Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME V.
GOV. A. H. COLQUITT
AT CHAUTAUQUA.
NORTH ANI) SOUTH CLASP HANDS.
ChavUitiqna (X. Y.) Amrmbly Herald.
bishop foster's address.
Bishop Foster, of Boston, then said:
Four Excellency, Governor Colquitt: —l
am asked on behalf of this large assembly
to speak some woids of welcome, and yet
I cannot refrain from the feeling, nor can
you, that words are unnecessary. The i
first moment you appeared upon this
platform you were hailed with acclaim by
all this assembly, and you have not ap
peared in any part of this ground without
the evidence of the utmost admiration
and cordial welcome of the people, and
yet your friends have deemed that some
formality of reception was necessary. You
will excuse me for addressing you per
sonally. The Chautauqua assembly is
recognized at once by every person, as
soon as he steps upon this ground, as a
peculiar institution.
The atmosphere of this place is signifi
cant. It is cosmopolitan, and the very
first impression made upon any observer
in coming into these grounds, and ascend
ing the platform and speaking to this as
sembly, is that fact, that it is a Btrictly
cosmopolitan place and assembly. There
is nothing in it sectional, nothing in it
local, nothing sectarian, nothing narrow
or restricted. In this assembly are citizens
from all the States, members of all the
churches, distinguished ministers of all
denominations, and yet, after waiting
together for days and weeks, we part
without knowing exactly who we are or to
what we belong, in so marked a degree is
this a national or world gathering. [Ap
plause.] It is th s fact that gives signifi
cance to this welcome. It is not the
welcome of the North to a distinguished
Southern gentleman and Statesman. It
is not the welcome of one section of the
country to a citizen of another section of
tbe country, but it is the welcome of a
nation's gathering to a nation's citizen.
[Applause.] This assembly differs from
all other assemblies that 1 have visited in
ray public life for forty years. It is not
like the old -fashioned camp meeting where
people of a peculiar locality or particular
section gather together, specifically, for
religious purposes, for evangelism, for
building themselves up in faith, for re
claiming and recovering their brothers
and their children and their husbands
and their parents from sin to
practices of holiness; and yet it is charac
teristically a religious assembly. The
atmosphere of the place is fragrant with
heavenly incense, and yet there is no
particular religious enthusiasm, no par
ticular means or instrumentality made
use of to promote special present religious
ends. Nor is it like the conventions of
the day, r.or like the fashionable resorts
of the wealthy, who have their places for
elegant leisure and for easy and pleasant
amusement by which to while away time
—rather to kill it for a season—nor yetis
it an invalid resort where health is to lie
restored. It is an assemblage of thought
ful, earnest, studious minds in pursuit of
truth; earnest for the acquisition of
knowledge. The distinctions which are
given to men in this place are distinctions
because of some service that they have
rendered the race, or which they are
supposed to be capable of rendering to
the studious or thoughtful audience that
gathers here at early morning and remains
until late at night for twenty days. There
is not tbe like of it anywhere, so far as I
am informed, or my observation has ex
tended, either in our own nation or any
other Christian nation, or any other nation
upon the face of the globe. An assembly
of old men, men whose heads are covered
with the frosts of many winters, and young
men, matrons and maidens, all emulating
each other in strenuous, earnest study,
while they are on this ground, and carry
ing away with them inspirations that spur
them in their activity until another year—
until they return to this Mecca of their
love and of their admiration. [Applause.]
It is this that gives significance to the
welcome your excellency receives from
this applauding audience. There is no
political significance in this gathering, or
in this hour. It is not because of even
the political distinction, which our guest
has honorably and houestly won for him
self; it is not because he has attained to
the honorable position of governor of one
of the great States of this union that you
accord to him this magnificent welcome.
It is indeed a high distinction; you re
cognize it. Were he simply a private
fie StunmtfttiUe #alette
citizen it might not have been accorded
to him, and yet it was not because of this
distinction that you are here to render
him this honor and this welcome. In this
assembly, your excellency, the only pass
port to esteem and respectability and re
spect is that of an honorable and noblo
character, wrought into a useful and holy
life. [Great Applause.] There are in
this assembly many presidents of colleges
who have high positions in the educational
work of the country. There are professors
whose renown is not confined to this
country, but extends over tbe whole world.
