The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-28


70 the Editor OF the woaKnsmAss ADvocAes-
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT RATTFIcA-
TI0N.
The great feature of the week was
the grand celebration on Thursday, in
honor Of the Fifteenth Amendment.
For several weeks past it had been in
preparation, and ample time was allow
ed for the completion of all its parts.
The day was all that could be desired,
the clerk Of the weather been seeming
ly anxious to do his part in giving
eclat to the occasion. The police
commissioners, NJ precautionary
measure, caused all the bar-rooms to be
closed on that day, 80 that drunkenness
and disorder might be prevented as far
as possible.
For several days previous, those &C
customed to Distinguishing sable coun-
tenances, could discern q great number
Of dark looking strangers arriving at
the several entrepors, and it has been
asserted that they took the turnpike
and arrived on that very classical ami
NAL "shanks mare" Be that as it
may, there was an immense turn out of
negroes on Thursday. Richmond,
w ashington, Philadelphia, New York,
Boston, and other Northern and East
ern cities were represented, besides
oil parts of the interior Of the
state.
The rendezvous was South Broadway,
and thither at an carly hour the i'm
mense throng wendell their way. At
about ten o'clock, Broadway, from
Baltimore street to the Institute, was
one moving mass of black humanity.
The line of procession was formed and
moved off in q very orderly manner
through the princiapl thoronghfares of
the city. The procession was composed
Of eight divisions, each division being
headed by q band of music. Inter-
spersed through the procession were
wagons handsomely decorated, contain
ing the colored children, who seemed to
be happyiand pleased as only Philippians
can be. There was also in the line
young colored woman, beautifully dres-
sed to represent the goddess of Liberty.
She was fat and pldmp, and fair rep
Fesentation Of an Ethiopian queen. An
amusing feature in the line was the
groups Of Indians, impersonated by
colored men, the best representation Of
Indians so far as appearance is concern
ed, this correspondent ever witnessed.
The whole procession was grand tn
umph for the negro population Of this
city and state, and q very creditable
affair to them, taken as a whole or in
dividually. In the line Of procession
which took over an hour and quarter
to pass a given point, there was not q
single individual that had the least ap-
pearance of liquor or intoxication. A
more orderly turn out was never wit
messed in this city. 1t was composed
of military companies, benevolent soci.
cites, civilians, free and accepted ma
sons and odd-fellows. In the line was
the brickmskers' association, organized
in l84s, one of the most respectable
bodies of men in the whole line.
There was also a feature in the
procession which had an eye TO bust
ness more than to pleasure. An
individual had hired wagon, and
fxed therein the sppertanences of his
calling. which Was that Of q stowe and
tinware manufacturer, and had his name
snd residence placrded around the
outside Of the wagon. He himself, Il
is to be supposed, was inside plying at
his trade. It certainly exhibited 8 de-
sire to make the most Of every thing.