National Republican., 1883-01-02
THE DOUGLASS IN HIS HALL.
Tho Twentieth Anniversary Of Emancipation
Duly Celebrated.
Complimentary Banquet to Fred Doug
lass by His Countymen.
A Grand Spread Of Good Things Followed by the
Usual Feast Of Reason.
RecoIiections OF the Days When the Graz
die OF Liberation Was Kept Rocking.

Yesterday was the twentieth anniversary
of the signing of the emancipation proclama-
tion by Abraham Lincoln. The day was gem
orally observed by the colored people, and last
evening forty or fifty of the leading colored citi
zens Of tho district and the nation gave din
ner at Fround's, on Ninth street, in honor of
Hon. Frederick Douglass. The party was
very select, and among
THE INVITED GUESTS
wero
ox.United states Senator b. X. Bruce, Hon. Rob-
ert Small, Bishop " VI. Brown, Hon. George w,
Williams Prof James NJ Gregory, Rev. b. I.
Tanner, Judge Samuel Lee Hon. John r. Lynch,
Hon. John f. Cook. Prof r. z. Greener, Mr.; NJ NJ
Holland Dlr. George w. Cook, Mr., Perry II. Car
son, Nc. Alfred HALEY. Mr.. William syphax, MIR.
S. g. Brown Mr.. william T.. Matthews, Mr. G, w.
tune. Mr.. W. r. Davis, Mr. Jesse Lawson. Mr.. A.
y Brodle, Dr; o. NJ. Atwood, Mr II; p Quincy,
Joseph Cwood. Nr.w.H. Hunter, Mr.. r. J. smith,
II Black. Mr. G. r. Douglass, Mr. ", II, richards
Joseph Brooks Or J. r. Francis Justice J. A.
Moss, Prof Wiley Lane, Mr.. J. H. Howard, Mf, p
u. Smppcn, Mr.. Theodore II. Grecn, Mr.. John w.
Ewing supt. G. Il. n Caok, Capt. e. \. Fleetwood,
Capt. y. $. Kelley, Dr. J Z. Riley Mr. w. II, Scott
Mr. VIM. Allen, Mr.. W IL Bruce Mr.. jas y. De
nedy, Mr. Fred. Douglass, ir
The spread was decidedly "swell" affair,
and can be classed as the most notable social
event of the season among the colored people.
The name of
THE HON. FRED. DOUGLASS
will ever be prominent in the history of the
most thrilling epoch in the life of the
republic. In his person he more nearly repre-
sents the development of his race and the
progress of enlightment and civilization on
this continent than any man in public
life. He was closely identified with the early
struggles for the freedom of his people, and
has always stood out clearly, q distinctive and
strong character, man for whom the col
ored people of the nation have reverend re-
gard, and to whose career they may point
with pardonable pride.
Mr.. Freund laid himself out last night to
give his guests an elegant dinner.
THE TABLES
were laden with flowers, and the menu was
the best. The tables were arranged so as to
group the company pleasantly.
Mr.. Douglass occupied place at the head
of the central table, and at his left sat ex-
Senator Bruce, who presided, Bishop Brown
sitting next to the senator. The feast was
opened with prayer, and for two hours the
gentlemen devoted themselves to the con-
sumption Of the viands placed before them.
They thoroughly enjoyed themselves. At 10
o'clock
EX-SENATOR BRUCE
arose to announce that George t. Downing,
of Newport; DIR. Henry J. Brown, of Balti-
more; Hon. William Still, of Philadelphia; |;
Hon. r. d. Ruilian, of Boston, and Prof
Charles Reason, of New York, had sent greet
ing and regrets He then went on to say that
the gentlemen around him had assembled to
do honor to their distinguished fellow citizen.
Mr.. Douglass, he said, was marked man, one
who would certainly have distinguished
himself in any community and in any age
or condition of society. He had won
the love, respect and esteem of his race by
his efforts to free and elevate the black man.
1t is source of intense qualification TO Mr.
Douglass and all his friends that he has lived
to see the glorious fruiti0n Of his highest
hopes and the successful consummation of
his life work. In tho greatness Of his work,
the integrity of his character, his determine
tion, tenacity of purpose, his lofty concep-
tions, and his fearlessness, he has illustrated
in the highest degree the ability, capabilities
and the qualifications of his race. The colored
people have been elevated in the ages of the
world by the life of Frederick Douglass. He
has shown to the civilized world what II col
ored man can do and what the colored men
can be. He is known as familiarly in the
old world as on this side of the Atlantic.
The speaker closed his Introductory panagyrio
with an eloquent peroration, which elected
prolonged applause "Our honored guest"
he said, in conclusion, "will respond to the
sentiment embodied in the words the day."
THE ORATOR OF THE EVENING
made graceful and grateful acknowledgment
in return for the personally complimentary
things he had heard. lie spoke in eulogistic
terms of the chairman, and congratulated the
country upon its good fortune in having such
citizen, the first of his race to sit in the
senate of the United States. He modestly
discamed having any special ability as an
after-dinner speaker, and humorously out
lined what he considered model effort in
that direction. Before long however, he as
eerinuc aud tonly M a
subject upon which the public likes to hear
him discourse.
Mr. President and gentlemen, he said, since
You have taken me into your confidence, my
life, as most of you know, was begun under n
great shadow Before | made part of this
breathing world the chains were forged for
my limbs and the whip Of slave master was
plated for my back and while have labored
and suffered in the cause Of Justice and lib
erty, | have no doletul words TO
utter here tonight. 1t was said Of n great
Irish orator, speaking Of Irish liberty,
that he had rocked it in its cradle and had
followed it TO its grave. ] can say Of the col
ored mars liberty / have rocked IL in lbs
cradle and witnessed its manhood, for stand
tonight in the presence of emancipated mill
ions. lie would be n gloomy man indeed who
could live TO see the desire of his soul accom-
pished and yet spend his life in brief. | am
happy to say now aud here that while my life
has been more of cloud than sunshine, more
OF storm than calm, IL has nevertheless been n
cheerful life, with many conpensations ON
every hand, and not the least among those
compensations, reckon the good word and
will which have come to me ON the
present occasion. This high festival of ours Is
coupled with u day which we do well TO hold
in sacred and everlasting honor, day mem
orable alike in the history of the nation and
in tho life Of M emancipated people This is
the twentieth anniversary of the proclama-
tion of emancipation by Abraham Lincon--a
proclamation which made the name of its au-
thor immortal and glorious throughout the
civilized world. That great act oc his marked
an epoch in the lifu of the whole American
nation, Reelection upon 1t opens 10 US Il vast
wilderness of Thought and feeling. Man is
said TO be an animal looking before and after
To him alone is given the prophetic vision, en-
ablng him to discern the outline of his future
through the mists and shadows Of the past
The day VIC celcbato affords M an eminoncC
from which we may IN u measure survey both
the past and the future. II Is one of those
days which may well count for IL thousand
years.
Until this day twenty years ago there was q
vast incubus on the breast of the American
people, which batlled all the wisdom Of Anlcri
can craftsmanship. Slavery, the sum Of all
vilanios, like vulture was gnawing at the
republic. Until this day there stretched away
behind us an awful chasm of darkness and
despair Of more than two centuries. Until this