There are ministers who have received
the highest positions in the churches
they represent. There are brains here
that arc impressing the nations and the
ages, and this assembly has teamed to
attach no importance, except as men
deserve it, because of their individual
worth. Lkpplause.] You are welcomed
here because of your personal excellence,
because ol your private character, because
of what we have learned of you as a hus
band, as a father, as a citizen, as a Chris
tian, even more than the fact that you are
a governor of the distinguished State
over which you preside. [Applause ]
And without detaining this audience, or
feeling that I have the right further to
trespass upon its time, I am here to utter
its voice, and to welcome you in the name
of Chautauqua; in the name of all its
ministers, in the name of all those
educated gentlemen; on behalf of all these
ladies and gentlemen, old and young, and
the children of the assembly. lam here
to welcome you to our hearts and homes,
expressing the hope that this union which
we here enjoy may be the type of the
permanent and abiding and unchangeable
union of these States, and of the hearts
of this nation. [Tremendous applause.]
QOV. COLQUITT 8 REPLY.
Governor Colquitt then said:
Fellow Citizens: —I dare to speak to
you as such to-day. [Applause.] Itwould
be a shocking insensibility if I did not (eel
a profound sense of thankfulness, as well
as of humi'.ito, at the welcome which has
been extended to uie this day. I thank
you, sir, (turning to Dr. Vincent) that
you ever put it into my heart to come
Chautauqua. I thank you, sir, as an
honored representative (Gov. f’attcrson)
for your cordial woids of welcome. I
thank yon, Reverend Bishop Foster, that
from a Christian heart and from a sancti
fied spirit you bid me feel welcome in this
strange land. [Applause ] But lam no
stranger here. 1 shall never (eel that 1
am a stranger anywhere where I can find
the faces of these beloved friends and
brethren who met rue, not only in the
formal ceremonies of an international
Sunday school convention, but in the
unity of the spirit and in the bond of
peace- [Applause.] I have been drawn
from my far distant southern home by the
wonderful tidings which have reached us
of your labors npon this spot, and the
sublime spirit of Christian love which has
inspired thera. In my own section we
have nothing like this. Our main depend
ence is not so much npon associated effort
as upon the pulpit and upon the press.
Heretofore our peculiar sociology scat
tered and isolated those of our people who
would naturally lead in all reformatory
and advancing ideas. Since last April,
the period to which you refer (turning to
Dr. Vincent) I have Lad, and no have
thousands in my own section, anew
revelation of the power and possibilities
of organixed affort. [Applauao.] A
sparse population distributed OV6r im
mense areas is not easily marshaled, and
the benefits that may he expected in a
good work from meeting face to face, and
having countenance to sharpen couuteu
ance, hare not for the most part marked
our endeavors in the interest of great
moral reforms. For ail this we are ap
prehensive, and we know that we do not
break that circuit of joyous and Christian
sympathy that girdles this sin-smitten
earth. [Applause.] We give you such
cheer and such greeting as spring from
hearts which rejoice at the coming of the
Master’s kingdom, and claim kinship with
all who are laboring to advance it. [Ap
plause.] The voice from the South, which
I feel I may be commissioned to speak in
this presence, is that there is need all
over these States for a higher, purer,
more elevated standard of morality and
religion, and that there is need of a more
profound and universal feeling of fraterni
ty. [Great applause.] Whatever may be
the objects of this university, of this in
stitution, of this assembly, for I assure
you, my friends, I am at a great loss to
know whst it is; but whatever it is,
[laughter and applause] but whate-ei it
is—and I suppose the mysteries of it I
may be able to fathom before I leave—
whatever it is, I am assured of this fact,
SUMMERVILLE, GEORG
that the spirit of love and of the Master
is with it. [ Enthusiastic applause. ] The
purest and the best men in this country
are everywhere deploring chc signs of otir
decadenco. The elders of our Israel,
these venerable fathers, are turning their
eyes mournfully to tho past, and con
trasting the better days of their youth
with theday of the present, with its strife,
its struggles, its hazards, its losses, its
confusion and its corruption. Without
any attempt to evade or to apologize for
any particular agency that tho section of
the country with which I am associated
may have had in bringing about these
results, the inquiry which l bring to you
from the South is this: “What is the
matter?’’ What sin have we committed,
what have wo done, what have we failed
to do, that the sun of peace and of pros
perity does not shine throughout this
country without a cloud? Fellow-citizens,
as far as I am known—not by any means
as generally as tho loving partiality of my
beloved brother here would say—l have
been thought to be a preacher. Well, I
am not a preacher. lam not ordained in
any sense—not even an exhortcr. No
quarterly conference has passed upon me.
