Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-13
GRANT AND THE COLORED PEG.
PIE.
the Memorial Meeting At the Nine.
feenth.street Church Last Nfght-Mr.
Frederick Douglass El0quently Eul0.
gtzes the Dead Soldier

A meeting in memory of Gen. Grant was held
last evening, under the auspices OF the colored
people of the District, at the Nineteenth-street
Baptist church. There was a large attendance,
comprising most of the prominent colored peo-
pie of the city. A portrait of Gen. Grant occu-
pied place in the center of the platform, and
about it were pure white flowers. An American
flag covered the wall at the rear, and the front
of the galleries was festooned with Grape In
the organ gallery were seated the members of
the chOrs of st. Luke T. E. church and the
Nineteenth-street church, and during the even.
ing, under the leadership of Mr.. F. G. Miller q
number of appropriate musical selections were
rendered, including the anthem 81 Heard q
amateur glee club and Mr.. J.K. Gray also sang
The meeting was called to order by Mr. F. a.
Barbadoes. the chairman Of the committee Of
arrangements. who announced Hon. j. NJ, Lang
sion "a president of the meeting and w. G,
Chase and J. w. Cromwell as secretaries and q
long list OF vice presidents Prayer was offered
by Rev. W. IT, Brooks, the pastor OF the church.
MIR. LANGsTON's EULoGY.
Mr.. Langston delivered a brief eulogy upon the
life and character of Gen. Grant, whom he conf
pared with Cesar and Wellington. The secre-
tary. Mr. Cromwell. read letters from Col, La
mont for the President, and Capt. George w.
t:ttions To attend the meeting, and regretting
that their absence from the city would prevent
their aceeptanee. Also letters of regret from
ex-senator B. X. Bruce, Rev. Dr. Sunderland,
ana Gen. >. ;. Burdett, the latter through John
cameron, adjutant general OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic.
set OF resolutions were then read nv the
secretary, which gave expression to the sorrow
Oh the colOred race, and their appreciation of
the many acts of Gen. Grant which contributed
I'd making them an integral part of the nation.
These resolutions We're adopted by a viva voce
vote, and a copy will be sent to the family of
Gen. Grant.
THE ADDRESS OF MIR. DOUGLASS.
MIR. Frederick Douglass was then introduced,
ana taking his place near the platform read
rom manuscript an eloquent and appreciative
trloute TO the character and public acts OF Gen.
Grant He said that death has been very busy
IN The ranks OF the friends of freedom during
The past few years There were the graves
made sacred by the noble lives of such men as
and Lincoln. and the host of noble men and
women OF the rank and file by whose efforts
eniranchlsement was secured to the coiored
people Grant was the illuStrious warrior and
statesman, the great captain whose invincible
might saved the republic from diSmember-
ment, and made liberty the law of our land for
ever. IL was too soon for just estimate of his
character, but this much may be said with con-
ndcnce. he was too great to be envious of the
lame Kan. , 3l Others too just to detract from
To be SWayed by popular prejudice, and. in fact,
too great 20 be small. He was accessible to ali
men and did not hide himself behind his dig.
nifty. To MIN more than any other man the
coipred race owe their entranchisement, and
the Indians the humane policy which is now
transcribed that of his party when the colOred
man was subjected To political persecution in
the south. Ii he erred in over confidence In his
friends, as has been claimed it error on
virtues side and placed him far above that dis
gushing meanness which sells friend to buy
an enemy. No class OF the American people
will feel his loss more and treasure his maine
ana lame with greater devotion than the col
ored people. To the cOlored race he had given
he left them tree; he found them aliens he left
them citizens; he found them outside of the
law, he Incorporated them into the American
body polite. Without him, emancipation
would have fallen dead at the feet of southern
slavery. He made flesh and blood of the
nation ward he made thing of the nations
Thought and converted hope into realization.
TIE SAN DOMINGO CONTROVERSY.
During the San Domingo controversy Mr..
Douglass said that he sided with Gen. Grant in
favor of annexation. Gen. Grant believed that
annexation would be the death blow to slavery
IN Cuba. He wanted to see freedom established
sumner opposed annexation, because he
that ii would tend to the humiliation
and determination of the colOred race. Had
san domingo been annexed 1t would have
added much to the influence of the colored ele-
ment i'll this cOuntry-an element that is des-
tined to become more powerful as the wears
roll on, and 10 no one will the race be more
indebted than to Cen Grant. But when he
found that the annexation scheme was opposed
by the people he gave it up. He was not an
Andrew Johnson, to array the executive de-
p..rinent Of THE government against the leais-
lat.Ne- ana he was not "a Cesar, to reject the
crown with longing eyes. In concluding Mr..
Douglass said that the final Grafton to Gen.
Grants memory, the one that will do justice to
his life and character ana go down to succeed
ing generations, must be delivered in the
chamber OF the United States Senate by Roscoe
What this one was ON the floor of
debate the other was on the field OF battle How
they loved each other! How grandly he who is |
now living stood by Grant in every hour of
trial.
MR.. LYNCH.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Douglass remarks |
hX-Representative John X. Lynch, of Missis- |
sippi, delivered an address, and then the au- |
iience was dismissed with the benediction
Reluctantly Dismissed.
A DESERTED WIFE'S COMPLAINT AGAINST HER