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Extracts from Orations and Addresses [excerpt]
Tuesday evening, Oct.
8, 1901, public memorial services were held in Mt. Olivet Baptist
Church, New York City, by the Saloonmen’s Protective Union No. 1,
a benevolent association, in honor of the late President McKinley.
Dr. Walker accepted the invitation to deliver the principal address.
More than 2,000 people were present at the exercises. He delivered
the following
.
“It was said of Franklin
when he died that the genius that had freed America and poured a
flood of light over Europe had returned to the bosom of divinity.
We are here this evening to honor the memory of our late President,
who reunited the Amer- [138][139] ican
nation, was the advance agent of protection and prosperity, universally
beloved and deservedly popular. It is highly appropriate that the
colored citizens of the metropolis of America should, in common
with all other American citizens, pay honor to the noble-hearted,
high-minded, Christian chief executive of the nation, who so recently
passed to the great beyond.
“President McKinley came from the
common people, and was always in sympathy with the masses. It was
often said that he kept his ear close to the ground, listening for
the voice of the people. It may be as truly said that he kept his
ear open to hear the command of his Maker, for he had triumphant
Christian faith.
* * * * * *
“Mr. McKinley came to
the executive chair at a crucial period of the nation’s existence.
Hard times, strikes, unrest, scarcity of money, were problems with
which he was confronted. The war with Spain was soon waged; grave
problems had to be faced and solved, and all these he disposed of
in a statesmanlike manner.
* * * * * *
“It has been claimed
by many colored people that Mr. McKinley was not specially friendly
to the Negro, and that colored men did not receive much recognition
under his administration. Such a statement is made either because
of ignorance of the truth or from misconception. I am one of those
who believe the colored man should not stop to worry about position
and office under any administration. That is a secondary consideration.
Equal rights before the law, protection to life and property, the
right to exist, the right to vote, the right to earn a living, the
right to be a man, the right to be a freedman and a freeman,
the right to expect equal [139][140]
and exact justice irrespective of creed, color or condition, is
a greater privilege than being an officeholder. And yet, Mr. McKinley
was the representative of a party which had enacted every piece
of constructive legislation that we know anything about for the
advancement of the colored people. Under his administration practical
recognition was given to more colored citizens than under any other
president. He appointed twelve men in the diplomatic and consular
service. A colored man was appointed as Register of the Treasury,
a colored man was appointed as Recorder of Deeds for the District
of Columbia, a colored man was appointed United States Stamp Agent;
colored men were appointed collectors of internal revenue in several
States; collectors of ports, postmasters, collectors of census returns,
land office registers, receivers of public moneys, and scores of
minor Federal appointments throughout the country were given to
colored men. Two distinguished colorel [sic] men were appointed
paymasters in the U. S. V. during the Spanish-American War. In that
same war, there were 260 colored commissioned officers and 15,000
enlisted men. In the 48th and 49th regiments, the President appointed
24 Negro captains, 50 Negro first lieutenants, 48 second lieutenants,
with 2,688 enlisted men. It is estimated that, under Mr. McKinley’s
administration, colored men drew $8,477,000.
“Not only did the President show his
interest in the race by these and other appointments, but by his
visits to several of our Southern schools, such as Tuskegee, the
Georgia State Industrial College, and the Prairie View Normal School
in Texas. At each of these schools he made excellent speeches, in
which he spoke handsomely of the military prowess and patriotism
of ‘the brave [140][141] black boys,’
as well as of the industrial and educational progress of the Negro.
* * * * * *
“There is uneasiness
in some sections concerning the attitude of Mr. McKinley’s successor
toward our race. We have no cause to fear President Roosevelt. His
past record entitles him to the confidence, love and respect of
this American nation. He has a public record in times of peace and
war of which this American nation should be proud. I have but to
refer to him as Police Commissioner of New York City, as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, as Civil Service Commissioner, where he made
it possible for a larger number of intelligent and worthy colored
men to hold permanent positions than has been made possible by any
other man in the nation. His administration as Governor of the Empire
State was one of fairness and impartiality. He will always be remembered
as leading the Rough Riders up San Juan Heights, through the high
grass, cutting the barb-wire fences, repulsing the Spanish soldiers,
capturing the block house, planting Old Glory on the ramparts of
Santiago, hastening the surrender of General Toral to General Shafter,
and thereby freeing oppressed, suffering, bleeding Cuba.
* * * * * *
“While Mr. McKinley
made a great record as a soldier, statesman and president, he stands
out conspicuously in the galaxy of presidents for his triumphant
Christian faith. He said on one occasion, ‘A religious spirit helps
every man. It is at once a comfort and an inspiration, and makes
one stronger, wiser and better in every relation of life. There
is no substitute for it. It may be [141][142]
assailed by its enemies, as it has been, but they offer nothing
in its place. It has stood the test of centuries, and has never
failed to bless mankind.’ He was shot by a ruthless assassin, Sept.
6, 1901. The conduct of the president at that tragic moment was
like that of the Lord. In the shadow of death, as he had done in
the executive mansion, he protested against mob violence, and said,
referring to the murderer, ‘Let no harm be done him.’ Our dear dead
President was again like our Christ when he said, just before yielding
up the ghost, ‘Good bye all, good bye; it is God’s way; let his
will be done, not ours.’ His last prayer was one of submission and
resignation to the will of the great God in whom he had so long
trusted. And then, while standing on the interlacing margin of eternity,
he repeated the Lord’s prayer and chanted ‘Nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee.’ And lifting up his eyes on the land afar off, he
beheld the King in his beauty, and fell on that long and tranquil
sleep, hanging up his garments in the wardrobe of nations to rest
until the archangel’s trump shall disturb the long disordered creation,
and soul and body shall be reunited.
* * * * * *
“The race of which
we are members feels proud of the part played by James B. Parker
in preventing the assassin from firing the third shot, though prejudice
has prevented his receiving his due meed of praise. But let us not
despair. Mr. McKinley is not dead to this American nation. He is
still joined to us by the past, and by the still more glorious anticipations
of the future. Heaven has discussed the sins of America as Lincoln,
Garfield and McKinley, our martyred Presidents, have walked the
golden streets, arm in arm. Too long have we winked at crime, lawlessness
and [142][143] anarchy. And we must
yet learn that the highest citizen is not safe so long as the life
of the lowest citizen is not protected.”
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