If I were one, 1 would not be ashamed to
confess it in the midst of this multitude
of people here to-duy. Ido not believe
that there is a higher calling, or a higher
mission, for any man upon the earth than
to have the authority of the A'mighty to
go forth to the world to do good in His
name, and to preach His word as an am
bassador. [Applause. | Ar.d, sir, lot mo
say just hero in response to your very kind
welcome, (addressing Bishop Foster,) it
would have been of but very little worth
if this had been purely a party cr political
demonstration; if this had been merely a
ceremonial, coldly stiff and formal. But,
sir, when 1 am received into the bosom of
a large audience like this it touches my
heart; when tbe hand is extended and it
is raid to me: “God bless you, sir.’’ “Wc
welcome you, sir.” “We love you, sir."
(Applause.] Dr. Vincent has said some
things to mo sines I have been here, and
before I eame here. I think I may just
as well open my heart about it now.
[Laughter and applause.] I am a little
afraid, 100. There has beon so much of
science, so much of learning, so much of
logic, so much that addresses itself to the
intellect of thoso people, that I do not
know what may be the criticisms that
shall be passed if I shall be free to do as
you told me. I said, just now, I was no
preacher, and I said it for a purpose. 1
am here as a plain, humble layman in the
church of Christ, struggling to make my
way out of this world to a better, and
spreading my sails to catch every breeze
that may waft me into the haven. Do
not think, then, that I indulge in sermon
izing when I say to you that there is a
purpose and an object that may bo aimed
at and reached by this Chautauqua as
sembly—by this assembly of good men
and women—beyond what l have heard
alluded to, even in the eloquent remarks
of the gentleman who spoke from tho
stand here this morning. Now, doctor,
(addressing Dr. Vincent) you know that
you told me this: that when J came up
here that I need not be afraid, [laughter]
and that if I had anything to say, to say
it; to speak fiom my heart. [Applause,]
Well, I am going to do it, and risk the
consequences. [Applause.] Looking over
the varied interests of this great country;
knowing and feeling how it is that we
have been divided and severed, conscious
o! the bad passions that have existed in
the rnindo of men, having every day re
vealed to my own eyes the consequences
cf alienation of sentiment among the
people that are tho citizon:: of a common
country, I have looked forward day after
day, and week after week, with the hope
that the clarion ofpeace might be sounded
arid that the storm might be lulled for
ever. [Great applause.] Will it be done?
(Voices —Yes, yes.] My Christian
friends, if it is left for you to decide the
matter it will be done. [Applause.] If it
is left to politicians, if it is left to am
biguous demagogues, in any section of
the country, take my word for it to-day,
that this strife, this bitterness, this con
fusion, this alienation of sections will con
tinue until their political fate is doomed.
