National Republican., 1888-04-06
VIII Not Sneak al All,

The i,sluwing letter best explains itself
WAsnINGTnN, u. G., April 3, isSS-CrhRLus II.
MARSHALL, ESQ" Chairman, anl w. II JOIpAN,
Secretary. .-GLSTLEMEN: BE pleased ON be.
half Of those whom you represent 10 accept
this reply as an tviduuca Oi my high and sin.
colc apprt ciatiun q the compliment you pay
me II The Invitation extenIed me to be present
Church for the purpose oi speaking tJ In,
twenty sixth anniversary exercises Ia be hclH2
in memory of the emancipation of the slaves
in the District of Columbia. have to rc Irct
that may not accept and for the reasons fol-
lowing:
l. For the first time | am definitely advise
hy the receipt of your letter that there is still
tleIren who have generously burdenel them
selves with The matter Of celebration. T3 my
mind. If there ever was II time Wien there
celebration and as to the method of cclcbra-
tion, II $ now, after the lapse Of twenty.'X
years Il cniranrhisement. when we find that
we haze foes t. the races best intero SIS within
and without of the race; when we find nIt.
selves f.p% %.yesrs kevapar oprpps, aiity pl hiitt
any fixed purpose rs negro American citiZe ~.
men for dua H ceebraon Of M the 1e s"me event Vent
unless for want OF ample accommodations IN
the open air or in the same building.
3. We have In this city II churcn cdlicc Of
our own, spacious and beautiful. centrally
>ituatcd;thc two audience rooms of which
will accommodate all most Interested in the
recurrence OF an event so full with >ignli.
African descent. Men OF the race of intcllCC.
tual attainments outside of Washington an
here are represented In two classeS-thc one
unseling united political cnort,and the other
asking the people to divide their strength.
The people find themselves confuse |; some of
the leaders advising the following of. any
course Of action which eNpediency may sng'
gcst, and II is to be feared for no other plr.
pose than of securing To themselves public
commendation and personal advantages.
Fortunately for me have no aX 10 % md
IL. t1N.a la lAl.N
without any particular reference 10 my Iel low
citizens except in 81 far rs may serve them
in "A professional way. know that the man
Is mistaken who does not see that the cause of
the to-day ensavcd negroes Of the United
states aS To their minds and hearts can be best
served by daily teaching our folks In the
most earnest manner from the pulpit,
| 10y means of the press and by what
ever other means may be availabl lc, that we
| have two dCstinics, one racial and the other
| national, each OF which II Is onr imperative
duty TO follow, neither of which need conflict.
| 10 neglect the one is treason 10 ourselves, to
| disregard the other Is treason TO the state,
| prucaims us unit for citizenship, Further,
| no man OF woman Is fitted so well for this
| work as the man and the woman unlniSta Sn-
| bly, representative of the race whose devotion
| Ia II has II no time been questioned nor been
| questionable. The people OF this District con-
lists of two c0sses-thc one dIlcttante and
| the other the hard fisted sons and daughters
| OF toll, who know how hard the struggle Of
our mothctS and fathers was, and VINO feel
| the tyranny OF the oppression IN Ter which we
| bear IN as best we may as bOndmCn,
| The latter class appreciate the approaching
| twenty'Si%th year oi emancipation and desrc
| To celebrate iis one people Their desire by til"
| two proposed celebrations is one to he de.
| featcd.
For these reasons, though grateful for the
| high regard manifested toward me, must de,
| cline your invitation and will ask TO be ~.
| licved by Mr.. Chase's committee from the full
| iillmCnt of my promise to them. Shoull any
| suggestion have made have the happy result
| uf harmOni2ing the two factions, ! shall be
| happy In contributing my material mite To that
end and my services, should they be required,
| amid the array of talent secured to do crcli
| To so praisewOrthy an object n the commem'
OratiUn of our freedom from physical bon lage
| in this District With sentiments of high re
| gard, am, gentlemen, your obcdlcnt servant
| ,OHN II. SWYTH.