up from slavery-第40部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


p　himself　calm；　patient；　and　fresh　for　each　visitor　in　the　way　that　President　McKinley　does；　I　cannot　understand。　When　I　saw　the　President　he　kindly　thanked　me　for　the　work　which　we　were　doing　at　Tuskegee　for　the　interests　of　the　country。　I　then　told　him；　briefly；　the　object　of　my　visit。　I　impressed　upon　him　the　fact　that　a　visit　from　the　Chief　Executive　of　the　Nation　would　not　only　encourage　our　students　and　teachers；　but　would　help　the　entire　race。　He　seemed　interested；　but　did　not　make　a　promise　to　go　to　Tuskegee；　for　the　reason　that　his　plans　about　going　to　Atlanta　were　not　then　fully　made；　but　he　asked　me　to　call　the　matter　to　his　attention　a　few　weeks　later。

By　the　middle　of　the　following　month　the　President　had　definitely　decided　to　attend　the　Peace　Jubilee　at　Atlanta。　I　went　to　Washington　again　and　saw　him；　with　a　view　of　getting　him　to　extend　his　trip　to　Tuskegee。　On　this　second　visit　Mr。　Charles　W。　Hare；　a　prominent　white　citizen　of　Tuskegee；　kindly　volunteered　to　accompany　me；　to　reenforce　my　invitation　with　one　from　the　white　people　of　Tuskegee　and　the　vicinity。

Just　previous　to　my　going　to　Washington　the　second　time；　the　country　had　been　excited；　and　the　coloured　people　greatly　depressed；　because　of　several　severe　race　riots　which　had　occurred　at　different　points　in　the　South。　As　soon　as　I　saw　the　President；　I　perceived　that　his　heart　was　greatly　burdened　by　reason　of　these　race　disturbances。　Although　there　were　many　people　waiting　to　see　him；　he　detained　me　for　some　time；　discussing　the　condition　and　prospects　of　the　race。　He　remarked　several　times　that　he　was　determined　to　show　his　interest　and　faith　in　the　race；　not　merely　in　words；　but　by　acts。　When　I　told　him　that　I　thought　that　at　that　time　scarcely　anything　would　go　father　in　giving　hope　and　encouragement　to　the　race　than　the　fact　that　the　President　of　the　Nation　would　be　willing　to　travel　one　hundred　and　forty　miles　out　of　his　way　to　spend　a　day　at　a　Negro　institution；　he　seemed　deeply　impressed。

While　I　was　with　the　President；　a　white　citizen　of　Atlanta；　a　Democrat　and　an　ex…slaveholder；　came　into　the　room；　and　the　President　asked　his　opinion　as　to　the　wisdom　of　his　going　to　Tuskegee。　Without　hesitation　the　Atlanta　man　replied　that　it　was　the　proper　thing　for　him　to　do。　This　opinion　was　reenforced　by　that　friend　of　the　race；　Dr。　J。L。M。　Curry。　The　President　promised　that　he　would　visit　our　school　on　the　16th　of　December。

When　it　became　known　that　the　President　was　going　to　visit　our　school；　the　white　citizens　of　the　town　of　Tuskegeea　mile　distant　from　the　schoolwere　as　much　pleased　as　were　our　students　and　teachers。　The　white　people　of　this　town；　including　both　men　and　women；　began　arranging　to　decorate　the　town；　and　to　form　themselves　into　committees　for　the　purpose　of　cooperating　with　the　officers　of　our　school　in　order　that　the　distinguished　visitor　might　have　a　fitting　reception。　I　think　I　never　realized　before　this　how　much　the　white　people　of　Tuskegee　and　vicinity　thought　of　our　institution。　During　the　days　when　we　were　preparing　for　the　President's　reception；　dozens　of　these　people　came　to　me　and　said　that；　while　they　did　not　want　to　push　themselves　into　prominence；　if　there　was　anything　they　could　do　to　help；　or　to　relieve　me　personally；　I　had　but　to　intimate　it　and　they　would　be　only　too　glad　to　assist。　In　fact；　the　thing　that　touched　me　almost　as　deeply　as　the　visit　of　the　President　itself　was　the　deep　pride　which　all　classes　of　citizens　in　Alabama　seemed　to　take　in　our　work。