[Applause.] But, sir, what is the re
sponse of Christian hearts? It is not
cant. I believe solemnly that the sol ition
of this problem of the restoration of har
mony to the sections of this country is to be
found in the spirit and teachings of the
Lord Jesus Christ. [Applause.] We
mils* as Christians and as statesmen rise
to kite recogni'ion of the overmastering
fact that this union must be a ligament of
love. The broad realms of history are
full of instruction. Our own national ex
periences furnish timely and valuable ad-
A, SEPTEMBER 5, 1878.
monition. The gospel of love is tbe I
statesmanship for severed and estranged '
sections. [Applause.] Tho philosophy
of true and permanent reconciliation is
kindness. Apply it to tbe relationship of
the sections and all the sectional difficul
ties will disappear, the rule of passion
will end, the trickery of the demagogue
will be powerless, the love of country will
bo permanent, pride of nationality will be
restored, and we shad have a pure, happy,
and virtuous people. [Applause,] Lei
tho national union typify a Christian
union and bo its synonym. Shall it bo
so? There were somo voices that re
sponded, “\ T os, yes." Well, now, my
friends, I hope it is so, and that this
sentiment is cordially assented to by
everybody that is here. But whether it
be or not, tho timo is coming. You may
stand off, you may hesitate, you may
doubt, you may think it is coming together
upon a basis at last where there is no real
harmony, you may think all of that, but
I tell you that behind you there is a
stronger and more beautiful and more
hopeful power ; there is an army coming on
that will spoak to t.hoso elements of strife;
these seven millions of young spirits all
over this laud of Sunday schools will win
trophies of love, peace and happiness for
this distressed country. [Greatapp.ause.]
I join hands with these children here to
day. I have hope for the future. I
have hope for the country as long as
yeu instill into the minds of the children
of the land such precepts as I know they
learn in these meetings here that are set
apart for their training. Khali wc not all
join it? Is there any reason why anybody
should hesitate? Thank you, my beloved
bishop. I know the spirit that actuates
your own heart, and if this spirit hail pre
vailed for years past, long ago we would
have had peace. We ail remember how
it was that Christ was invited upon a
vessel. And He went and laid Himself
down, and, wearied and overcome with
labor, and with the responsibility and with
anxiety, Ho fell asleep. And the great
wind arose and there was a great storm on
the sea, and the disciples ran to him cry
ing, "Master, shall we all perish?" He
rr.ke, and amidst flft thunders and tho
lightnings and the beating winds and the
threatened ship and tlw torn sails, stand
ing upon the dock he raised his hand and
cried out, “I’eace, be still." Tbe spirit
of Christianity has been aboard our Ship
of State, but I fear that it has been sail
ing with its head upon a pillow, and
asleep. Let us be aroused; and let a
voice that shall he heard all over this land
go forth from this sacred spot anil rise up
in the midst of the tumult and of the
storm, let this Christian spirit cry out to
the whole country, “Peace, bo still.”
[Applause.] I should feel that having
traveled a thousand miles I had not
traveled in vain if I had satisfied you, my
friends, of my sincerity and of my con
victions, and that in giving you this I but
give you something of what is felt by my
own people. And this very day, and f
dare say, at this very hour, they are
listening to the voices that shailgo up from
this assembly here at Chautauqua. But
whether they hear it or not, I do not
know of any nows that I could carry that
would lie more joyful. Ido not know of
anything that would give more joy to my
own heart than tbe favorable responses of
this assembly. I felt enraptured tills
morning at the description of heaven, and
if I should bo fortunate enough to
struggle through the temptations of this
world and reach it at last, I feel it would
be a grand day, and a grand day for every
one of' us. But Ido not know but that
next to the joys of heaven, of that better
world whole there is peaoe, peace, peace
forever, it would be to have a response
f'rom this vast multitude, and from this
region of the State of New York —a llep
resentative region of the entire country
a response to be borne back to the South,
poor and suffering as she is, humbly look
ing for the day of restoration and of re
pose, of quiet and peace, to bear buck to
them and say that in the presenoo of a
throng such as you rarely witness, in, the
presence of men of intelligence and of
character, in the presence of divines, of
preachers, and of scientists, that there was
a universal response that I should bear to
my people: “Fear no longer, God
Almighty is our God, our Lord is judge,
and we worship Him, and His peace shail
prevail.”
A Voice—l move that the Chautauqua
“university” grant Governor Colquitt a
license to preach, and that Bishop Fos
ter ordain him. [Laughterandapplause.]
