Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-04-17
EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION.
The Colored People's Holiday.
An Imposing Demonstration The
PrecesstOD-A Fine Dfsplay-The
Mess Meeting.

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| ID Williams and 1t. Poland, and headed b,
| the south Washington Band; Independent
Pioneer Corps OF the Twentieth district, In
red shirts and black pants, armed with axe.
and oficered by Captain John H. Moore
| and Lieutenant George Better; Junior Hook
and Ladder, twelve small boys in red shirts
| black hats and pants, drawing Q sms truck
| with ladders Handsomely decorated in red
| white ana blue, with a very small boy seated
! thereon ringing bell; South Washington Pie
peers, James Peake, captain, armed and uni
formed similar to the Independent Pioneers
! with the exception of q black cap taking the
| pace OF the slOuch hat. headed by the Ameri-
can band; Bowen Pioneer Corps (Col. Perry
| Carsohs under the command of Capt Jordan,
| numbering - men, blue shirts with fancy front
| back pants and hat, surmOunted will a white
| teatheri open carriage containing eight small
| oOSs IN pioneer uniform; delegations from the
| Eighth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth precincts,
| headed by the National band. marshalled bv
4 u. W. Smith. and W a. Page aud T.. Blue
ASSISTANTS; delegation from the second district,
/ WIN held music; Twentieth district, with flags.
1 &c; other districts.
| The route or the procession was bv4H street
70 Pennsylvania avenue, thence TO the Presi-
/ dents House. The President came out and
stood on the pOrtIco Is the procession passed
/ and was loudly cheered. The proc sssion then
marched toward Georgetown. and passing
around the Circle returned by the office of Gov
Cooke, on the corner of Eth street and Penn
| sNlEanla avenue, where IL halted, and Captain
VIM. L. Nermilion introduced tDe Governor TO
tie procession, who spoke as follows:
| REMARKS OF GOVERNOR COOKE.
| =, NY fellow citizens i rejoice with YOU on
tins, the natal day of your freedom. 1t com
me morates one of the grandest events in our
national histOry-the striking the shac kles from
four millions of slaves, and paving the way for
onzenship. The proclamation OF emsncipa-
can administration OF Abraham Lincoln, and
Will go down through ell future time az the
step IN the progress of liberty TAX upon
ton OF Independence. Yet great az Was the
event, IL was not complete until supplemented
by another. IL was reserved for the second re-
publican administration Of General Grant to
make the WORK full and complete. That admin
istrstion added to your freedom the elective
franchise throughout the entire length ana
breadth OF the land, and to day you stand be-
fore me clothed IN all che power, the rights and
the dignity Of American citizenship.
But citizenship has its duties a. well ~ its
rights. need not remind you what these duties
are: Foremost among them is that Of political
fealty to the party, and the man, whose wisdom
10 the councils Of State and whose skill and
courage on the field Of battle aided id procuring
for you the priceless blessings you now enjoy.
the Of Mise Se trpst so
m tied to you, and again congratulsting you
upon the joyous occasion of this demonstration.
REMARKS OF GEN. CHrPMAN
The procession then took up the line of march
and passed John A. Grav's hotel yn Ia, .iraei
where they halted. and General Chapman an,
pearea on the balcony and smoke a. follow.
My fellow citizens: / am glad TO mingIe nv
eohsfatulations with yours on this suspicious
occasion.
We often hear It made the subject of com
plant that the District OF Columbia il III ade by
Congress the propagating aud experimental
garden of the country for all new ideas or dues-
tons Of NATIONAL concern. But 80 far from It's
beng 10 the discredit OF our District that eman-
cilsuon was here rrst proclaimed IL will
rebound TO the ultimate glory OF our people that
they first witnessed and participated in this
initial step towards hberating an oppressed and
dOwn-trOCden race.
This tsrdy act of justice was but the precursor
CT other rights and privileges which fOllo and
as the result OF IL ali you stand clothed to-day
in the paDOply OF American citizenship. our
Declaration OF Independence is vindcatci and
our National Constitution il no longer "hsunt-
ing lie as the friends Of liberty in this coun-
try used to denominate il. ! remember that
blOOdshed ard riot were predicted a. the rssuIt
or this act, / remember afterwards when suf-
irsge as extended TO you, II was said war OF
races here would follow, and woe betide the
black man who dared TO accept HIS freedom or
exercise his fright OF suffrage. But experience
has prove to the world that you were prepared
Tor the enjoy ment OF the natural right 30 lite
hberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and eacn
successive year demonstrates that this natural
right was well supplemented by according 20
YOU as 10 all other citizens the power to defend
mat natural night through the means Of the
ballot.
believe, my fellOw-citizens, that the .udden
transition through which you passed from a
! degraded bondage TO full citizenship an your
demonstration that you were fitted for the lat
ter, as you had patiently borne the for mer, viii
forever stand az one or the proudest achieye-
| ments Of American civilization.
,;. We ar, are thinking people. The masses fu..
constitutions. have never been able to trace
10 any class OF citizens any superiority over an
other class In moulding public sentiment
Representative men appear and disappear
men OF towering intellect-but they are but
types OF the prevailing thought; lying in the
minds OF the people, the humblest OF whom may
have the clearest perceptions upon the leading
| form part OF that great thinking machinery
which rules this country. Since you took upon
yourselves the responsibilities Of citizens, even
mp to full appreciation Of the high duties i'm
posed. You have resisted intimidation aud that
subtle foe OF free thought-bribery.
| My fellow-citiZens, would not make this the
ocC aston of political speech. Your celebration
,o-dsy Is on higher plane than party platforms
but may not, IN concluding word, ask You TO
whom You are indebted for this victory over
wrong and oppression May not, for your own
good, caution you against all alliances win th Al
party which beat back, till they were oyercoms
| Al EFFORTS TO elevate YOU 70 citizenship. and
which could to-day. il in power, rob You OF IA At
| sacred right MY friends. you are living refu-
| tstipn OF the bigotry and pre- iudics which Ell
| sl'ved you. let your future conduct ss citizens
1 show that the proud title of American CITIZEN
ship in its brOadest sense is worthily bestowed.
| The crowd cheered frequently during the de-
| livery OF the above remarks. and at the close
]
| cesslon marched TO Union Leage Hall, where
Interesting exercises are in progress.
A SET of Prigg's jeweIry is about the best
| thing to keep your wife's temper Oh the even
| tenor OF its way.
THR PERSON who has that lot OF books At
Prince : Losn once had better call az once II
| he intends getting them.
| FROM j. e. Parker we have the Lddtss
Friend for May and Harpers' Basar fox April p
| War DEPT, OPYICR CHIEY SIGNAL OFFICER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., April Ito 80 a. m
Synopsis fer the past ~ hours.-The barometer
l continued 10 fall on the Pacific coast on Sun
| Jay, with threatening weather and Southeast
\ winds. The pressure has diminished on the
4 western plains. with fresh Northeasterly winds
4 and threatening weather on Lakes Superior
| and Michigan. The highest barometer IS over
Lake huron, producing Northwesterly winds
on Lake ontario. The storm which prevailed
/ on Sunday morning on the South Atlantic coast
passed rapidly to the Northeast. and is NOV
\ followed BY high pressure and clear weather