Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-06

fatigue OF honest toll invites sweet repOse
and before you shut your eyes in slum Der
seriously reflect upon the mysterious
ways Of our Creator, and feel how kind
ana provident his mercies have
reached you and me and all our race
over this broad land; and further, care,
fully consider how citizens should cher.
ish and exercise this beautiful privilege
Of American neutrality-suspicious. you
and me, colOred friends, and all our race
who eUjey this inestimable blessing.
My cOlOred friends, I desire especially
10 call your careful attention to this fact
the providence of Almighty God con-
feTred upon Us, as q race, this boon. We
were simple and confiding in our habits
and manners, and, friends, there is not
one OF you present that has not realiz ed
that for ten long years we have trod the
path that has at length fetched up ia
the web Of the crafty spider, who, true
to instinct, after sucking the flood oil
its victim, casts forth the body as abhoI-
rent and unfit for his further purpose.
This is one place where we have not
been discreet in the exercise OF franchise.
This proof is brought home TO each OF US
fOrcibly when we reflect that in the past
we have followed those modern leaders
with all the fidelity that honesty sGg-
gests, and that at length they have
stripped us Of our money, reputation and
friends. Have we not the greatest Tes-
s2n to feel afflicted, insulted and scOrned
by those very men whom we have fol
lowed faithfully through evil report
But, friends, we my draw cheer from the
sacred assurance that severe Affections
are often sent in mercy. Can we doubt
mercy in our case? Were we not
trammeIed head, neck and heels by the
sophistry of leaders whose only object
was to place US in antsgOnistic relation
with our legitimate interests to screen
their own personal misdeeds of fraud
Can any of us doubt, friends, that our
voting for this class of men did not re-
coil on US in a curse? Not one of us can
doubt it. We and our children feel it.
COlored friends, l want your careful at
tenti0n and consideration. For ten
years we have been duped by soft
speeches, and now we find that we have
neither money, credit or good charac-
ter; and why is it so? Because
we were not as careful of exercis-
ing cur franchise as we ought to
have been. We have voted for and Kept
in Office men who had no reality ia our
city or county-men of cute address,
that feRthered their nests at our expense.
When we hear the Joyous murmur of
happy revelry Of the world, at this pc
culiar time, celebrating their centennials
OF nations, poets, statesmen and soldiers,
we alone, of all the earth, have no idea
to celebrate at this time. But, my COL
ored friends, while We have no affection
for antecedents in foreign cline worthy
kind memory, we are permitted, as
American citizens, to join this great ju-
bilee OF freenen, to pay homage to the
valOr Of the sires OF '76, white and col
ored, who LEFT US home and d nation
sanctified and baptized IL the CORY
streams Of their precious blood. Again,
colOred friends, regret to notice that
our former friends, to whom we were
devoted, have made peace with their
peers in color all over the country, COM
pletely ignoring Us COlOred men, even to
the privilege OF grave decoration. We
ought not to murmur, friends, but only
regret that our excessive initiative pow
eTs were SO easily nisled and not saved
to conform TO mora stable manhood
Let us brace up, friends, with the future
hope of better and brighter days, and
thank God that we have all met on
these beautiful grounds with hearts full
of respect and Cancellation for our old
white folks, who have proved in the
long run our best friends. Look and
see the g0odly number Of old familiar
faces present, and who can doubt their
true friendship. Let us in our hearts be
thankful that this day Of rejoicing and
Cancellation has come, for the pernicious
results Of our ten years experience are
sad for US to contemplate. And though
we have no affection in foreign land,
at home, or abroad worthy Of memory,
it is cheering NtO have the privilege of
knowing that we have assembled on this
commemoTatiOn day for the purpose Of
invoking wise counsel for our future
guidance, and becoming reCODciled and
identified with Jur bSst material inter-
ests-interests that our natural affinity
and sad experience assure US are Judi
visible. Let US prayeTfully, one and all,
cOiOTed friends, resolve that in future We
follow no more strange gods, and trans
NIT this grand inheritance to your chill
dren thai your pOsteTiiy, one hundred
years hence, will bless your wisdom for
leaving them something whereby they
can take proud part in the next CEN
tennial. Immense applause.
REMARKS OF PRIEST. PETER MORRIS.
Pete Morris, president Of Pole Bearers
association No. 2, being introduced,
made a few remarks, in which he re.
ferred to the fact that the white and the
cOlOred people had been raised in the
same country, and eaten at the same
table. All the white man asked of them
was their labor; all they asked OF the
white man was pay for their labor.
They had come to cement union of
feeling, and to accomplish this they
must lay aside the mOceasin aud enact
the kindness and bTOtherly love they
would seek by that occasion to impress
as their desire to have accomplished.
If they came for union they should bury
the tOmahaWk. This should be done by
white and back. They knew the south
ern people, and knew they could trust
to what they said. He here related how
B certain northern gentleman, whose
name he would not mention, had swim
died him out of sixty dollars in his cot
ton. The proposed "UBion" was good
thing. There were good many men
among the cOlOrsd people who came
from the north TO get money. They
had had experience with such men.
Ii the men of the south who
were represented here to-day meant
i'UniOn," he was for it, and advised the
cOlOred people to endeayOr to secure it.
All men were at liberty, but none were
free, for free men have hungry mouths.
Hence they had to work. He would
advise them to go to work in their
crops. The colored people talked
about their rights. They got their
rights in the courts and in the peniten-
tiary. They should feed their children
by living honestly, and educate them 10
come up right and live honestly. He
Intended TO educate his children and
bring them up, if he had to eat ash-cake.
The speaker related several incidents in
the course OF his remarks, the general
tenor Of which was to meet the white
people in their endeavOr 10 bring about
: union Of good feeling, as their expert
5nce il the past showed how the future
depended upon mutually Of interest,
and peace between them.
AFTER THE SPEECHES
me crowd INDUCED in social conversa-
ion, fesstiug and dancing. The entire
lay was pleasantly enjoyed by the COL
Jred people, who did not leave the
grounds until late in the evening.
The Celebration ia GGuFs Square.
The grand celebration OF the GLORIOUS
Fourth" came off in Court square after !
LARK last evening. The time and the |
,lsce had been mos. judiciausly selected |
y the centennial commission Of Shelby |
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