The　morning　of　December　16th　brought　to　the　little　city　of　Tuskegee　such　a　crowd　as　it　had　never　seen　before。　With　the　President　came　Mrs。　McKinley　and　all　of　the　Cabinet　officers　but　one；　and　most　of　them　brought　their　wives　or　some　members　of　their　families。　Several　prominent　generals　came；　including　General　Shafter　and　General　Joseph　Wheeler；　who　were　recently　returned　from　the　Spanish…American　war。　There　was　also　a　host　of　newspaper　correspondents。　The　Alabama　Legislature　was　in　session　in　Montgomery　at　this　time。　This　body　passed　a　resolution　to　adjourn　for　the　purpose　of　visited　Tuskegee。　Just　before　the　arrival　of　the　President's　party　the　Legislature　arrived；　headed　by　the　governor　and　other　state　officials。

The　citizens　of　Tuskegee　had　decorated　the　town　from　the　station　to　the　school　in　a　generous　manner。　In　order　to　economize　in　the　matter　of　time；　we　arranged　to　have　the　whole　school　pass　in　review　before　the　President。　Each　student　carried　a　stalk　of　sugar…cane　with　some　open　bolls　of　cotton　fastened　to　the　end　of　it。　Following　the　students　the　work　of　all　departments　of　the　school　passed　in　review；　displayed　on　〃floats〃　drawn　by　horses；　mules；　and　oxen。　On　these　floats　we　tried　to　exhibit　not　only　the　present　work　of　the　school；　but　to　show　the　contrasts　between　the　old　methods　of　doing　things　and　the　new。　As　an　example；　we　showed　the　old　method　of　dairying　in　contrast　with　the　improved　methods；　the　old　methods　of　tilling　the　soil　in　contrast　with　the　new；　the　old　methods　of　cooking　and　housekeeping　in　contrast　with　the　new。　These　floats　consumed　an　hour　and　a　half　of　time　in　passing。

In　his　address　in　our　large；　new　chapel；　which　the　students　had　recently　completed；　the　President　said；　among　other　things：

To　meet　you　under　such　pleasant　auspices　and　to　have　the　opportunity　of　a　personal　observation　of　your　work　is　indeed　most　gratifying。　The　Tuskegee　Normal　and　Industrial　Institute　is　ideal　in　its　conception；　and　has　already　a　large　and　growing　reputation　in　the　country；　and　is　not　unknown　abroad。　I　congratulate　all　who　are　associated　in　this　undertaking　for　the　good　work　which　it　is　doing　in　the　education　of　its　students　to　lead　lives　of　honour　and　usefulness；　thus　exalting　the　race　for　which　it　was　established。

Nowhere；　I　think；　could　a　more　delightful　location　have　been　chosen　for　this　unique　educational　experiment；　which　has　attracted　the　attention　and　won　the　support　even　of　conservative　philanthropists　in　all　sections　of　the　country。

To　speak　of　Tuskegee　without　paying　special　tribute　to　Booker　T。　Washington's　genius　and　perseverance　would　be　impossible。　The　inception　of　this　noble　enterprise　was　his；　and　he　deserves　high　credit　for　it。　His　was　the　enthusiasm　and　enterprise　which　made　its　steady　progress　possible　and　established　in　the　institution　its　present　high　standard　of　accomplishment。　He　has　won　a　worthy　reputation　as　one　of　the　great　leaders　of　his　race；　widely　known　and　much　respected　at　home　and　abroad　as　an　accomplished　educator；　a　great　orator；　and　a　true　philanthropist。


The　Hon。　John　D。　Long；　the　Secretary　of　the　Navy；　said　in　part：

I　cannot　make　a　speech　to…day。　My　heart　is　too　fullfull　of　hope；　admiration；　and　pride　for　my　countrymen　of　both　sections　and　both　colours。　I　am　filled　with　gratitude　and　admiration　for　your　work；　and　from　this　time　forward　I　shall　have　absolute　confidence　in　your　progress　and　in　the　solution　of　the　problem　in　which　you　are　engaged。

