National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-28

Yesterday was tho occasion Of the open
ing of tho department Of colored exhibits
in tho government and state building.
Tho colored people Of tho city gave their
support to the celebration nobly. and the
result was q crowd which packed every
nook and Granny of tho gallery in which
the exhibit Of this people is placed, and
comfortably filled tho grand music hall
in the main building. The delegations
began to arrive early in tho day, and
while waiting for tho public exercises
TO begin occupied the timo in an inspec-
tion Of
THE EXHIBITS.
The department will prove n revelation
10 many who have not observed tho pro-
dgious progress made by this race in the
last twenty years. From end to end tho
lengthy gallery is filled with u mngnit-
cent exhibit of the work aud skill OF tho
colored men aud women. All branches
OF industry, agricultural, mechanical, and
inventive, are fully represented. Tho
department covers 3i,320 square feet and
comprises over 10000 distinct exhibits.
All the states in the union save Maine
and Oregon, and all the territories except
Dakota and Arizoua are represented, and
each presents some distinctive features.
Thus Virginia attracts notice by a cUllec-
tion of 1850 photographs taken BY u acolored
artist, while Mississippi takes the fore-
most place In the display Of cotton. Nir-
ginia also has on exhibition largo num-
Der If relics of George Washington. In
etching, embroidery, crayon drawings
and general fine art work tho District of
Columbia Is ;entitled to prominence.
fItun ,,saply ysr,s, oIa al Of fnanhi innpu ahnyy
the aptitude of some members of the
colored race for the mechanical arts
of these one is wog5i ing
model OF locomotive in tie Ar
kansas exhibit, and the second/a model
steamboat in the Massachusetts exhibit.
The latter model was tried in the lake
few days since. and attained n speed of
five or six miles au hoyf. Utah also con
tributes fine bit otrconstructive work in
the shape of complete quartz mill of
improved pAtteTn. invented by colored
man in that teyritory. Alabama is entitled
10 proghHrorce as occupying thei greatest
a.2s6unt of space, while louisianas exhibit
shows the greatest diversity of articles.
Georgia boasts her exhibit of the art of
carriage building, and New Jersey may
we'll be proud of the exhibit of manu-
featured goods made by her colored
representatives here. In tho display of
woman's work New York takes tho lead;
in paintings aud the graphic arts tho
New England States collectively send n
fine collection, aggregating about 22O
paintings. Tennessee is great In cereals
and Pennsylvania shows some industrial
and art work in wire that deserves care
full attention.
It would be possible to go through all
tho exhibits in tho colored department
thus, point ng out the special excellence
of each, but no idea can be obtained OF
the grand appearance of the whole dis
play save by personal examination.
THE CEREMONIES.
At about l o'clock procession OF stu.
dents from tho various colored schools OF
the city entered the Government build
ing at the Prytania street entrance and
moved through the building to the oolored
department. The procession was COM
posed OF delegations from the following
institutions of learning: Southern Uni
versity, Straight University, Leland Uni
versity, and the Fisk School. 1t is esti-
mated that about GOO were in line, and
tho progress Of the procession through tho
building drew quito crowd. Earlier in
the day the LRrendon Rifles, preceded by
the Excelsior band, had marched through
the Exposition grounds and buildings
their soldierly bearing and accurate drill
rliciting expressions OF admiration from
the throng drawn to the scene by the
sound OF drum and fife.
On arriving Mt the central point in the
colorod exhibit, in the gallery directly
over the st. Charles street entrance o
the Government building, the troopi
cleared space around which were
grouped a number of commissioners from
other departments, including the woman''
department, the school children, and dis
tinguished guests while the crowd in tn,
outskirts extended far down the gallery
in either direction.
Right Rev. Bishop Turner, Of Georgia
followed. He said: | am quito unpre
pared TO speak you on this occasion, bu
as stand here to-day, surrounded by tn
result Of 5000 years Of human effort an,
experience, by every variety Of manu-
facture, by sculptures and paintings, an,
every department of science; as | stan,
hero and recognize tho fact that the col
ored race has been invited for the frs
time to contribute its little share, N
matter how meager 1t might be, 10 til
great Exposition. / would be an ingrat
before God and man were l not to fee
some qualification, to feel like utterln
some words Of pleasure.
When the colored people were first in
yited to take part In the exposition
could scarcely believe that understoo,
Alright, knowing how we had beon cold
shouldered in the past and knowing no,
the supreme court had turned us over /
the roughs on the public highways b.
virtue of the decision in the civil right
case. / could not believe that in Louisi
ana, in New Orleans, in the Crescen
City, there was q man known as Directo
Gen. Burke, and that there were othc
mon associated with him on the board q
management, who would rebuko this un
Just decision of the supreme court an
would advocate tho recognition Of on
manhood and of our citizenship in tn
u nner in which they have. The nam
Of Director Gen. Burke will be enshrine
N the gratitude of the negro for oil tim
TO come. Loud applause.l could dra'
picture of tho status Of the CO
ored people of this country. l kno
it as well as any man that breathes th
breath of life; know that we have bee
made hewers of wood and drawer
of water; that wS have been PR
Cluded from all positions of&honC
and merit; that we have been permitte
to do nothing but wait at table and pc
form other menial services, and to plo
and hoe in tho fields do not deprecia
the occupation of farmer or Of tho
who labor under him; l think tho cult
vation of the fruits of the earth 10 Il
graudest and nobest Of all occupation
But the theory has been heretofore he
up before tho world that the negro lackC
the ability that would entitle him AZ
qualify him to fill the rank Of a sllillC
laboror in tho scale Of society.
But tho people Of the south, the vel
people whom tho supreme court had
view when they issued that heayen.da
ing decision, are now saying to the &C
ored man in this Exposition Come,
us see what you have done during the
twenty years; come and join hands wi
us" Applauso.l | thank God that h
vory heart Of the south has rebuked th
decision OF the supreme court. / a
proud of that exhibition Of industry al
of art that saw upstairs in the COVER
ment building. IApplauSe.l