The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-16
CELEBRATION BY NEGROES
the EMANCIPATION PROCLAIM.
TON PRAISED.

was galy decorated yesterday with reo'
white, and blue banners and a profusion OF
Virginia and United States flags. A plat
form for the speakers and choir had been
erected in the eastern end OF the hall seve-
raj feet above the floor Of the building, ana
IN the rear Of this was partition made OF
united States colors with large flag oNirgi-
mia in the centre. Hanging on this, and just
hoIow the seal of the state, was large steel
ercvaving of Abraham Lincoln in heavy
ciided frame. Immediately under the pic
furc of Lincoln was round brass shield
with wreath OF very gay flowers suspend
ed from IL. Bright colors, which are so
dear to the eye OF the average ua,h,,
allowed prominently in each attempt 10
beautify. The First Battalion band was
stationed on high stand on the Broad
street aide OF the hall.
PROCEEDINGS BEGUN.
There were between three and four hun
dred people In the hall, when, at 1880
O'Clock, Rev. J. A. Taylor called the meet
ing 70 order, and announced thar lney
would sing the long-metre Doxology. Ihls
he raised himself, and was joined In by All
present. Ii was sung in that long, drawl-
INC style so peculiar to the colored race.
PRAYER was then offered by the Rev. A.
Rinca. pastor of the first c0lored Baptist
church. Manchester. In his prayer he ex-
nressed thanks TO God for the rights and
benefts which belonged to his people, and
nrayed divine blessing upon the colored
race. Rev. j. A. Taylor read America
which was sung by the audience, he lead
ing.
The next on the printed programme was
an address OF welcome by Governor Nc
ha
and w. W. Brown read letter from him.
lie stated that engagements out OF the
city prevented him from being present. In
his letter the Governor said: "Ihat you
should rejoice on the day from which you
date your freedom and celebrate IT In
proper manner is right and natural. see
10 NJ that each days proceedings are char
acterized by good order and dignity becom-
ing so important period in the history oil
vour race and our common country that
nothing NAV occur TO mar the pleasure OF
the occasion or justify harsh criticism on
your conduct. ,,,,.
was al 40 absent, but that a letter had been
received by him expressing his regrets at
not being able TO attend.
TAYLOR SPEAKS.
In the absence Of the Governor and
Mayor, Rev. j. A. Taylor addressed the
together TO discuss any political points. or 10
nominate men 10 strive for the mastery OF
the Government, but that they met to return
thanks 10 God for the blessings that bad de-
scended upon the cO0red people OF the
United States. The point which he dwelt
mostly upon was the necessity OF OrganiZa-
ton. He said that they would in no other
way receive the respect and liberties which
were rightiully theirs. He said that while
n
clpation proclamation, that he knew
not what he wrote, but that his
hand was guided by the angel Of
God. He drew strong comparisons be-
tween the colored race and the children OF
Israel. In speaking of the necessity of the
celebration, he said that the present genera
ton owed II as a duty 10 the memories OF
those fathers and mothers who bore the
heavy yoke Of bondage. He said the bless
ing was as great upon the white people OF
the South as upon the cOlored race; that
the country never would have prospered
while the curse Of slavery rested upon the
land. He said that the same God who
brought the negro out OF American bondage
would carry him on until he shOne before
the world perfect man.
BE ALL RIGHT.
"Iet us abide our time, stand together,
and trample on nobody, and God will make
all right. The trouble with our race now is
that. we don't stick together. Why, we
stick TO anybody but ourselves. We want
race pride. Nobody will ever recognize
you unless you recognize yourself. How
can you expect other people TO respect us
when we don't respect ourselves. just
behind this dark cloud which now
rurrounds us is the hand of God, and
soon the silver lining will be shown" Re-
ferring TO the Anglo-SaXon race, he said that
there was time when julius Caesar said
their lawlessness and degradation was fear
full. Now they are the grandest people on
the face Of the globe. "rhen, why should
we he downfallenW
THANKS TO GOD.
He concluded by reminding his hearers
that there would be no wrangling in the
meeting, but that it was only called 10 en-
pres thanks TO God for guiding the hand Of
the President when he signed the proclama-
ton which made them free. Before taking
his seat he said he thought the day on
which Abraham Lincoln issued the pr0cla-
nation Of emancipation was the one 10 be
annually celebrated.
This was the 22nd day of September, 1868.
He gave as one reason why that day would
be a good one; that the colOred people would
have returned from the watering places, and
those who spent the winter in the South
would not vet have left for the warm cline
of the southland. AS the speaker took his
seat he said, "Music by the band"
GEORGE DOWNING.
Rev. Taylor then introduced George 4.
Downing, of Newport, X. l., as man who
knew President Lincoln intimately. lie
said that he was Of Virginia blood, from old
Accomac, and that when his father was a
boy he had played many day with old
Henry A. Wise. lie said that he knew he
saw before him party OF ladies and gen.
tlemen who knew decorum and decency as
well as did the Executive. lie was here, he
said, to impress upon them that they
owed praise, gratitude, and reverence
20 God rather than TO man. lie said that
there was an object behind the proclama-
ton; that its author said only short while
before he signed IL that If IL were necessary
TO save the Union he would free the negroes,
but II their bondage would save her, why,
keep them slaves. No, my friends, he said,
we owe thanks TO God and not 10 Lincoln.
II. W. GRADY SPEECHES.
He declared that he wished time permit
ted him to take up the recent speeches of
the late Henry w. Grady, Of Georgia, and
Mr.. Watterson, of Kentucky, as he thought
they were proper subjects for remarks, and
he could easily rebuff several OF their state
ments. His words were rather sarcastic
during the most OF his talk, but showed that
his subject had been studied. He said that
he might be flying in the face of the
Governors letter. but certainly not in the
face OF God. Ii we are free, my friends, he
said, then we are free and should have all
the privileges OF American citizens, get
them as we may. He said II WAS not the
ignorance Of the black man that the people
were afraid Of, but that they were
frightened because he was leaving
Ignorance behind, that the more
education the black man had the more de-
cided would be his stand, and he said the
white men knew II. lie entreated them TO
learn well the lessons OF frugality and In
dustry. He said that he believed in no
lodging, that he wanted the full rights for
his race.
VOTED FOR CLEVELAND.
lie voted for Grover Cleveland because he
thought he had the ear OF the South and
would do more for his race than Harrison
could. lie said he had always been edu-
cafe1 In strike WbOmsOpypr struck him. that