Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-25
URIsPus ATTUUKs.

An Interesting Paper Read Last Eve
 ming Before the Historical Society by
 Rev. MT. NIiller-The ColOred Man
 In the War Of Independence.
 Last evening in the court of common pleas room about fifty members of the Historical society and their friends were present to listen to an able and interesting paper read by the Rev. A. P. Miller, pastor of Dixwell avenue Congregational church of this city. The subject was Crispus Attucks, and in the course of his remarks Nr. Miller gave many an incident of our history connected with the colored man not commonly known. Jt is generally known that Colonel David Hums phrey. after whom Humphreysville and Humphrey street in this city are named, commanded . colored regiment during the revolution. MT. Miller in his remarks said: The, first real beginning of the revolution was that memorable struggle of Crispus Attucks and his little band of men with the British soldiers in the streets of Boston March 6, 1770. Hence the first beginning of the events that led to American freedom and independence was made by g negro, and he paid / for this with his life. The excitement that followed this
 was intense and public funeral was given
 him, at which vast assemblage was con.
 gregated. The anniversary of the event was publicly commemorated in Boston every year until independence had been achieved.
 | Crispus Attucks was fair representative of the colonial negro, and the spirit he dis played in the earliest stages of the struggle, | justly gives him place in the esteem and
 admiration of all lovers of human rights. The free negro fought side by side with the white patriots, nor was their right to bear
 arms disputed by any, and their names may
 Said Daniel Webster in his famous
 Bunker Hill orstion with regard to
 Attucks and his little band on that
 never-to- be.forgotten days. "From that mo-
 ment we may date the reverence of the Brit~
 ish empfre." Another memorable deed of a
 negro in that war was the action of Peter
 Salem, who. at the battle of Bunker Hill, while his white comrades stood bewildered, shot down Major Pitcairn, the British com mandsr, thereby checking their advance and
 saving the day for the Americans This deed of hfs was rewarded, and his name
 handed down iu history. In April, lSS2, the town of Birmingham voted to appropriate $150 for the purpore of erecting monument over his grave in the old burial ground Of | that place. And there has been erected over | his last resting place Q neat marble memorial
 bearing tie following inscription:
 August 16, 1s16. Concord, Bunker Hill. Saratoga,
 erected by the town, 1889.
 It is the heroic conduct and loyalty of | Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem and others of our ancestors that has made this country of ours endeared to the dusky sons of Africa. | The services which the negro rendered this
 country during the revolutionary struggle have been gratefully remembered and eulo- | gized by the true statesman of the country
 whenever the question of American patriots | was the theme. The state of Massachusetts
 has recently caused to be erected @ monu-
 ment to perpetuate the memory of Crispus
 Attuoks in the city of Boston,
 and long after this monument
 shall have crumbled into dust and
 become an indistinguishabls heap of ruins. Crispus Attuck, the negro patriot, will be
 remembered as the one who first struck a
 blow and shed his blood for American inde-
 pendence.
 After MT. Miller had concluded a motion | to give him thanks was made and was most | warmly seconded and passed. It was also | voted that the president appoint @ commits l tee of three to bring the names at the next | meeting for the nomination of vice president. Those appointed were MT. Trowbridge, Gen- | eral E. E. Bradley and MT. Blake.