The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-02
JOY OVER FREEDOM.
Colored People Celebrate Their
Emancipation.
PROUD OF THEIR PROGRESS.
Able Speeches BY Some of Their Leaders
ON the Blessings Of Freedom and
Use Made of 1t.

Inc colored people of Seattle celebrated
the anniversary of the emancipation
proclamation by holding an enthusiastic
meeting last night in the municipal court
room. Several fine speeches were made
oy colored men, though Captain w. D.
Mathews, of Leavenworth, Kan, who was
expected TO be present to deliver the
speech OF the evening, did not arrive, evil
dentiy having been snow-bound some
Where. The meeting was called to order
py William Gross, and ]. A. Coleman
acted as master of ceremonies. Rev. L. S.
Biakeney led in prayer.
u. ii. Gross was introduced as the first
speaker. He said:
Il am not going to afflict you with a
speech. L am only going to attempt to
translate into words a sentiment that
can see mirrored in all your faces
rejected, as am sure, directly from your
hearts. We have assembled here tonight
10 celebrate that great freedom and ma
tlonal right that was bestowed upon US
thirty years ago. And we commemorate
IT tonight that the rising generations of
our race may imbibe and become more en-
llghtened regarding the noble acts of hero
Ism and patriotism showered upon US by
our friends and brethren in procuring for
US this national legacy
AS race We owe much to the Federal
Union. 1t is that Union that We are chiefly
indebted TO for what makes US most proud
OF our home, country and race. Out of
the chaos and ruin of the rebellion arose
tins great republic, grand and symmet-
rical. Let US behold the gorgeous ensign
OF the republic, now known and honored
throughout the earth, and everywhere
spread over in characters of living light.
blazing on all its ample folds, as they
noat DER land and sea, proclaiming that
sentiment that is dear to every true Amer
lean heart: Liberty and Union now
and forever. one and inseparable."
SO we readily perceive that in our daily
walks of life, during the past thirty years,
the Afro-Americans have proven them
selves loyal citizens to the republic, and,
as Americans, we expect to share equally
the blessings of liberty and ever stand
ready to contend for the rights and liber-
ties of mankind. | am proud to see that
our race is realizing the power of their
rising generation and daily promoting
them to such places in their spheres of life
as Will afford them the opportunity of
propounding their opinions to the world
and demanding the same rights and privi-
leges extended to all other races Ali men
hate to grow old. There is a power in
youthful spirit that all men recognize.
ST. John affirmed it when in words
of love he said Il have written
unto you, young men, because We
are strong Statesmen and philosophers
affirm 1t when they rest upon it the safety
and liberty of the people. So long as a
nation preserves the spirit of youth, the
government and people are safe. The
Afro-Americans are seemingly impressing
wisdom upon the minds of their youth
that they may be able to gain liberty and
justice for their people without an army
and navy, without spear or a shield, but
by the mere exercise of their voice. Free
speech is not merely spark from an elo-
quent orators glowing tongue, even
though his utterance has power to kindle
mems passions or melt their hearts. 1t is
an oratory of its own and not every orator
is Its apostle. Its mission is to rescue from
captivity some divinely inspired truth or
principle that unjust men have locked in
dungeons or bound in chains. For thirty
years the free speech of this country was
consecrated to one sublime idea-an idea
carved on the bell of independence, which
says: Proclaim liberty throughout the
land to all the inhabitants thereof" After
thirty years debate it is like Ophelia's
rosemary-it is for remembrance.
The Afro-Americans had many true
friends, such as Lincoln, Grant, Sumner
and John Brown, who have by their ardu-
Gus labors tried to remove that obstacle
that has prevented US from occupying the
many positions We should hold in this re.
public. But long enough have we waited,
watched aud trusted. 1t is time for US to
act. BY steady perseverance and sincerity.
with our hearts on our welfare and adj
vancement of our race, and our reliance
upon God, we must advance. Crowned
with ambition, the glory of our brow is
justice, the splendor of our eve is liberty.
and our bosom of patriotism and chivalry
shall nourish endless generations.
While other nations are casting off the
chains of despotism, while our Creator is
drawing the oppressors of the earth down
to the rocks, what is to be the position.
what is to be the watchword, of the Afro
Americans? Every day new questions are
brought before us. Now il is one, again
another. Sometimes it is morality, some
times our deficiency in industry and vigor.
and then again that great shadow looming
above the horizon, the color line. Who
Slihll tdht lDtiu anu tear iutiU open ana
let the light shine through them. 1t is
the work of the Afro Americans to prove
TO the inhabitants of the world that
the people do actually govern and
that what eight millions of freemen
determined shall be done. Popular COM
motion and partisan fury may dash their
mad waves against US, but they shall roll
back. Persecution shall not shake US nor
fanaticsm disturb us, but we shall stand
towering, sublime, majestic, immutable
and magnificent. Despair not. then,
soldier. countryman and friend. We shall
yet dwell together in harmony, and but
one nation shall inhabit this great repub-
lie Liberty and union shall spread
civilization from Occident TO Orient, and
from the howery shores of the great south
ern gulf 10 the frozen barriers of the
Arctic-not intertwined with slavery. but
purCed OF its contaminating inhuence-a
civilization that means universal freedom,
universal acknowledgements and universal
brotherhood.
The speech was loudly applauded.
A y. Garner was then called for, and
responded as follows:
Al have not been expecting to be called
upon tonight but that is no evidence that
| am not interested in the question which
has called US together. Knowing things
as do and having studied the history Of
the American negro as | have I would