The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-08-18
AN ADDRESS
Delivered BY Rev. Wright Of the. Celebrs
ton Of American Emancipation, st
Oak Dale Park, Salins, Aug. 4th.

Oak Dale Park, SaIins, Aug. 9Th.
FELLOW CITIZENS An assenblage
such as OH this occasion % years ago,
would have been deemed i'm the judy
ment of a certain class of persons in
this country as criminal i'm its intent,
and the last participant would have
been hunted down, brought to their
mock justice, and the most extreme
inflic:iOn Of their unconstitutiona law
would have been regarded by them rs
very partially executed. But Provi-
dence, i'm the evolution and revolu-
tionizing of persons and things, has
decreed that we assemble here to-day
under an entirely different sentiment.
We lmve met here to celebrate the day
when it was proclaimed that we were
freemen of America-our native land.
And well might this event be charac-
terized as among the most important
ever known in the history of this
country.
After two hundred years of servi-
tude the dawn was seen under the first
gun fired upon Fl. Sumter in South
Carolina. From that day the light
ming flashes and the dark pillars Of
smoke all spoke i'm thunder tones from
both cannon and musketry, that they
were working out our emancipation.
For four years these signs continued,
and were fully interpreted at Apo
mattox Court House, Virginia, April
9Th, 1866. when Gen. X. T.. Lee sur
rendered himself into the hands Of
Gen. U. y Grant 1t was there def
mite decision rs to our absolute liberty
was reached.
The emancipation proclamation was
the first stone laid by President Lin
coin paving our way to equal citizen
ship. And why not ? When 1t was
decided that there should be q separa-
ton between this country and Great
Britain, by the shedding Of the blood
of brave hearts. our colored fathers
were found i'm the line of battle, pour
ing ont their hearts blood In defence
of principle ON which the fate Of pop
ular government forever Is suspended.
In the same position were they found
i'm our late civil strife not only rs the |
abettors of their own freedom, but the |
freedom of this whole country. The
colored man not only aided in the gift |
of freedom to this country at different /
times, but by the sweat of his brow, |
toiling by night as well a. by day, has
made il what il Is. Why then should
he not be q citizen of his native coun-
try? Why should he not have equal
justice before the laws? Why should
he not have representation and voice
in our Legislative halls?
When We sometimes sit and listen
to speeches made in this country, Il
sounds like q one-sided affair. Their
fathers are eulogized, In which all
their PROJECTIONS are described Is APP
pies Of gold in pictures Of silver; but
you never hear one word Of their in
Justice or imperfectiOns. Such men,
though wise, have only learned to look |
at one side Of questions. For example
when New Orleans was in danger Of
being swept out of the hands Of the
United States her proud and criminal
prejudice was silenced and laid aside
for the present under the emergency,
and General Jackson called upon the
colored people to assist In the struggle
for nati0nal rights in which this c0un-
try was engaged. In his call he said
"As fathers, husbands and brothers,
you are summoned to rally around the
standard Of the Eagle to defend all
which h dear In existence" This was
done under the promise Of freedom to
all who engaged In the conflict
Great Britain had her colored soldiers, ]