such occasions there is much that comes to the surface that is superficial and deceptive； but I have had experience enough not to be deceived by mere signs and fleeting enthusiasms。 I have taken pains to go to the bottom of things and get facts； in a cold； business…like manner。
I have seen the statement made lately； by one who claims to know what he is talking about； that； taking the whole Negro race into account； ninety per cent of the Negro women are not virtuous。 There never was a baser falsehood uttered concerning a race； or a statement made that was less capable of being proved by actual facts。
No one can come into contact with the race for twenty years； as I have done in the heart of the South； without being convinced that the race is constantly making slow but sure progress materially； educationally； and morally。 One might take up the life of the worst element in New York City； for example； and prove almost anything he wanted to prove concerning the white man； but all will agree that this is not a fair test。
Early in the year 1897 I received a letter inviting me to deliver an address at the dedication of the Robert Gould Shaw monument in Boston。 I accepted the invitation。 It is not necessary for me； I am sure； to explain who Robert Gould Shaw was； and what he did。 The monument to his memory stands near the head of the Boston Common； facing the State House。 It is counted to be the most perfect piece of art of the kind to be found in the country。
The exercises connected with the dedication were held in Music Hall； in Boston； and the great hall was packed from top to bottom with one of the most distinguished audiences that ever assembled in the city。 Among those present were more persons representing the famous old anti…slavery element that it is likely will ever be brought together in the country again。 The late Hon。 Roger Wolcott； then Governor of Massachusetts； was the presiding officer； and on the platform with him were many other officials and hundreds of distinguished men。 A report of the meeting which appeared in the Boston Transcript will describe it better than any words of mine could do：
The core and kernel of yesterday's great noon meeting； in honour of the Brotherhood of Man； in Music Hall； was the superb address of the Negro President of Tuskegee。 〃Booker T。 Washington received his Harvard A。M。 last June； the first of his race；〃 said Governor Wolcott； 〃to receive an honorary degree from the oldest university in the land； and this for the wise leadership of his people。〃 When Mr。 Washington rose in the flag…filled； enthusiasm…warmed； patriotic； and glowing atmosphere of Music Hall； people felt keenly that here was the civic justification of the old abolition spirit of Massachusetts； in his person the proof of her ancient and indomitable faith； in his strong through and rich oratory； the crown and glory of the old war days of suffering and strife。 The scene was full of historic beauty and deep significance。 〃Cold〃 Boston was alive with the fire that is always hot in her heart for righteousness and truth。 Rows and rows of people who are seldom seen at any public function； whole families of those who are certain to be out of town on a holiday； crowded the place to overflowing。 The city was at her birthright fete in the persons of hundreds of her best citizens； men and women whose names and lives stand for the virtues that make for honourable civic pride。
Battle…music had filled the air。 Ovation after ovation； applause warm and prolonged； had greeted the officers and friends of Colonel Shaw； the sculptor； St。 Gaudens； the memorial Committee； the Governor and his staff； and the Negro soldiers of the Fifty…fourth Massachusetts as they came upon the platform or entered the hall。 Colonel Henry Lee； of Governor Andrew's old staff； had made a noble； simple presentation speech for the committee； paying tribute to Mr。 John M。 Forbes； in whose stead he served。 Governor Wolcott had made his short； memorable speech； saying； 〃Fort Wagner marked an epoch in the history of a race； and called it into manhood。〃 Mayor Quincy had received the monument for the city of Boston。 The story of Colonel Shaw and his black regiment had been told in gallant words； and then； after the singing of
Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the coming of the Lord；
Booker Washington arose。 It was； of course； just the moment for him。 The multitude； shaken out of its usual symphony…concert calm； quivered with an excitement that was not suppressed。 A dozen times it had sprung to its feet to cheer and wave and hurrah； as one person。 When this man of culture and voice and power； as well as a dark skin； began； and uttered the names of Stearns and of Andrew； feeling began to mount。 You could see tears glisten in the eyes of soldiers and civilians。 When the orator turned to the coloured soldiers on the platform； to the colour…bearer of Fort Wagner； who smilingly bore still the flag he had never lowered even when wounded； and said； 〃To you； to the scarred and scattered remnants of the Fifty…fourth； who； with empty sleeve and wanting leg； have honoured this occasion with your presence； to you； your commander is not dead。 Though Boston erected no monument and history recorded no story； in you and in the loyal race which you represent； Robert Gould Shaw would have a monument which time could not wear away；〃 then came the climax of the emotion of the day and the hour。 It was Roger Wolcott； as well as the Governor of Massachusetts； the individual representative of the people's sympathy as well as the chief magistrate； who had sprung first to his feet and cried； 〃Three cheers to Booker T。 Washington！〃
Among those on the platform was Sergeant William H。 Carney； of New Bedford； Mass。； the brave coloured officer who was the colour…bearer at Fort Wagner and held the American flag。 In spite of the fact that a large part of his regiment was killed； he escape； and exclaimed； after the battle was over； 〃The old flag never touched the ground。〃
This flag Sergeant Carney held in his hands as he sat on the platform； and when I turned to address the survivors of the coloured regiment who were present； and referred to Sergeant Carney； he rose； as if by instinct； and raised the flag。 It has been my privilege to witness a good many satisfactory and rather sensational demonstrations in connection with some of my public addresses； but in dramatic effect I have never seen or experienced anything which equalled this。 For a number of minutes the audience seemed to entirely lose control of itself。
In the general rejoicing throughout the country which followed the close of the Spanish…American war； peace celebrations were arranged in several of the large cities。 I was asked by President William R。 Harper； of the University of Chicago； who was chairman of the committee of invitations for the celebration to be held in the city of Chicago； to deliver one of the addresses at the celebration there。 I accepted the invitation； and delivered two addresses there during the Jubilee week。 The first of these； and the principal one； was given in the Auditorium； on the evening of Sunday； October 16。 This was the largest audience that I have ever addressed； in any part of the country； and besides speaking in the main Auditorium； I also addressed； that same evening； two overflow audiences in other parts of the city。
It was said that there were sixteen thousand persons in the Auditorium； and it seemed to me as if there were as many more on the outside trying to get in。 It was impossible for any one to get near the entrance without the aid of a policeman。 President William McKinley attended this meeting； as did also the members of his Cabinet； many foreign ministers； and a large number of army and navy officers； many of whom had distinguished themselves in the war which had just closed。 The speakers； besides myself； on Sunday evening； were Rabbi Emil G。 Hirsch； Father Thomas P。 Hodnett； and Dr。 John H。 Barrows。
The Chicago Times…Herald； in describing the meeting； said of my address：
He pictured the Negro choosing slavery rather than extinction； recalled Crispus Attucks shedding his blood at the beginning of the American Revolution； that white Americans might be free； while black Americans remained in slavery； rehearsed the conduct of the Negroes with Jackson at New Orleans； drew a vivid and pathetic picture of the Southern slaves protecting and supporting the families of their masters while the latter were fighting to perpetuate black slavery； recounted the bravery of coloured troops at Port Hudson and Forts Wagner and Pillow； and praised the heroism of the black
