The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-13
SENATOR REYELS

The successor of Jefferson Davis in the
Senate of the United States will appear be-
pear before the public of Philadelphia to-
morrow evening, in the capacity of lecturer.
This will enable him to say many things that
would be out of place in the Senate chamber,
and the discourse, whatever its merits may be
as a rhetorical or oratorical performance, will
have particular interest and value that will
commend it to the notice of all who are inte-
rested in the advancement of the colored
race. Jefferson Davis left the Senate to
accept the position of leader of q rebellion
against free government for the perpetua-
ton of negro slavery, and there is poetical
justice in the fact that as one of the results
of that Rebellion the State of Mississippi is
to-day represented in the Senate by one of
the race despised and oppressed by Davis and
his fellow traitors.
That the old spirit of antagonism to the
negroes, fostered by the slave system which
so long disgraced this country, is not dead
yet even in the breasts of those who profess
to call themselves Republicans and friends of
freedom, was sufficiently shown by the mean
and illiberal action of the Republican Board
of Directors of the Academy of Music. These
individuals refused to allow Senator Revels
to speak from their stage for no other reason
than that his skin was few shades darker
than their own, and thereby they merited
and received the hearty contempt of ma
jority of their fellow-citizens. This action of
the Academy Directors has found no
apologists except among those who apollo
gized for the Rebellion, who approved the
war, who glorifed the successes of the traitors,
and who have endeavored in every way to
obstruct the progress of free ideas since the
Rebellion was subdued, and its principal
effect has been to excite a more than usual
interest in the gentleman whom they insulted.
Senator Revels will be greeted tomorrow
evening at horticultural Hall by an audience
that will only be limited by the size of the
building, and we anticipate from him a dis
course that will demonstrate his title to the re-
gard of all who are able to appreciate talent
and intelligence whether they be possessed
by white men or negroes.
The subject of Senator Revels' lecture will
be ''The Press, and he will speak of its uses,
abuses, and its great influences for good,
especially as shown by the course of the loyal
pICbo IuO Nttilh hOuIb VI Iu0
Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and when
we remember him as the author of the
Emancipation Proclamation, and that he was
murdered because he granted freedom to the
negroes of the South, it is proper that upon
such an occasion negro who has shown
himself fit to occupy one of the highest offices
of the Government should appear before a
loyal Philadelphia audience as the representa-
tive of his race. Mr.. Revels, since he has
been in the Senate, has conducted himself
with modesty that does him credit and that
puts to shame his revilers. He has shown
himself to be gentleman and man of sense
by refusing to notice the abuse that has been
levelled against him, and he is in every way
worthy of cordial reception at the hands of
the citizens of Philadelphia when he appears
tomorrow evening