SENATOR SHERMAN AT FISK UNIVERSITY.
By invitation of the Republican members of the Tennessee Legislature, Senator John Sherman visited Nashville on his return to Ohio from Cuba, and on the night of the 24th of March delivered in the hall of the House of Representatives a public address on the issues of the day.
Dr. Theo. L. Cuyler said, a few mornings since, in addressing our students, that he had chosen to return home from New Orleans via Nashville in order to visit Fisk University, though he could spend only a few hours in the city; and that for a Northern man to come to Nashville and not see Fisk, would be like going to Washington and not seeing the Capitol.
The Mayor of Nashville followed the custom observed in the case of other distinguished visitors, in providing in the programme of the day for Senator Sherman and his party a visit to Fisk University. Under the escort of distinguished citizens of Nashville, during the present year we have had the honor of visits from Judge Kelly, of Philadelphia, “the Father of the House of Representatives,” and his traveling companions; Charles Dudley Warner and the Harper party, and others. These occasions are always full of interest, and the University becomes an object-lesson to teach and illustrate the possibilities of Negro education; but Senator Sherman’s visit was in every way so pleasant and significant that it will long be a fragrant memory and quickening inspiration to both faculty and students. The Senator’s party, largely increased in number by the addition of distinguished citizens of Nashville and of the State, and even of adjoining States, and under the escort of the Mayor of Nashville, arrived in carriages at Livingstone Hall at half-past eleven A. M. After a few moments had been spent in greetings and introductions in the President’s room, all repaired to the chapel, where the students had been assembled in the order observed at our usual chapel worship. The Senator, on his appearance with the president of the University at the head of the procession as the guests filed into the chapel and took seats upon the platform, was greeted with most hearty applause. The students then sang, accompanied by the piano, organ and orchestra, “The Red, White and Blue,” which called forth hearty applause from the platform.
President Cravath, in a few well-chosen words, then introduced Senator Sherman. The students rose to their feet and stood in silence with eager, upturned faces, until the Senator began his address. His words were reported by one of the students, and were full of the kindest sentiment and the soundest practical wisdom. At the close of the address the Jubilee song, “Good News! The Chariot’s Coming,” was sung.
At the request of Senator Sherman, Gen. Grosvenor, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and now member of Congress, was introduced. He began by referring to the gallantry and bravery of the colored soldiers under his command, who made the desperate charge on the Confederate works on Overton Hill during the second day of the battle of Nashville, and to the conviction expressed then that the descendants of such brave, heroic men would under freedom prove themselves worthy citizens of the country their fathers fought to save from disruption. The General made an excellent point in favor of higher education by an illustration drawn from the war. He said: “When we called upon the colored men to become soldiers, we put the best Springfield rifles into their hands, for being under greater disadvantages than white soldiers, they needed the best possible weapons. So for your success as leaders and guides of your people under freedom, you need the best weapons, and so the advantages of a higher education are provided for you, and you should arm yourselves with the best discipline, for you must fight your battles under unusual difficulties.”
Gen. Wheeler, a prominent citizen of Nashville, who fought on the Confederate side, was next introduced, and spoke a few words of most cordial greeting and congratulation.
The Mayor then tendered thanks in behalf of the party for the cordial reception that had been extended by the University, and announced that the limit of their time had been reached, so that they must ask leave to retire. The whole party then visited Jubilee Hall, and thus completed the inspection of the University. A quotation from the report of an interview with Senator Sherman, as published in the New York Herald and quoted in the Nashville Daily American of the 3d of April, will best convey the impression produced upon the Senator by his visit:
“Are the Southern Negroes devoting much attention to the matter of education? I never saw anything like it. Their thirst for knowledge has been greatly increased by the obstacles previously thrown in their way. There are several excellent colored universities in the South. Fisk University at Nashville is especially good. The young men and women attending it are bright and very intelligent. The young white people of the South must look well to their laurels or their black neighbors will soon lead them in the race for mental improvement.”
BY A TEACHER.