feet high, a magnificent specimen of
physical manhood, and as chock full of moral courage as he is of blue
blood. This man left his home, declined an invitation to participate
in the Confederate corner-stone ceremonies, and devoted his birthday
anniversary to Tougaloo. Dr. Leavell is a son-in-law of United States
Senator George, of Mississippi. He is the man who delivered an address
before the Mississippi Legislature last winter, and denounced as
cowards, men who go about with pistols in their hip pockets. And when
the blank looks of amazement went round he rubbed his sentiments in on
the Mississippians and their folly, of making themselves walking
shooting galleries. Coming before the students of Tougaloo yesterday,
Dr. Leavell said:
"My interest in you, in this whole work, grows out of a memory. Your
fathers were the servants of my fathers. I remember that in 1861, when
I was a very small boy, the sound of war went through this land. My
father, kinsmen and friends went forth to battle to keep your fathers
in servitude. I remember that not a few of your fathers knew what that
war meant--that if my fathers succeeded, your fathers would be kept in
servitude forever and my fathers would remain the master class. All
the men that could protect the women and children were away. The
fathers and brothers and friends were away fighting. We were in the
power of your fathers and of some of you gray-headed people that I
see. I remember that when they returned from that war your fathers
gave back to mine the women and children without a hair of their heads
having been harmed. I have remembered this with deep gratitude; and
ever since that time I have felt a deep interest in you. It is
therefore, that I have come in response to the call to be here
to-day."
THE ONLY LOGICAL RESULT.
He proceeded at considerable length with such earnest advice as he
might have given to the assembled students of a white university on
commencement day. After a time he touched upon the special condition
which his audience presented.
"I know," said he, "of no people who have ever lived with a more
difficult problem before them. You have before you the duty of saving
yourselves. Mark what I tell you, no man of another race ever saved a
people. Some man of you, or of your race, has got to go with the
pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, and, like Moses, lead
you.
"God knows many a man of my race has given his life and service for
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