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.
Pages:
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264