The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-17
THE OOLORED MARTYRS ANN
VERSARY,

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Notwithstanding the rain which de-
scended in torrents, quite crowd was
gathered at Ankeny's Hall on Monday
evening, the 5th inst, to join in COM
memOrating the one hundred and sixth
anniversary of the death of Crispus At
tucks, colored patriot, who was shot
down with two others by General
Cages troops in the city of Boston,
they being the first martyrs to the
cause of American freedom.
George P. Riley was chosen to pre-
side, and, on taking the chair, enter
tanned the audience for about fifteen
minutes, his remarks being received
with frequent bursts of applause.
Gen. Howard was then introduced, and
proved fully equal to his best efforts be-
fore Portland audiences heretofore. He
adverted feelingly to the unprovoked
murder of colored boy on the Kappa
hammock during the summer of 1862,
and by Union soldiers, for no other
reason than that he had black skin.
He also paid high tribute to the col
Ored troops with whom he was asso-
ciated during the late war, stating that
he felt it but just to say that they were
not wanting in any of the essential
qualifications necessary to the efficient
soldier, being personally neat, careful,
and obedient, as well as patient and
brave. In conclusion, the eminent gen.
tleman spoke in complimentary terms of
the advancement this downtrodden race
has made in civil life since they have
been awarded the God-given boon of
freedom, and remarked that while it
was true that unprincipled politicians
had, in some instances, taken advantage
of their ignorance, their inexperience,
and their poverty to buy their votes,
that his cheeks tingled while he ad-
mitted that even men of his own race
were not all above being tampered with
in that way, thus surrendering their
manhood, and acknowledging them
selves slaves!
The Rev. Mr.. Eliot was then intro
duced, and, in a very handsome little
speech, commented on the great change
that has taken place in public senti-
ment on the subject of equal rights
within the past eight years, even here
in Portland. He spoke of the time, but
a few years ago, when colOred children
were not permitted to attend the same
schools with white children; that even
Republicans were afraid to openly advo-
cate their introduction into the common
schools from fear of injuring theil
party; but that at length, so popular
had the doctrine of equal rights become
that Democrat introduced a resolution
in the annual school meeting, abolish.
ing the separate schools for colored pu.
pills, and admitting them into the same
schools with the white children, anC
now nobody finds any fault. He ther
read from an old book, (the title of which
1 did not hear, one of those advertise.
ments that stand, and must forever
stand like CHASTITY skeleton, derisively
pointing to the American eagle-tht
symbol of liberty-in which a reward
of forty pounds was offered for the ar.
rest and return of this same Crispus At.
tucks.
So the first blood shed in the cause
of American liberty was that of a fugu
tive slave But had poor Attucks beer
able to look forward into the future anC
see that, although the strife that day
begun would terminate in freedom t.
the white race, his own must writht
and groan under the most CALLING slav'
cry for nearly century ere the shackle!
should be stricken from their limbs, we
could not wonder if he should have
taken little interest in the days en-
gagement.
Hon. John F. Caples was the mex
speaker, and, during the halfhour tha
he occupied the floor, he was frequently
interrupted by hearty applause. HI
commenced by congratulating the col
ored people that they, as well as our
selves, could point to martyrs in the
cause of liberty in every struggle oul
country has passed through, from the
Boston massacre to the fall of Rich.
mond, and assured them that there
could be no more hopeful sign of theil
future prosperity and greatness as g
race than the fact that they were be-
ginning to feel proud of their ancestry,
themselves, and their color. He closed
by paying an eloquent tribute to the
orderly conduct, industry, and thrift o.
the colored citizens of Portland, and as.
sured them that public sentiment haC
at length reached the point where every
good citizen was as ready to stand up in
defence of the rights of the black as oI
the white man.
William Brown, a very intelligent
colored man, followed in some pointed
remarks, which showed that he took
practical, matter-of-fact views of the
present status of the colored race in the
United States. He protested with some
spirit against the idea of expecting 6
people who had been for centurie!
robbed of the fruits of their toll, and
who had even been forbidden the most