The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-19
Veteran Citizens Historical Association
ToITHE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:

ToITHE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:
We had the pleasure at the meeting of the
Rhode Island Veteran Citizens Historical Asso-
citation on Thursday afternoon. at the Elisha
Dyer Vinton Home, of hearing a most elo-
quent address, from Hon. George II. Downing
Of Newport, the well-known orator, South
and North, on the text "ls the Nation to
Become Color Blindf' and we were richly re
paid for our visit. Mr.. Downing seemed 10 us
to speak in somewhat of Respondent mood,
oppressed by and mindful of the persF Fcutiops
and lynchings of his race i'm the past and pres
ent, but yet affirmed full confidence in that
Omnipotence which moves in mysterious ways
and will yet cause the wrath of man TO praise
Him. He believes new type OF civilization
is bsng developed on this continent, founded
on the doctrines unti ittcus which our perse-
cutcd Saviour preached nearly 1000 years
ago i'm Jerusalem. Our fathers founded for us
a free nation, based ON the eternal principles
OF justice The United States constitution
guarantees TO oil life liberty and the pur suit
of happiness, and in most eloquent tones he
closed by happy portrayal OF that auspicious
day when the common brotherhood of man,
supported by Divinity itself shall be firmly
was established in this free land
President Denison highly commended the
courage of the black regiments and named one
that marched through Beaufort, N. c., led by
n Maine white band, where the boys were
jubiiant with JOY and declared every step
worth half "A dollar. Mr.. Austin eulogzed
the heroism of the colored soldiers and pre-
sented Mr.. Downing with beautiful b.olk Of
poems.
General Shaw eloquently pictured the
bravery and dash of his colored soldiers in
several bal ties i'm the war where victory
perched on the Union banners. and found
them loval and true to the cause OF liberty
and the Union.
secretary Cook presented fine photograph
of Hon. Thomas Davis to Mr.. Downing and
related an aneciote of chaplain who bap-
tized l2 converts of one regiment ons Sunday
morning The colonel of the next regiment
in camp heard of il and said his regiment
must be ahead in everything, and the next
Sabbath morning ordered his adjutant to de-
tail 13 men for his chaplain to baptize.
Professor A. NJ Gammell spoke of colored
labor in southern mills, and of one in Savan-
nah where colorcd labor had been employed
successfully in equipping and running cotton
mill Hon J. II. Brown attested their 10y
atty South, and said that after the emancipa-
tion proclamation of President Lincoln at
| washington, ID. o., elected run Union ucket
| several years and that the colorei vote was
| II handsome part of the total vote in the Dis
| trict OF Columbia, then as large as the State
of Rhode Island. Mr.. Henry Rowland be-
| lioved that there would be unifcation of
| races as woTT as OF nationa1itios, and both are
| important for the permanent welfare of the
| nation.
| Mr. Stone related an anecdote which Bishop
| Fowler gave in his great lecture on abraham
| Lincoln. A major general captured eight
| cows and wrote President Lincoln asking
"what he should do with them" Mr. Lin
coin wrote back i'm reply, "nilS them, gen
| eral."
Mr.. James jefferson closed the discussion
| with a graphic recital of his war experience
| and believed the colored race must make their
own history and character ny living good lives
and by honesty, temperance, good behavior
and good citizenship they could win the
esteem and sympathy Of all their countrymen
in this free and happy land.
s. veral new members Joined and the large
audience including many ladies and whit,
and colored veterans, was greatly gratifiet
with this unusually interesting and instruc
tive meeting.