The American Missionary — Volume 52, No. 03, September, 1898Various
History
The American Missionary — Volume 52, No. 03, September, 1898
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Never can the teachers and students of Talladega College forget the
Commencement of 1898, when so many brave young men left their
cherished plans to engage in the war with Spain. Those laughter-loving
boys, earnest in study, but full of fun, and careless sometimes, as
boys will be--one hardly knew them when the war spirit rose and they
stood in line with that new, steady light of resolution shining in
their dark eyes. In 1860, young men of Anglo-Saxon blood left that
same building to fight against the Union. One of those young men, now
governor of the state, thirty-eight years later, telegraphs to the
same school asking Negroes to defend that same Government, and they
cheerfully respond. Is not this a revolution of the wheel of time?
The governor's telegram came Wednesday, almost two weeks before
Commencement. All the volunteers were promoted, having completed
satisfactorily the work of the year with the exception of the closing
exercises. Thirty in all volunteered, three or four of whom were not
students, but a third of this number were unable to pass the severe
physical test. A farewell meeting was held in the chapel, and the
young soldiers told in stirring words the motives that led them to
offer their lives to their country; their resolve to fight for the
freedom of bleeding Cuba, their love of the Stars and Stripes, in
spite of the wrongs they themselves had suffered, their strong desire
to show that Negroes could not only live and work, but die, like men.
Many earnest appeals were made for prayers, that they might never turn
their backs to their enemies, nor yield to the temptations of camp
life. At last, a quiet little woman with an earnest face arose and
told in trembling tones her determination to go as a nurse if she
could find any opportunity. She was called to the platform and it was
beautiful to see the reverence with which the tall, young fellows
gathered about her.
Talladega College had reason to be proud of her sons as they marched
to the station with a flag and a band and went off with a ringing
cheer. Nor were her daughters wanting; their hearts were aching, but
their faces dressed in smiles as they sent their brothers away as
patriotically as those of fairer hue.
The Talladega students have not been permitted to meet any Spaniards
in battle, but their record in camp at Mobile has been true to their
promises. They have shown to everyone the advantage of education.
Their officers prize them highly, and the rough, ignorant men who are
their comrades, have felt their influence, so that the governor has
publicly commended their behavior.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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