Gov. Colquitt—Well, sir, I know what
a Methodist itinerant preacher’s life is. I
do not know but that with my worldly sort
of spirit I should have to consult with
Bishop Foster to know what kind of a
station he is going to send me to. This
getting up upon a horse that Ims been
worn out at tho plow, with a worn-out
saddle, and a pair of saddle-bags worn out
at one end, and all his clothes, Bible and
liymn book in the other, riding over the
mountains here and there, with a very
poor little pittance in his purso, and then
have tho brethren raise the money to put
him on his way again. Don’t put me in
that attitude, if you please, just now.
[Laughter.] After all, if I was really
baptized with the Spirit, and was called to
boa preacher, I am not very sure but
what tho very best training school I
could have would bo in just such a field
as that. So l say, sir, if you arc going
to give me a placo, and L were consecrated
I believe l will take the saddlo-bag, where
1 can ride out about the country, and
over the mountains, and to the quarterly
meeting. And it would be refreshing,
when I get there, to find a writer with an
old fashioned sun bonnet on, and an aged
brother with a worn out hymn book.
It. won’t altor thorn if their voices arc a
little worn, and they do not pronounce all
the words just right—they sing from the
heart and woep as they sing. I have no
doubt, there are many people hero who
will think this a curious sort of an address
to come from a governor. “Why, I ex
pected that he was going to get up there
with his noteH before him, and that ho
was going to lay down a broad platform
of first, and secondly, and thirdly,
and fourthly, and lastly, and finally,
[laughterj and wind up, probably with a
discussion something of political economy,
of the autonomy of state, of finances, of
panics, of strikes, of apprehensions and
foars with regard to the future.” Well,
there might be times when upon such
topics as these I might addressan assembly
but it is a great delight to turn away; it
is a great relief to uie to get out of the
dust and mire of such mat ter as that, and
rise up into that purer and holier atmos
phere where Christians ait and sing and
pray in onion. A word or two as to my
own State, it may be expected. There
have been at least forty counties within
the last fifty days that have held Hnnduy
sehool mass meetings, where the people
go out irom one extreme corner of the
county to the other extreme in wagons,
horse-back, and buggies, and carriages,
and walking, and in every conceivable
method by which they can reach their
destination; carrying their picnic baskets,
and their peaches and their watermelons
and their confectionary. These convoca
tions, in these counties, have been the
largest that have over been held in onr
State. The largest political meetings that
have ever been held in our State, when
party struggle ran the highest, never were
able to command so many families as the
announcement that there would be a
general Sunday school mass meeting in
grove. [Applause.] And while there was
a little awakening in this lino last year I
wish lo say to these my brethren of the
Sunday school convention, whom I met
iri Atlanta, for their encouragement,
much of this recent revival upon this
question has been duo to the influence
that grew out of the meeting in the city
of Atlanta of these good men. And
hence we thank you again. From the
bottom of our hearts, we thank you. [Ap
plause.] It is to be supposed that men
who came among us there to look after
our children, and to help save our children
that we would not receive them heartily
and cordially and warmly into our hearts.
You said, my dear doctor, that those
friends boro away a great deal of love for
me. Sir, it drew tears to my eyes to
hear the announcement. Let mo say
this, that what I have borne with me
from that day to this has been like the
unction from above, like a benediction
f'roui heaven, and the remembrance of
these men will be with me to the last day
of' my life, and I trust we shall not he
strangers in tlm land over yonder. Ido
uot believe wo shall. It will boa glorious
meeting when \vc shall find that there are
rewards for our labor in tho crowns of
righteousness that fade not away, at
God’s right hand forever. Brethren and
friendn, 1 thank you for this demonstra
tion to-day. It excites no vain glory; I
stand humbled in tho preseuoe of it.
While I thank you lor it in a personal
sense, I feel doubly thankful because I
shall be able to bear tho cheering ro
sporno which you gave me a few moments
ago. Whether you think of it much, or
regard it of any worth, there is many
a Christian heart in my own State that is
praying for the success and prosperity of
this institution hero at Chuuranqua.
