The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-23
EMANCIPATION DAY.
How it was Celebrated by the
Colored People.
Rock Island, Davenport, and
Moline represented by
an Enthusiastic and
orderly crowd.

brethren especially is regarded very much
as the original Yankees regarded the
Fourth of July. Indeed, on that day is
celebrated the emancipation of people
from servitude most CALLING.
Yesterday the colored people of Rock
Island, Davenport and Moline, with many
others from as far away as Kewaunee, cele-
brated at Brooks grove near Moline, the
Goth anniversary of the issuance by Presi-
dent Lincoln of the proclamation of eman-
cipation. Our Moline correspondent told
in last evenings ARGUS of the procession
to the grove, and to-day's report has to do.
therefore, with the Speeding and other
exercises IN the grove.
THE BARBECUE.
A few days ago q PIT about twenty feet
long, between two and three feet in width,
and about two feet deep was excavated,
and across the top thereof were laid several
iron bars on which were placed "beef
critter" weighing four hundred pounds,
two lambs and one-half of a fair sized
porker On Thursday evening at o'clock
the fires were started underneath the meat,
and at o'clock yesterday afternoon the
feast was declared in readiness, and was
partaken of by large number of people.
When the ARGUS reporter reached the
round the feasting was under full head
way and it was observed. that even the
Goddess of Liberty was moving away
the provisions with celebrity and vigor
born of lusty appetite.
THE SPEAKING, ETC.
At o'clock the assembly was called to
order by President J. L. Jones, of Moline,
who announced an invocation by Bro. Hall,
which was quite appropriate and impress
sive. After the prayer President Jones
thus introduced Mr. H. L. Bullen. of Mo
line: Il will introduce Mr.. Bullen, of
Moline. which will speak the opening
speech.
Thus presented to the audience Mr.. Bull
len read an interesting historical address,
opening with an extended reference to the
release of the Jewish people from bondage,
continuing to the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, and the consequent release of the
American people from British thraldom,
and concluding his introduction thus:
With equal wisdom, Mr.. President, we
are met this day to celebrate the emanci-
patton of the colored people" In the
course of his extended and interesting re-
marks the speaker paid glowing tribute to
the memory of Lincoln. when set free,
he said, ''the Jews numbered three millions
of people. Our fathers in the Revolution
also numbered three millions of people,
while the Africans in bondage in this coun
try were four millions. To-day the colored
population is ten millions, one fifth of the
entire population of America The popu-
lation of Washington is 10000, one third
of it, at least, being made up of colored
people," The speaker then referred at
length to the privileges already enjoyed by
the freedmen, and closed with fervent
appeal to his colored fellow citizens ITO
unite in the great pending conflict in oppo
sition to the well equipped forces of King
Alcohol Stand by us in this conflict,
said he, las you did during the days of
rebellion"
AFTER MUSIC
by the band, Rev. Jackson Blackburn, of
Rock Island, was introduced and opened
his address in this manner: Whoever
witnessed before in these United States a
Goddess of Liberty with African blood
flowing through her system? In the ear
liest days of creation, the days of the
worlds infancy, men learned enough to be
tyrannical, to try to rule or domineer over
each other With this as a text the well
known preacher delivered a most forcible
address; sound ideas set forth in chaste
and appropriate language. He concluded
with an earnest appeal to the white peo-
pie present not to foster the existing pre-
judice against the blacks by telling their
children when they do wrong, to ''look
out or the niger viii get you" Thus he
thought the seeds of hostility were sown
in many youthful minds.
The next and last, speaker was Mr.. Al |
bert Nuckles. better known as prince Al |
bert" of Davenport, who is pioneer in |
the work of celebrating emancipation day. |
He said 1--WE should unite in celebrating |
emancipation day as the day of the
nations deliverance." His remarks, which |