The Washington bee., 1890-04-19
18th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR
EMANCIP AATION IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Dy he c'IpTeu pSOplS Sok'OCioI'J vi
Meek enburg and neighboring
counties of Virg MIA, as the one
on which to celebrate their eman-
cipation was the day on which
g d. Lee, under the famous ap-
pie Tee at Appomatox, delivered
his sword to Gen. Grant, the vie
torious plain of the century
The 10Th day of April of this
year, the % b anniversary of the
emancipation of slaves in the Dis
tnct of Columbia. has been select
ed by the cnl.red people OF sid
Dis rict a. the one on which, they
should comm morate annu lily.
the ad .ent of their freedom. the
22nd day of September the d.y
on VIII ch Abraham Lincoln, Pres.
ident of the . lifted 5 ates, issued
his preliminary proclamation of
emanciputian; and the 1st day of
Jan ary 1860, the day on which
this great President issued finally
bis proclamation st emancipation
as war measure spsn which he
asked the considerate judgement
of mankind and the blessings of
Almighty God. releasing thereby
over 3 900, 900 of Amencan slaves,
have both been selected by
the colOred people Of the United
States as fit occasions for the COM
memorative anniversaries Of their
emancipation.
No one can debate the prOrrie-
ty, necessity, aud dignity of such
observances by our colored fellow
citizens. 1t is entirely appropri-
ate that annually, at least, they
should come together in grear
neighborhood and state gather
ings to celebrate their departure
from the land of bondage and to
take reckoning with respect to
the advancement which they are
making In the ways of that
f,eedom which is guaranteed to
them by law as American citizens.
On last Wednesday morning Is
thousand colored citizens at least
residents of the District of GOium-
bia and citize, of the States of
Maryland aud Virginia, assembI-
ed in the National Capitol, Tre--
senting themselves 10 their best
apparel and il their very best con-
dItion of temper and sppea rauce
TO commemorate the 28th annIver-
sary of the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia.
Of every apartment connected
with the parade, its movement
across the route, previously an-
nOunced, its review by the Presi-
dent of the Unit d States and the
Commissioners of the District, the
behavior of the people massed
along every part Of the long
march 10 Lincoln Park and the
admirable conduct OF the ten
thousand people that crowded
about the speakers stand giving
earnest attention to the exercises
there.taken place, no words can
be used other than those of the
highest commentator aud praise.
OF the exercises which took place
from the speakers stand at Lin
coin Park near Lincoln monu-
ment, 1t is proper to State that
strict observance was had of the
order of eX rcises az announced
by the committee on speakers hav
ing the same in charge.
The stand was loaded with dis
tinguished persons white and COL
ored. Mr. Chase introduced Hon
Blanche X. Bruce as the presid-
ing officer of rhe occasion, who on
assuming duties imposed upon
him made an appropriate brief iu~
troductory address. The other
exercises were had in due order.
including of course the Grafton of
the occasion which was delivered
by he Hon. John NJ Langston
OF Va, as annouced. His subject
was the progress OF the colored
Amercau of the District Since
his emancipation. In dwelling
upon this subject, Mr.. Laugston
employed, in eloquent and forcl-
bic manner to tie entire satisfac-
tion of that vast audience, those
words and sentiments of hope
and encouragement suggested,
naturally enough, in connection
with the progress of the colored
American within the past % yrs,
the period of his freedom and in.