[Applause.] Will it not boa grand
thing, Dr. Vincent, you who havo been
r. ferred to as the superintendent, in ad
dition to all that has been accomplished
NUMBER 36.
here, that while children have bean so
educated under the methods that, have
been introduced here, and that while a
general sentiment of piety has been dis
seminated all over the country that there
lias been kindled a spark and a llamo of
love, and that there lias been woven a cord
that is going to bind together in loving
bonds a once sovored people. It will bo
a triumph that will be equal to the greatest
triumphs that you have accomplished if
it can be said that Chautauqua has ac
complished more than all these pseudo
statesmen, politicians and demagogues,
and that it grew out of the flame of love
that was kindred upon these altars, nnd
that sparks of it were carried here and
there until mountain and plain and field
were ablaze, and the response of love
came back from full and echoing hearts:
Let. the palms wave, let the angels tako
up the psalms of rejoicing, let the liallo
luiahs bn heard, when the day comes that
all Christian hearts shall be united in
humble, fervent prayer to God that one
effort shall be made to bring together in
union, ami in lore, and in harmony, and
in peace, and in all the attributes of the
Christian brotherhood and fraternity,
brethren, in all the sections of this great
country. [Great applause. ]
A NEW DEATH-DEALING MACHINE.
The New York Tribune gives a descrip
tion of a gun, or “rifle battery," as it is
oalled, now on exhibition in that oity,
which promises to be a terrible ageut of
destruction. This battery is so constructed
as to deliver ils firo cither in a right line
or in horizontal lines. The barrels, rang
ing in number from six to twenty, are
sufficiently far apart to prevent heating
from continuous firing, and are fired
successively, instead of simultaneously, at
the rate of twenty thousand shots an hour.
A steel covor in front of the gunners pro
tects them from the enemy’s fire. These
guns may he fired continuously in one
fixed direction, or from side to side, or the
battery may be made to vibrato laterally
of itself, at the discharge of each gun,
thus sweeping the field in front. The
bnrrels are about an inch apart, and at in
tervals, where the guns are held by elaspß,
they are enclosed within asbestos or some
nonconductor of heat. The battery may be
divided into the barrels and the breach
block or machinery by which tho barrels
are loaded and discharged, the whole
resting on a turn-table cr pivot. The balls
are placed in a cartridge-receiver at right
angles to and resting on the blocks. At
the right of this is a crank, at the left u
lever. By pressing the lever iu a given
direction the block is forced up to tbe
muzzle of the gun, when an automatic
loader called the “fingers” takes hold of
the cartridges and withdraws them from
the receiver. Another turn of the lever
and the balls arc forced into the muzzles,
and the battery is loaded. Jh on tho
crank at the right is turned, and at every
revolution a needle is thrust forward, and
strikes a cartridge with sufficient force to
explode it. Again tho lever on the left
is turned, and the “fingers” advance and
withdraw the spent cartridges, und tho
battery is again ready to be loaded. By
means of a screw placed in tho centro of
the block, the battery may ho elevated or
depressed at pleasure. At a trial on
Monday, with a toy model of the battery,
a ball was fired through an oak plank an
inch in thickness at fifteen yards. —Suv.
jNeics.
Dr. Felton knew six years ago all that
ho knows now r.bout George Lester, and
yet during all these years he sits with him
in all the conferences of his church, kueols
with him around the game altar and
graciously honors him with tho highest
eulogies. He sees this corrupt man (as
he now terms him) for two years filling the
high and responsible office of Judge of
the Superior court of the Blue Ridge cir
cuit and never a word do wo heur from
him in disapprobation thereof. He is
good enough for a Judge, good enough for
tho highest honors conferred by tho
Methodist ohurch upon laymen, but for a
Congressman; great heavens! he will
never do for a Congressman! —Uedartown
Express.
Turning a sick soldier from his door
during a cold winter evening, refusing
him shelter and food during tho night,
was not enough for Dr. Felton. He had
to ridicule Lester’s wounds and accuse
him of speculating upon them for office,
when those wounds were received in a war
that Dr. Felton, as a rampant secessionist,
precipitated upon the people. Oh, tho
ingratitude! —Marietta Journal.
Sleeves in the latest imported dresses
n o much larger than usual.