Daily Republican., 1879-03-24
Fifteenth Amendment Aaniver-
A0Fy

hhuoeutn AmemOmeh Aunlver-
s0ry.
A grand anniversary celebrating the
ratification of the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution, is to By held
on Monday next, March 3lst, in the
Main Centennial building of the Per-
|manent Exhibition in Philadelphia
His Excellency, President Hayes, Sena
tor Bruce, Of Mississippi, Hon. Richard
IL. Cain, Of South Carolina, and Gov
II. NJ. Hoyt have been invited to parti
cipa:e and favorable answers are expec.
ted. Fred. Douglass, Esq, Hon. Jos.
eph Rainey, and other distinguished
citizens have already accepted. Madam
Silika and two or more bands of music
have volunteered their services and
poems, appropriate to the occasion are
expected from John G. Whittier, Mrs.
Harper and others.
1t is intended by those having it in
charge to make this anniversary but
the beginning of series of observances
of the day, that it may become one of
the most notable Of national holidays.
1t was fifty characterized by President
Grant in his message proclaiming the
ratification in the following language:
"A measure which makes at once
tour millions of people voters, who were
heretofore declared by the highest tri.
bunal ip the land, not citizens of the
United States, nor eligible to becom. 40
(Sith the assertion that at the time of
the Declaration Of Independence, the
opinion was fixed and universal in the
civilized portion Of the white race regard
cd as All axiom in morals as well AZ in
politics, that the black man had no
rights which the white man was bound
to respect } is indeed a measure of gran
der importanc. than any other one
act Of the kind from the foundation of
our free government to the present day"
Towards the close of the message he
says: i" repeat that the adoption Of
the 18th Amendment of the Constitu.
tion completes the greatest civil change
aud constitutes the most important
event that has occurred since the Ma
ton has come into life L. 5. Grant,
Executive Mansion, March 80, 1870"
1t is right and proper that these an
should be inaugurat-d and
carried on under national auspices and
inspired with national feeling. 1t is
but seldom that such an event occurs
In the world as setting free and en-
tran chising four millions Of human be-
ings. Whatever differences the great
statesmen of the nation may have had
in regard to the construction of that
sentence in the Constitution, which de-
clares that "all men are created free
and equal" there can be no dispute
now that the spirit Of the Constitution
il fully set forth in the Fifteenth
Amendment, and it is day worthy of
special honor, as it is the anniversary Of
! time that ushered in not only free
iom from the chains and thraIdom OF
slavery, but an era which leads the
way to higher state of fertilization, in
.elligence, and dignity. The anniver-
,ary to be held next Monday, in the
Main Centennial building, will be one
IN which all citizens of whatever shade
If politics, should unite, for so long as
little prejudices remain in the hearts of
he peopl-, and are encouraged and n
Kept alive, just so long will the celored
people and white people be hindered in a.,
heir efforts for intellectual improve
nent. We hope that the approaching
will do much towards ,
levating the standard Of intelligence
'mongst the people.