The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-05
Colored Citizens Admirably Demon.
strated Their Loyalty to the Party.
Surprisingly Large Street Parade Viewed by
Thousands of People of the Race That
Lined the Sidewalks.
EDglish's 0pera-House Packed to the
Doors to Hear Eminent Orators.
Mesting-Hard Nuts for the Demo-
cats to crack.


zens last night was more than the most
sanguine had boped for. Before the time
advertised for the starting of the street
parade, TO precede the speaking at En-
glish's, fully five thousand colored people
people had congregated at the corner Of
Mississippi and Washington streets and
vicinity, and lined up along the curb
stones to view the procession. Az each
organization made ito appearances IL
was loudly cheered. and the cries from
the crowd were answered with enthusiasm
from the ranks of the marchers. The clubs
took their positions on Washington and
Mississippi streets and fell IN line at their
appointed stations as the procession moved
Oft under command of Charles A. Webb and
q staff of fifteen assistants. Tho column
was headed by the Rising Sun Band which
drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd
by the stirring airs played. much as mag
net attracts steel. Then came the cavalry
with the Hays Band which was followed
by th- Tenth Ward Colored Chase Clnb.
cheering Justify for the Governor ana Pres
ideEt alternately.
At this point in the procession the Fren-
eel cohorts showed their utter disregard of
the colored men by breaking through the
line of march with electric cars at tho
corner of Illinois and Washington Streets
and the procession was compelled to break
or attempt to stand against the electric
cars. and as the latter has resulted fatally
in several instances, they chose the former
and waited till tho cars had passed. when
the march was resumed. the portion
% he NJ M
cut Oft by the cars being compelled
to run a block to close mp the gap. The
female band headed the Third Ward Col
ored Club. with five hundred men In line.
which was closely followed by the Brother
hood band, preceding the carriages in which
the speakers of the evening rode. After the
carriages came clubs from the different
wards, and in the rear fully eight hundred
citizehs fell in line and joined the process
sion. There were fully 1,50O men In line.
oPERA-HoUsE TANNED
Long before the march was ended the en-
tire lower floor of the pera-house was
filled, and when the bands Game marching
in 1t was the signal for q prolonged
cheering which lasted for fifteen minutes
while ever and anon above the din could
be heard the lusty cry of some strong-voiced
enthusiast calling the name of the Prcsl-
dent. Additional inspiration was given by
two Immense flags stretched across the rear
of the stage. All around the house flags
and colors had been tastefully draped and
their soft folds wrapped the chandeliers
and hung from the balconies In q way TO
inspire a patriotic heart with q feeling not
to be restrained. The house filled up rapid
ly and in few minutes was
packed to the doors, every inch
of standing-room being occupied, while
yet others were pushing and crOvding for
a position to see and hear the speakers.
While the din of cheering from thousands
of wildly enthusiastic representatives. OF
the race was still at Its height, Gabriel
Jones stepped to the front OF the stage and
endeavored to quiet the crowd, but it was
no use. The feelings that welled ND In
them were uncomfortable and would not be
confined.
The voice of the speaker attempting to
obtain order was drowned in the cheers of
the audience until they wore themselves
into a semblance of quIetude. when blr.
Jones managed TO make himself heard
long enough to introduce the Hon.
George l.. Knox as chairman of the meet
ing. The appearance of Mr. Knox at the
front of the stage was met with more cheer
ing, and IL seemed that pandemonlum had
broken loose IN the Opera. house for five
minutes. When the applause had ceased
Mr.. Knox briefly addressed the audience as
follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen-It affords me great
pleasure TO have the privilege OF presiding at q
nifcent assembage as now faces ME-. 1t is,
believe. the first time in the history OF my life
that have been permitted TO look up poi sucn
man that looks me in the face Is stanch Repub-
hcan.
Mr.. KNox'S SPEECH.
At this point the speaker was interrupted
by loud cries of: Right! rightw and tre-
mendous cheering for Harrison. Con-
tinuing he said:
ut is not necessary for me to speak at length
You have assembled here as Republicans to
one great party. Knight speak TO you upon the
tariff but there are Others here who Will address
you upon that subject might speak to you
70 follow me. viii, simply speak to
| to the relations of the Democratic and Repub-
| lican parties to our race. What have the Demo
Gratis done for US! II they have ever. in all their
| thanks to them for IL, and we will also give
thanks to the Republican party for all they have
done for us. The two parties are now neck and
| neck in the great race tor the control of this
government, and victory for the Republicans
| means not a victory for the party alone. but .
| victory for every citizen OF the Nation.
What followed immediately after this
| was drowned in the applause which il elicit
| ed, and the speaker won't on TO say:
| We hear celored men say they are independ-
| ent. loud cries from the audience all over the
| house, "Glve III 10 elm. we DeneVe tQ0y are:
| but we would like TO ask them who gave them
the right to vote and power to be
| independent. believe / am in touch with the
| sentiments of this audience when say that we
will vote with the party that gave us the thir-
| teenth and fourteenth amendments to the Constr
| tuition.
The speaker was again interrupted By
| vociferous cheering, which 1t was lmpossi.
! BILE to suppress until from sheer exhaustion
! tho audience was incapable of continuity
It, He then proceeded to speak upon the
| position of the Democracy of the North and
| the Democracy of the South upon the race
| question. The Democracy of the North, y
] he said, land the Democracy of the South
| are head and tail-the Southern Democracy
wags the Northern tail and it moves in &C.
| cordance Can we expect favor from
| our former owners in the SOUTH Among
themselves they talk not of tariff or finance,
| ETC., but of negro supremacy. They dis
/ franchise us by the thousands. as illus
| trated by the Miseissipp constitutional
convention" The speaker concluded by
| another thing for US we owe them debt
| which wo can never pay, because they
| helped US when We could not help our
selves
At the conclusion of the speech the as
| semb!ed crowds aeain burst forth with
loud and prolonged cheers.
REV. J. VI. TOWNSEND.
The Rev. j. NJ. Townsend. of Richmond
Ind, was the next speaker introduced. and
was received with an ovation. Mr.. Town
send said: Il came to you not as politician
but as a humble citizen. whose heart
is running ever with patriotism. loyalty