The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-29


citizens of st. Paul yesterday after
noon. The monument to the patriot
ism of the negro is in the form of an
arch situated at the corner of Summit
avenue and Sixth street, on the line
of march Of the grand parade, and
under which the thousands of veter-
ans who will form the inspiring col
umn on Wednesday next will pass. In
conception and formation the arch is
a beautiful structure of the Ionic style,
with sufficient of the classic in its
spans, which grid the street from curb
to curb, to render 1t both artistic and
imposing. In formation the arch is
composed Of three parts, a main arch
in the center and smaller one at
either end. From the. corners of the
small arches rise. four pillars sur
mounted by glistening gold balls sup
porting staffs from which float Amer
lean flags. In the space between the
pillars and at the ends of the arch
are the names of the famous battles
in which the colored troops partici-
pated. On the east side of the arch
is the significant inscription, who
would be free must first strike the
blow" In large letters on the west
side is the word Welcome" Both in
scriptions are overhung with the
Grand Army badge, about which are
clustered the national colors while
midway on the pillars are medallions
of Lincoln, John Brown, Frederick
Douglass and Biddle, the first colored
man to shed his blood in the cause of
freedom as his troop was passing
through the riotous streets of Balti-
more on the way to the front The
entire structure is covered with green
bunting, and banked with evergreen
branches. symbolizing the cherishing
nuture in which the memory of those
to whom it is erected will he held.
While the gift of the colored citizens
in general, the arch is the direct result
of the unceasing efforts on the part
of the colored women Of the city. and
it was under their management that
the exercises of yesterday were held.
The speakers of the occasion were Mrs.
]. E. Cloak, chairman Of the memorial
committee; Mrs. A. G. Russell, Mrs.
Mrs. J. r. White and Gen. Mason.
The exercises opened with the sing
ing of America" by nearly 300 colored
citizens who had assembled to witness
the ceremony, following which Mrs.
Russell formally presented the arch to
the citizens committee on behalf of
the Afro-American citizens of St. Paul,
supplementing the formal proceedings
with the following address:
'Tis said all things come in time to
those who know how to wait Prayer
fully and patiently for more than three
decades the American nogro mas wait
ed to have extended to him the privi-
lege of publicly showing his gratitude
and appreciation for the veterans Of
the Grand Army of the Republic
Providence decreed that Minnesota
should be first in stepping out from
the narrow bounds Of prejudice and ex-
tending this opportunity. Too much
praise cannot be bestowed upon the
worthy, noble minded and generous
president of the ladies' committee, Mrs
r. M. Newport, and her kind liberal,
broad-minded assistant, Mrs. F. 3.
Johnson, chairman of the ladies' dec
grafton committee, with whom orig
mated the idea of the negro ladies
of st. Paul erecting this arch. Our
worthy president, Mrs. J. HI. Cloak,
seconded by that bright, energetic,
race-loving little woman, Mrs. J. r.
White, with the faithful and earnest
workers of their subcommittee point
with pride to this magnificent arch,
designed by our own eminent artist
Mrs. w. A. Hazel.
No language at my command can
properly translate the feelings of the
hearts Of the black citizens assem-
bled here this afternoon for the glori-
Gus privilege accorded them Of erect
ing this arch, thereby showing some
thing Of an appreciation OF the sacri-
fee made by heroes of the late war.
We show alteration for the veterans
who in their young days left home and
loved ones, and their interests in laying
the foundation of their life's work, and
risked all that they might save their
country from Sdishondr, country
which might not have upon 1t the blot
of human slavery; q country in which,
on the forehead of gflis 1eighbor no man
writeth slave. In our homage and re-
spect we show a race advancement and
progress. and by It show brave ones
that they fought not in vain. Surely