The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-10-01
EinancipatIOn.

>>e-seN'' Avu "IA ptS"NO ailoN
me space in your next issue for few
words, concerning the late so-called
Celebration Of Abraham Lincoln's
Emancipation Proclamation, held on
the grounds Of the Gallia County
Fair Ground Company. Several
weeks ago it was announced that the
Colored Odd Fellows of Point Pleas.
ant would hold a celebration at the
Court House yard, in Point Pleasant,
in honor of the Proclamation. Bills
were struck and distributed announc-
ing our intentions. Prominent
speakers were invited to address the
people on the occasion, an invitation
was extended to the various secret
orders in the adjoining towns and
counties, and the citizens generally,
in fact all the necessary arrange
ments were made for a grand turn
out, and a general good time; many
of the citizens of Gallipolis had in
dictated their intention to be present.
Scarcely were our intentions made
known when few leading, colored
demagogues, backed up by the white
I
Republicans of Gallipolis, seized the
opportunity to make political capital
out of the occasion, by getting up a
grand fzzle of a Republican meeting,
under the guise Of celebration
The white Republicans saw at once
that it was good chance to get the
black element together, to give them
rehash of their old harangues, in
favor of Foster, and accordingly did
all in their power to aid the cause,
many of them putting up their dol
lar piece. For several days prior
to the 22nd, it was divulged by some
smart Aleck, that the meeting was
gotten up to give the Republicans u
lift, and a search was made at once
for the s35 that was antied by the
Republican committee in 1878, for
the same purpose.
NJ. M. Holland, a jack legged law
yer from Washington City, was
stamping Ohio for Foster, and was
invited to speak on the OCCASION
p. H.. Williams, q colored Baptist
divine was summoned, to lay off the
Robes of his heavenly master, and
take the stump. c. NJ. Holcomb, a
defeated candidate for the Republi.
can nomination for State Senator,
was also invited
We had business in Gallipolis on
the morning of the 22nd Of Septem.
Der, and concluded that we would
wait to see the performance.
The procession, the music, and all
the preliminary arrangements were
grand, in fact as grand as Republi-
can money FUSED in violation Of the
Seitz law could make it.
Arriving at the Fair ground, the
band discoursed sweet music. The
children sang elegantly, and the big,
fat, white Republicans enjoyed the
sight hugely, gazing on the black vo-
tiers as the farmer does his cattle.
Next was father Peter II. Williams,
who was once charged with taking
$50 of Democratic money to make a
Democratic speech, and then like
Peter Of old denied it. 81
Father Peter laid aside all religion
and dccorum, forgot what the people
mad assembled for, and proceeded to
wade into Ewing and the Democratic
party up to his knees.
After dinner, the shallow pated
Mr.. Holland, came up and used about
one hour and Il half Of the time read
ing, and then an hour and half
more to repeat Chas. Fosters Gallipo-
lis speech. There didn't seem to be
brain enough in the colored people
of Gallia county, to remember that
they were slaves, or had been SO,
therefore Mr.. Holland came all the
way from Washington to remind
them Of it.
Next was Deacon Holcomb, who
was SO high. toned, SO eloquent and SO
refined in his language, that many Of
the colored brethren had to consult
their dictionaries. Deacon Holcomb
spent the greater portion of his time
discussing Hercules, Demosthenes,
Araxes, Diogcnes, Dick Turpin and
Balaam's ass.
Now Mr.. Editor, if that is what is
pn1l a1 a onl nhs, t;o,o 49, ~. .