Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-16
,Sent Cola. entered the Presidents grounds BY

!, N ali IN the Chief" The Pr performed
and j udye Fisher, charm ss'aent appca sed
having ~c, anu S IN.
sI rss.u En- pr Soor, and Judge Fisher adj
neSseo suo .stdent, saying:
Jup> n rrsHxR TO PRESIDENT GRANT
Or behalf Of the people of the District of
Columbia, they had come here to night to
thank him, not merely for his proclamation an
neuaeirg the ratification OF the fifteenth amend
ment to the Federal Constitution, but the great
and noble part which he, IS an officer and head
OF the army, had taken In accomplishing the
great principles the amendment embodied n
When our forefathers met in 17I6 in old indie
pendence Hal, In Philadelphia, to proclaim
liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabi-
dent truth that ali men are created equal; and
when that declaration was made the swords OF
thousands Of freemen lesped from their scab-
spilled in vindication of that truth. hut, unfor.
tunately, when our ancestors came to form the
organic law, they made compromise between
truth and error, and, forgetting the self-evident
truth, they compromised between liberty and
slavery.
In the language OF the lamented MARTYR, Lin
coin, We were house divided against itself. He
perceived 1t, and strove to do all in his power to
prevent that fall which must inevitably come
upon house divided. =. = : :
But we thank God tonight that we can re-
political structure has been erected In lite stead.
and therefore We have the proclamation tonight
that all men are free and eQua al and to thu Pres
ident, perhaps, more than to any other man, We
are indebted for this great truth. [Applause.l
Again he would thank him, not only for the
proclamation, but also for the noble part which
he bore as gallant soldier in that army through
whose deeds Of valor the opportunity was made
for the enactment Of the amendment which that
proclamation ratiies. 80
We cannot forget, he said, but all freemen
VIII remember that when In the darkest hours
when the country was in gloom, men were look,
ing for some great Napoleon TO lead our armies
from defeat to victory, they saw the finger of
10 the West, where resided one who shouid bs 1
come the David to cut off the head of the boast
ful Gofiah OF the rebellion. We and succeeding
DRY Of Washington, Lincoln and Grant as trio
whose memory IL worthy to be 'commemorated
90 long as equality and liberty endure in the
hearts OF humanity. tApplause.l f..-
--- PRESIDENT GRANTS REPLY.
The President replied: II could not say any
thing to those here assembled this evening to
convince them any further than L have done
OF my earnest desire to see the fifteenth amend
ment become part Of the Constitution. win
only add: hope those enfranchised by it will
and to those who have the franchise without IT,
that all may be mutually benefited by it. /
feel confident that this will be the result III /
nad not theught 80, would not have been so
anxious Tor its ratification.
AT THE CAPITOL.
I,
and the line OF march down Pennsylvania ay-
riOus organizations were massed In front of the
Senate portico of the Capitol to hear the sneak
,ng. The committee were informed by Hon. j.
Morrill,, Morton. Patterson and others had been
IN waiting for them some time, but had retired
The committee, however, determined to have
some speaking, and Mr.. r. NJ. Hall called the
meeting to order, and introduced Judge Fisher as
one who has always been a warm friend of the
nfteenth amendment, and who has always ex-
erted himself to the utmost to further the scheme
for the proposed change of government in the
District Of Columbia. TCheers.l
REMARKS OF JUDGE FISHER. -
Judge Fisher said as the fifteenth amendment
had become part and parcel Of the Federal
Constitution, he could now call them fellow cit
liens, without respect to race, color or previous
condition; tApplause. They had made the
present demonstration in honor OF the great
principle which had been achieved. They had
come here to express their thanks and gratitude
Al the capital Of the country, to Congress for
the completion OF the noble work commenced
by the Foi tieth Congress and to tell Of their ap-
probation of this browning triumph under the
prestige OF the glorious soldier who now sits In
the White House. The fifteenth amendment
has become part and parcel of our Constitution,
and makes all men free alike from Maine to
Texas. It grants them free speech and free
South with the same privileges as the dweller in
Maine. But although the Constitution is COM
pleteu, the laws are unequal in two respects-up-
equal because the word white still remains in
the naturalization laws. The white man who
comes here from Europe can obtain his natural
ization papers, while the black man who comes
tain them under the law. Let the word white
then be expunged from every Federal and State
constitution Then We can truly boast that we
are a free people. tApplsuse.]
Another inequality. In every State In this
Union the right to vote Is guaranteed to every
man 1t Is not 80 In the District of Columbia.
Here we have no voice in the National Legisla-
ture- We must have representative in Con-
gress from the District. We must have NOT ONLY
representation, but the right Of self-government.
tApPlause.l We must have these from the great
Republican party, which has proclaimed free
dom, liberty, and equality. They must give us
this; nothing less; nothing more. He regretted
guished men who had agreed to be present were
Obliged to retire. This demonstr alton was made
TO accomplish two purposes: TO show the appre-
cation OF the fifteenth amendment by the peo-
pie OF the District, and also to show that the
people of the District desire the iglt to govern
themselves. tOheers.I
OTHER ADDRESSES E
Mr.. l.. q. Hlne was introduced and made quite
an argument i'm favor Of the people having the
right to govern Themselves; i'm the course OF his
remarks stating that right under the shadow of
the Capitol Is the only place IN the country
where there Is no Suffrage. .-I
Mr.. U. d. Barrett congratulated the partici-
made.
~ ofout anu OeOrSt w. aatt0n followed
in appropriate remarks, after which the asse M
blage dispersed with cheers for the Pre- sident.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
A greatnumber OF business houses and private
residences along the line of march were iiluni
mated, as we'll as many in other parts OF the
city. =
The residence Of Vice President Colfax was
brilliantly lighted, and presented a beautiful
appearance. As the procession passed Mr.. Col.
lax stood uncovered on the porch, and was
heartily cheered. - = - -
The STAR Office and that OF the RepuLliead
were heartily cheered by the procession as /,
passed, and at various other points on the line
eheerxwere given, especially when ladies were
seen waving their handkerchief
At the corner of Seventh and r streets, Col
Alexanders Office, which was Handsomely illu-
inmate d, hearty cheers were given.
Among other houses illuminated were the
rfsidence OF Mr.. .. ID. Barrett, on az street; the
Woodbipe House, AZ and streets; the resi-
dences OF >. Williams, First and b streets; OF
Alderman Emery, F street; w. Gainor, John
O'heara, &c. 80 ~ " q
In the northern part of the Fourth Ward
several houses were decorated and brilliantly
iHuainated, and many private residences on
I