National Republican., 1884-04-17
EMANCIPATION.
The Annual Parade in COmmemOratOn Of the
Day That Gave Race to Freedom.
Scenes and Incidents Of the Line--Tho
Proceedings at Night.

the emancipation OF tho c0lored race from
slavery was the most imposing demonstration
Of the kind ever witnessed in Washington
city. The day was all that could have been
desired for such demonstration. II dawned
brightly, and, as something quito different
from other brightly-dawning days for the
past two months, it kept bright. The day
came after o dark and partly stormy night
out of darkness into light-symbolizing as it
were, the former condition of the colored
race when bound in slavery, that relic Of q
barbario age, and contrasted with which is
their present happy condition-enjoyed amid
the bright sunlight Of freedom.
The city at an early hour presented holi-
day appearance with the mass of colored
people passing along the avenue and adjacent
streets. 1t was an orderly-looking throng of
men, women, and children, all dressed in
their SUNDAY clothes" and all heading in
one direction-the place Of assembling of the
procession, at Twenty-ilrst and NJ streets.
There were thousands of not only colored,
but white strangers in the city. aud many
improved the opportunity to take in tho
white house and pay their respects to Presi-
dent Arthur. Tho influx Of colored people
from "Ole Virginny" was very large. They
came, from grandfather and grandmother,
down to infants, in every kind Of vehicle that
could be obtained. Some of them, from tho
looks of their muddy boots and weary resting
upon their canos, must havo footed 1t from
their homes to Washington. One old colored
man who had lived to have his eyes blessed
with the sight of two or three generations of
his race basking meath freedoms Skies was
noticed mounted upon q horse that looked
rather the worse for wear, but the smiles upon
the old mans face told how much he enjoyed
tho recurrence Of the anniversary of The day
when President Liucoln with one stroke of
his pen emancipatod thousands Of slaves.
Yesterday was not only emancipation day
to tho colored people as typical Of their be-
coming freedmen, but 1t was to them holi-
day and emancipation from work. The
butler, the cook, and the coachman in the
mansions Of the wealthy, tho porters and
messengers in the departments, the walters
at the public dining rooms the hostlers and
carriage washers in the stables, the laborers
with their shovels and plows, the hodcarriers
upon new buildings, and, in fact. most all of
the colored sons of toll, were allowed at least
half days respite so that they could join
with their brethren In the celebration of the
anniversary of emancipation day.
The military and civic organizations, like
most of large demonstrations, were ordered
by the chief marshal, Joy, to assemble early.
This part of tho programme, however, was
not carried out to the very letter, as some of
the organizations were very late in arriving
at the rendezvous.
The vast crowd that had meandered to-
ward Twenty-first and N streets became
tired of waiting for tho alignment and
moving of the respective divisions, and
coming further down the avenue thronged in
front of the executive mausion, and filled the
beautiful Lafayette park. There was another
dense mass cong regated at the intersection of
Pennsylvania avenue and Fifteenth street,
where Lieut. Arnold ana o squad of police
men were stationed to maintain order. The
broad portcoes Of tho treasury building
presented tho spectacle of an amalgamat ed
throng Of both white and colored people, and
colored people were everywhere to be seen.
The delay in the moving of the procession
was boom for the peanut, cake, and pie
venders, and they looked as if they would
like to have an emancipation-dayo celebration
about once or twice every week. The day
being slightly warm lemonade was also in
demand.
The route of procession was as follows
Twenty-frst to west = street. to Thirty
second, to u, to Pennsylvania avenue, to the
Presidents house, along Pennsylvania avenue
to Louisiana avenue, to Four-and-a-hali
street, pass the commissioners' office to Penn
sylvania avenue, to First street, around the
south side of the capitol, thence down Penn
sylvania avenue east to Eleventh street
thence to Lincoln park, and returning along
East Capitol street to New Jersey avenue to
Indiana avenue, to the city hall.
The formation was as follows
Chief marshal, Gilbert l.. Joy; chief of
stat, George d. Graham; right aid, Logan
Williams; left aid, Tillman Dorsey; secretary
to chief of staff; Rev. Robert johnson and
staff.
1t was within few minutes of o'clock
when Chief Marshal Joy and his aids, mounted
upon spirited chargers, reached the review
ing place in front Of the white house. Presi-
dent Arthur stood there all alone, unattended
by any member of his cabinet. The President
removed his hat in response to salutes as the
procession, composed of the military and civic
societies published in yesterdays REPUBLI-
CAN, filed by him. There were about 5000
men in line, and 1t took the procession some-
thing like three-quarters of an hour to pass
given point. Order prevailed during the
entire demonstration. The men all looked
and marched woll.
The emancipation exercises at night took
place at Asbury A. M. L. church, on the
corner of Eleventh and X streets northwest
The church was filled in every mart and
quito q number Of white persons were
present Seated upon the pulpit platform
were the colored historian George w. Will
Calvin Chase, Arthur st. A. Smith, d. A.
Atwood, Rev. r. A. Reed, L. A. Forrest
Frederick Douglass, Prof. J. NJ. Gregory,
Prof R. T. Greener, John +. Cook district
collector of taxes; Perry Carson; ]. II
l. Rainey, ex-member of congress from
South Carolina; B, D. Paul, George w. Stew
art, and others. Calvin S. Chase presided
The emancipation acts of congress were read
by d. A. Atwood. Speeches were made b,
Calvin S. Chase, George w. Williams, Col
William MuErell, Arthur st. A. Smith, and Z
A. Forrest. The speeches were all of a con
gratulatory character as to the emancipation
of the slaves and the progress that the coloret
people have made in the arts ant
sciences since becoming freedmen. Tn,
review made by historian Williams wa
frequently applauded. He referred to wha
Douglass, Greener and others had done fol-
the cause of freedom, and said that Douglass
would always remain the historic negro.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. r. A. Reed, and the choir sang several
appr opriate selections,