Huntsville gazette., 1883-01-13

largely in favor Of the southern rebellion.
{: Until this day the man Of sable hue had no
country and no glory. Until this day he
was not permitted to lift . sword. to carry
q gun, or wear the United States uniform.
Until this day the armies Of the republic
fought the rebels in fetters. for they fought
for slavery as well IS for the union. Un'
/, til this day We presented the spec .
that weakness. indecision and bliud..ess
which builds up with one hand and tears
down with the other. Until this day We
fought the rebels with only one hand.
while ve chained and pinioncd the other
behind %. On this day twenty years ago.
thanks 70 Abraham Lincoln aud the great
statesmen by whom he was supported. this
spell of inconsistency and weakness. was
broken and our government became COM
sistent, logical and strong, for from this
hour slavery WAS doomed. liberty made
certain and tho union established.
We do we'll to commemorate this day.
Il was the first gray streak Of morning sf-
ter . long and troubled night OF all
abounding horrors.
The tuture AZ well AZ the past claims con-
sidsration on this day. Freedom has
brought dutisA, responsibilities. und crsa-
ted expectations which must be fulfilled.
There is no Disgusting tho fact that the
l ofo vi I
ve maintain our high estate in this rspub-
lie, We rasst be something more than ds!ft-
wood in y stream. We must keep pace
with the nation in all that goes to make .
nation great, glorious and free. Natural
equality We have long pleaded. and right
sously, but now that the fetters are OF, We
must be able to plead practical equality,
equality Of industry. squslity Of morality.
equality of education. equality Of wealth,
equality OF general xttain,n. nts. hardly
need say here thst to all this there are for
midxbls obstacles and discouragoments'
that We have entered the race Of eivilizs-
ton ct an immense disadvantage il mani
fest 10 the candid judgment OF all men. No
people ever entered tho portals Of freedom
under circumstances more unpropitious
than the American freedmen. They we're
flung overheard on an unknown sen in the
midst OF = storm. without planks, ropes,
cars or life rrsservers, and told they must
swim or perish. They were w..hout mon
ey, without friends without shelter, and
without bread. The land which they had
wasered with their tears, enriched With
their blood, titled with their hard hands,
WAS owned by their enemies. They were
food and shelter elsewhere. In view Of
thi. condition Of things the marvel is not
20 much that they have made little prog
ress. but ,Aat they are not exiermiLsted.
regret to observe that even colofed men
are heard to deny that any improvement
has taken place in their condition during
the last twenty years. Ho. they can do
this am utterly unable to see. Twenty
years ago there vss perhaps not . singlS
schooi house for colored children in the
southern states. Now there are 2.0O,0OO
colored children regularly attending
school in those states.
That fnct, which does not stand alone,
is sufficient to refute all the gloomy sto-
riss OF croakers as TO the progress Of the
colored freedmen Of the south. the trou-
BILE with these croakers is that they do mol
consider the point OF the freedmen's de-
partare. They know the heights which
they have still to reach, but do not meas-
ure the depths from which they have
come.
Twenty years, though long time in the
life Of ~ individual. ID but = mpment IN
the life of nation, and no final jadg inent
can b predicatsd Of facts trAnspiri ng
within that limited period.
For one, can say in conclusion fh at
nothing has occurred within these twenty
| years which has dimmsd my hopes OF
CAUSED me to doubt that the smAuci pated
people of this country will avail them
selves Of their opportunities. and by ents
prise, industry, invention, discovery. and
manly character ylndicats the confidence
of theif friends, aud put to silence aud to
shame tue gloomy predictions OF all their
enemies.
There was great outburst Of applause
q the venerable orator concluded hi Q elo
qusnt address and it WAS some moments
before quiet Was restored sufficiently to 81
low the speaking to proceed.
NEWS and SENTIMENT.
tFrom Colored Exchanges)
The colOred voters Of the south