The Washington bee., 1889-01-05
AT ALEXANDRIA, VA.

inst. proved a grand success in
every r. spect. Long before the
appointed hour, dense crowds of
people assembled around the
building in which the exercises
were to be held. Within a few
moments after the doors of the
Third Baptist church were thrown
open, every seat was occupied,
But still the people came, a con-
tinuols stream Of humanity from
every direction. When Rev. w.
Graham, the able pastor, called
the meeting to order, there was
not standing room in the church;
the people were packed and wedg-
ed in, and yet not one-hslf of the
thousands had gained admittance.
ALI Alexandria and vicinity were
out doors.
The church was tastily draped
with Bunting; aid the choir was
very effective. AS Mr.. L. w.
Pulies, the orator of the evening
arose, a spontaneous ovation was
rendered him. Mr.. Pulies enjoys
the we'll earned reputation of
being a polished gentleman of
learning and one of the most
fearless leaders of his race; but.
if anything was lacking to stamp
him one of the most eloquent and
forceful of our young leaders, his
brilliant effort on this memorable
occasion was sufficient. His
Grafton was scholarly and mas
terly historical review of human
slavery and its gradual extinction
from their inception to the pres
ent time. With sublime pathos
he depicted the wrongs and suf-
ferings of his people, and while
be declared that the rapid pro-
gress of the race had no parallel
in history, ancient or modern,
sacred or profane, yet were they
far from enjoying the full rights,
privileges, aud blessings guarau-
teed by constitutional amend
ments. He held that so long as
slavery existed in the United
States, the "Dcclaration of Inde-
pendance" was a self evident con-
trsdiction to the principles it
enunciated. In powerful Ian
guage he arraigned the South for
its outlawry and crimes against
personal rights and human life,
and warned the nation against the
Nemesis offate. He declared that
the Fifteenth Amendment to the
constitution must be respected
and obeyed, in spirit and in letter,
in every section of this country
no matter what the consequences,
the National government was
pledged, legally and morally,
TO execute the constitution aud
the laws, and in the name of 10,
100000 American citizens of At
rican origin he demanded that
the government redeem It's Piled.
ges and oaths by the honest and
fearless discharge of its duty and
securing to wary citiZens even.
handed, exact justice.
The race problem mast and
would be settled in national and
civilized manner. The negro was
brought here without bis consent,
: against his desire, but was here to
stay, rapidly increasing in num-
bers, wealth, and education. This
was ''condition and not theory
which confronted the white man,
and the sooner it was realized
and a harmonious adjustment
reached, the better it would be
for all concerned, society and
good government. There were now
3O,000,000 negroes on the North
American continent and there
would be in the United States
60.000,000 negroes during the
next so years, if the ratio in in.
crease OF the past 90 years was
maintained. The limit had been
reached when patience ceases to
be a virtue. The wanton shedding
of innocent blood in the South
must cease. With an array OF
stubborn facts the orator proved
that the negro had helped to make
this nation what it was to day;
that he was justly entitled to the
protection of the government and
the right to enjoy the full bless.
ings of good government. He
paid a glowing tribute to the
negroes valot and bravery in war,
from the war of the Revolution
down To and during the war of