The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-02

If pleasant weather, good order,
gay parade and an able speech are the
requisites of q successful emancipation
celebration the event of yesterday was
a complete success.
The procession was formed promptly
at IL o'clock q. m. in front of Davis
Hall. 1t was headed by Chief Marshal
N. j. Lewis and Lieutenant Marshal DR..
Boland seated on prancing horses whose
heads were decorated with long flowing
plumes and miniature flags. The re-
gala of tho marshals were gay and ex-
travagant and presented every color of
the rainbow. Coming next in the pa
rade after the chief marshal and lieu
tenant was the colored National Brass
Band. of Stanton. The members of
the band were dressed in gay uniforms
with plumed caps and had time keeper
and drum major who marched in front
clad in the gayest colors, wearing epau-
lettes and plumed helmets.
Following these were the footmen ex-
tending along the streets for several
hundred yards. Among the pedestrians
was every variety of Afro Americans,
from the dudish hotel waitor to tho lit
tie toddllng urchin and boot blacks,
that brought up the rear, all bent on
celebrating whether they knew the sig
nificance of it or not.
Next after the pedestrians came the
grand cavalcade, in which there were
about 300oseated on gaily caprisoned
horses all commanded by Ben Collins,
of Salem. Then followed the back pro-
cession, lead by a four-hors coach, in
which were seated G.. w. Hayes, the
orator of the day; II. II. Henry, master
of ceremonies; j. ii. Davis, president;
and j. Ii. Duckwright, chairman of the
Salem committee.
a long procession of carriages and
buggies followed this with the vehicles
gaily decorated with flying flags. The
rear of the procession was brought up
by small negro boy seated on a mule,
upon which there was no saddle, maxi
ing true picture of the old plantation
pillow boy.
The procession moved promptly at
II o'clock from Davis Hall and pa
raded the principal streets of the city.
1t was mile long, and the parade
lasted two hours, winding up at Davis
Hall. the point from which it started.
Immediately after the disbanding the
audience began to assemble in the hall,
where the speaking was to take place.
For some time there was a rush at the
entrance, but the utmost order pre-
vailed and there was not single lar to
mar the pleasure of the occasion.
The hall was Hastily decorated with
evergreens aud ornamental haDgings.
Prominent in the hall was largo life
sized portrait of Abraham Lincoln, be.
fore whom was kneeling a negro slave
with his hands extended, from which
the chains OF slavery were falling. This
portrait was fastened to a staff and held
high up on the rostrum behind the
speakers. 1t was painted by Mr.. Carr,
of this city, and was true picture of
the great abolitionist
At o'clock the house was called to
order by the president, John II. Davis,
and prayer was offered by Rev. R. r.
Jones, pastor of the colored Baptist
Church of this city. The vast audience
then listened with wrapt attention to
the president. who read in a clear, dis
tinct voice the Emancipation proclama-
tion.
The band then played several lively
airs, among hem~"Marching Through
Georgia." after which the president an
nounced that they would have flashes of
eloquence from local orators, limiting
them to five-minute speeches. J. ri.
Duckwrigbt, of Salem, who is young
student. was called upon and made a
five minutes speech that pleased his au-
dience.
A. j. Oliver and J. Riley Dungee,
two young lawyers of this city, both
made spicy five minute speeches.
President Davis then arose and in a
few we'll selected remarks introduced
Prof. G. w. Hayes, the orator of the
day.
Prof. Hayes is closely built, in
telliigent negro of the pure African type.
lie began his speech by paying a trl-
butte to Abraham Lincoln, Sumner and
other great abolitionists. He made
thorough review Of the history of lib
erty, and what 1t had done for the hu-
man race fiom the earliest period of this
worlds history down to tho emancipa-
tion OF the negro, in which he thinks
human liberty reached its zenith
He declared that liberty in ancient
days had demanded in Rome, freedom
from the CALLING yoke of kings; in Rus
STA it had demanded freedom of the
serfs, and in America the freedom Of
the negro; and now it demands healthy
public sentiment that raises all Ameri-
cans to plano Of equal citizenship.
The negro Is now an American citizen.
ana Ine place 1Or American Cit Zen5 Is
in America. -
He was opposed to any exodus of tho
negroes and said: 1--WE are the sons and
daughters of old Virginia and we love
her every hill top, we love and honor
her citizens with whom we have always
lived and expect to continue TO live.
She is the sleeping beauty awaiting to
receive the kiss of the hero who will
resurrect her and place her upon the
palm of her former dingnity and glory"
This speech was natriotic in santimanL