Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1862-08-20

&MMn &MMn &x OeANna& @LuRkas A9@UB1
/ FKLLow Cr1Izxss have appeared be.
fore ron this evening, for the purpose 81
addressing yon oa the subject of tha
emancipation of the West Iaaia Islands,
by the BTitish; which event occurred
August Iss, 1884, just twenty eight years
ago. By that act of emancipation, 800
9tsG slaves were iHfaedisseiy aud szncon.
ditionally mananittsd in one day. Tbs
emancipation of the slaTes was bitterly
opposed by the Planters and the members
Of the British Parliament, representing
their interest. They dsnounaed irnmedi-
ats emancipation ss bad and dangerous
policy, highly detrimental to both masters
and slaves that the slaves would become
Ipaupers and beggars, and would rise up
azsd massacre their former masters. So
prevalsnt was this opinion, that On the
day before the emancipation, several
American vessels being in port, at Kings
ton, Jamaica, went out 60 sea and cast
anchor, TO avoid the dangers and horrors
Of the expected and often predicted riot
and massacre that would snsue the next
day. t..'.. r
History teaches us how unfoundsd we're
all these fears, and how false the pFedic-
sions. On the night previous 10 their
hberation, all Of the slaves, in all Of the
principal cities, towns and parishes, as
sGmhlad themselves in EhsiE respaetiys
places of worship, and waited in pro-
found and almost bFeathfess silence, for
the sound OF the IL O'Clock bell which
would not only announce the hour Of their
freedom, but would ring the death knell
of slavery forever On those islands
When the bell rang, they all rose as it
moved by one spirit aad broke forth in
shouts Of joy, and in songs of praise and
thanksgiving to God who, In tbs kiad
dispensatien of bis prudence, had 70
graciously delivered them from bondage.
The next day the lat Of August waa
spent In thanks giviug, rejoicing, long
PROFESSIONS, bands Of music, Displaying
Of aags and waving banners and making
every demonstration of JOY in their power.
There wAs no drunkenness, no fighting, no
bloodshed. But il has been argasd BY
| many, who are opposed to emaneipatien
in any form, that the condition of the
| liberated slaves OF those islands is no
better il SO good as when they were in e
state of bondage. fa--
The best way to Answsr this argument
is TO look at the happy and beneficial re-
suit of the emancipation and compare the
present condition of those people With
their condition when they were liberated.
As slavery was not abolished by violenes
or bloodshed, and the Planters received
| from the British Government compansa-
/ $aH ktkstN ell q &ks,,as yarE $#zS
hatred and enrnity of feeling existing be-
| tween masters and slAyes GO otherwise
would have existed. The Planters were
possessors Of the soil, they held the same
| plantations and they required che same
kInd Of labor aad they hired ths same
men they once owned TO perforEa that
labor. And they went TO work willingly
aud cheerfally, for their former masters,
saving their earnings and investing them
ia lands. Taera is BOW 100000 free
holders (colored, IN those islands, many
of the large and extensive plantations are
now divided and sub divided into small
farms, ornamented by neat and cosy
cottages and owned by the colorea peo-
pie. They have NOS only advanced in
industry and agriculture, but they have
made great progress in mental, moral and
religious culture, sch oel houses and
churches may be seen in every city, town
and parish, this giEaa uamistakable svi-
dence of civilization and progress. From
these facts we can Judge whether enAnG-
patton has proved blessing or q curse
TO the eolored people of those Islands. -
1t is true their progress has not been 81
rapid as that OF more enlightened nations,
we cannot reasonably expect q people
who have beed held la bondage ali their
lives, with all the disadvantages af ig.
leap with one bound to 8 position tha
will enable them to compete equally ant
successfully with more enlighteaed auC
wealthy nations, it requires time for 1
nation to develop isself. When We reac
the history of the various nations of tha
J earth, We are astonished 70 see what thel
J we're in their original or infant stats sem.
; pared with their present greatness. Lool
at Great Britain, one Of the most bellig,
z erent and var like nations on earth, pos,
sessing territory in almost every part o.
: the world, the saila OF her ships whittier
/ every sea. and her flag floats in ever
port on the globe, aud ave centuries ags
what were the Britons, only an insiguih
, cant, wandering tribe and in bondage 4
the Normans. Time makes great change
in the fortunes of nations a. well as in
disidaals- Empires rise and fall, nations
advance to 9 high and proud position il
! wealth and civilization, then reoede baol
again 70 . state OF weakness, paaperisu
r and barbarian.
3 Look At the history Of our own eoun
sry, only eighty-six yeaEs have elapse'
. since this great and glorious republic
] sprang into existence, and took it's piae
) among she nations of the earth, and .,
rapid has been its progress in all Of sh
elements essential 70 the peace, the pFas
| perity and happiness Of g nation, that
has excited the wonder and challenged ID
admiration of all the civilized world.
5 We learn from history that the ancisn
s. Africans were once q greas nation,
powerful people, fAmiIIar vita all IL
] arts aud sciences, agriculture, architect
e ure, soalptoring, painting, literature, All
now shey are reduced TO heathenism an
t barbarism in their own native ooantry
] aad are held in abjeet bondage and deg
radation, and in almost every other eoan
& try. Thus We see what great change
: time, in It's onward and resistIess maret
makes In the condition aud fortunes q
nations. -
3 Having given yeu . brief aud rather in
perfect history OF the emancipation {
It the West India Islands, will now ca
your attention, for few moments to u
# history Of Hayti, IN order 10 show 20
n shs great contrast in the effects oa psaca
d able emancipation, and shat prodaeed b
d the swerd, violsnee and bloonaahesi.-
Il Time will noss permit ae 10 enksr into
y minute detail Of the history, relating
- the raYolntion in thas isIand, and Ii
ar bleody bseds connected vita isy aad q
ie terrible iAsarrsosi0n of the slayes, IL