The　problem；　I　say；　has　been　solved。　A　picture　has　been　presented　to…day　which　should　be　put　upon　canvas　with　the　pictures　of　Washington　and　Lincoln；　and　transmitted　to　future　time　and　generationsa　picture　which　the　press　of　the　country　should　spread　broadcast　over　the　land；　a　most　dramatic　picture；　and　that　picture　is　this：　The　President　of　the　United　States　standing　on　this　platform；　on　one　side　the　Governor　of　Alabama；　on　the　other；　completing　the　trinity；　a　representative　of　a　race　only　a　few　years　ago　in　bondage；　the　coloured　President　of　the　Tuskegee　Normal　and　Industrial　Institute。

God　bless　the　President　under　whose　majesty　such　a　scene　as　that　is　presented　to　the　American　people。　God　bless　the　state　of　Alabama；　which　is　showing　that　it　can　deal　with　this　problem　for　itself。　God　bless　the　orator；　philanthropist；　and　disciple　of　the　Great　Masterwho；　if　he　were　on　earth；　would　be　doing　the　same　workBooker　T。　Washington。


Postmaster　General　Smith　closed　the　address　which　he　made　with　these　words：

We　have　witnessed　many　spectacles　within　the　last　few　days。　We　have　seen　the　magnificent　grandeur　and　the　magnificent　achievements　of　one　of　the　great　metropolitan　cities　of　the　South。　We　have　seen　heroes　of　the　war　pass　by　in　procession。　We　have　seen　floral　parades。　But　I　am　sure　my　colleagues　will　agree　with　me　in　saying　that　we　have　witnessed　no　spectacle　more　impressive　and　more　encouraging；　more　inspiring　for　our　future；　than　that　which　we　have　witnessed　here　this　morning。


Some　days　after　the　President　returned　to　Washington　I　received　the　letter　which　follows：

Executive　Mansion；　Washington；　Dec。　23；　1899。

Dear　Sir：　By　this　mail　I　take　pleasure　in　sending　you　engrossed　copies　of　the　souvenir　of　the　visit　of　the　President　to　your　institution。　These　sheets　bear　the　autographs　of　the　President　and　the　members　of　the　Cabinet　who　accompanied　him　on　the　trip。　Let　me　take　this　opportunity　of　congratulating　you　most　heartily　and　sincerely　upon　the　great　success　of　the　exercises　provided　for　and　entertainment　furnished　us　under　your　auspices　during　our　visit　to　Tuskegee。　Every　feature　of　the　programme　was　perfectly　executed　and　was　viewed　or　participated　in　with　the　heartiest　satisfaction　by　every　visitor　present。　The　unique　exhibition　which　you　gave　of　your　pupils　engaged　in　their　industrial　vocations　was　not　only　artistic　but　thoroughly　impressive。　The　tribute　paid　by　the　President　and　his　Cabinet　to　your　work　was　none　too　high；　and　forms　a　most　encouraging　augury；　I　think；　for　the　future　prosperity　of　your　institution。　I　cannot　close　without　assuring　you　that　the　modesty　shown　by　yourself　in　the　exercises　was　most　favourably　commented　upon　by　all　the　members　of　our　party。

With　best　wishes　for　the　continued　advance　of　your　most　useful　and　patriotic　undertaking；　kind　personal　regards；　and　the　compliments　of　the　season；　believe　me；　always；

Very　sincerely　yours；

John　Addison　Porter；

Secretary　to　the　President。

To　President　Booker　T。　Washington；　Tuskegee　Normal　and　Industrial　Institute；　Tuskegee；　Ala。



Twenty　years　have　now　passed　since　I　made　the　first　humble　effort　at　Tuskegee；　in　a　broken…down　shanty　and　an　old　hen…house；　without　owning　a　dollar's　worth　of　property；　and　with　but　one　teacher　and　thirty　students。　At　the　presen