Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-16
AFR0-AM ERICANS.
AcoLoREo MINISTER PROPOSES THIS
NAME FOR The NEGRO RACE.
opening Day OF the Emancipation Cele-
bration--severai Speeches TO a Small
Crowd-TO~Day's Programme.


cess.
About three hundred people assembled
in the east end Of the Main Exposition
building. Though few in numbers, the
crowd was not lacking in enthusiasm.
To-day it is expected that many
colored visitors will be here, and
that the celebration will be much more
creditablc.
THE DECORATIONS.
The rosirum nj the end Of the hall
was very preitily decorated in the colors
of the Union aud banners of red, white,
and hlue waved in almost every dlrec-
ton. Immediately in the rear Of the
sneakers platform the flag Of Virginia
was drapcd IN among the Stars ana Bars,
whilo under this an engraving OF " Abe
Lincoln wss hung. Beneath this was
eilded shiold. which, If not strictly or
pamentsl, certainly took away little OF
ihe inconeruity of the idea of having
Marse Abe's picture under the "Hic
.NcpDcr Tgynnuis" banner. The usual
accompaniment OF paper flowers ana
tissue paper, always SO pleasant 10 the
ewes ~ the cOlOrcd people added DTlght'
ue.s and richness 10 the scene.
The speakers stand was profusely de
corated with flags, aud upon ITS front
we're fwo crossed banners, one the Stars
and Stripes and the other bearing the
picture Of Lincoln. The Young Bat
tshon Band rendered music.
ruE rxERcIsEs BEGIN.
Ecv. J. A. Taylor called the meeting
to order no $50 boy a vigorous rap upon
fine table. and Immediately commenced
r.ngiup the Doxolog. He was followed
by tle audience. There was no instru-
mental accompaniment.
Irv. A. Bmgu, ID. d., Of the First
E,unst church Of Manchester offered
1erycut prayer in which he asked the
Maker 10 elevate his rsce and bring
peace forever over the land. lie prayed
that no law oppressive to his people
should be enacted.
LETTER FROM TIE GoyERNOR.
Tho Chairman asked all to Join in
rnrug America, and commencing
tlo tune himself he was followed by the
audience. After the singing the Chalr-
man sand:
According to the programme we
were 10 have welcome from Governor
Mckinney. but ne is not present We,
Iow,v,r. have a letter from him which
will he read bv Rev. W W. Brown,
president of tho True Keiormers' Say
Igg auk.
the Governor stated that previous en-
rlpements for the three days prevented
ls attending In concluding his COM
mIuiCatiOn he sad
"Ihnt YOU should rejoice on the day
from which you date your freedom aud
celebrate 1t in aproper manner Is right
aud natural
"Seo to it that each days proceed
inps are characterized 10y good order
and dignity becoming so important pc
rod in the history Of your race and our
common country, that nothing may oc-
cur 10 mar the pleasure of the occasion
or Justify harsh criticism on your con-
duet.
"The next name on the programme
Is that of Mayor Ellyson, said the Chair
man, "but he also is absent letter,
however, expressing his regrets has been
received by the committee
THE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS.
The Chairman said the next speaker
was himself, but as he had expected
both the Governor and Mayor to de-
liver the welcoming addresses he had
not prepared himself to make formal
speech.
I'm commencing his address he said
that the meeting had not been called for
political purposes, but i'll order to give
thanks for their freedom.
iic compared his race to the Jewish
Of in
and trouble had "etuck together and
emerged triumphant.
THE HAND OF GOD.
"E believe continued he, "that
while Lincoln wrote the emancipation
uroclamution he wrote. not knowing
what be- did, but that the angel Of
cod came down and guided his hand.
believe it was God who wrote it APP
ulnuso.1 believe history has only re-
prated itself in America in delivering the
negro from bondage and tits only Just
that wo should meet once year and
thank Cod for bringing the blessing to
us which We enjoy to-day.
1--WE have not met to-day TO stir up
cmhers OF the past-God forbid we have
erander purpose TO hand down 10 our
children and our childrcns children,
this blessing OF God which has wiped the
bot Of slavery from our land.
81 am content" he added, "to abide
my time; Israel did not get to the land
Of Canaan in forty days, but forty years.
The same God that brought them out
may bc 10y degrees bringing us ont until
westnd with the best | am content
10 biie my time, lellow-citizens
RACE PRIDE
"What we want IS race pride. Don't
iOye everybody better than you do your
selves. We should not trample on any
body. but love and stick 10y each other.
Nobody is going TO respect you when
Won don't respect yourselves ! want to
see the time when We viii rise in our
manhood, our virtue, and in every other
department.
Becoming animated in his flight, the
speaker said "Iho bud may have a
bitter taste, but sweet will be the
Lower" Then let us trust in him.
The speaker referred to the present
glory OF tho Angry Saxon race, and
told how CWsar had found them bar
uarous nation, and had said they were
too degraded even TO be taken prisoners.
All the white people WIZ thlhh more
Of us, " the speaker went on to say, for
beng united. We are not working for
Virginia. but what we want is 10 select Il
lav that will suit for all the people in
this country. For my part l think the
best day ior us to select to be celebrated
is the day on which Abraham Lincoln
issued the emancipation proclamation.
II was that document which abolished
slavery in America That day will suit
the people North, East, South, and
West
AT THE WATERING PLACES.
In The summer the people all so to tho
watering places and in the winter TO toe
South but 10y then September 22d) they
.ra oil en,,fp, homo an1 their crons ar,