The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-01

to PrOSrnm-Oratofy w As the fIfnctPd
Feature of the Day-weicome and Re
onses-InstaIlAtion of Officers and q
Bali Last Nieht-Other Features of the
Day Among the Coiored People.
The oolored emancipation demonstra-
ton and picnic came off yesterday al
The park The picnic was a success
but the demonstration was not. Fer
some reason the great excursion spok-
en and. written 50 much about didn I
unaterialize. Henry DiHard, who mad
charge Of It wired that it would not
come but ne gave 10 reasons The
barbecue did not materialize 10 any
great extent either. The trench was dug
the fire blazed in IL, the steel rails were
/ red hot but there were no beeves or
sheep there A few pots Of meat boiled
bot that was ali.
II seems that the affair was double
headed. There were two organizations
One was the local picnic and the other
was the Knights OF Pythias. Both of
them We're independent TIE knights
participated in the affair only 20 the
extent of oratory. They marched there
also for the local picnic but there were
10 arrangements made for them 70
speak and they did not speak. After
the wslcoznin gaddress and responses
were delivered tie Knights of Pythias
returned 10 the city and in the evening
gave a ublic-instaaation OF officers al
Red Mems hall.
The welcoming address at the park
Tas made by Mr.. Rohrbaugh who spoke
= part, as follows:
Fellow citizens and visiting members
Of the grand lodge of Knights of Pyth-
as Of the colOrsd men of Kansas
have been asked to give you a heatry
welcome to the city and as l stand here
IN the fulcrum of your political en-
Reimbursement and look back over the
thirty years Of your freedom and watch
the growth OF this child liberty and see
Il now stand like a giant of progress
after thirty years of "r0ughing il"
feel that this cay is not an inappro-
pirate time for your meeting. None
need envy the man who can stand in
the rotunda Of the great capitol build
ing at Washington, and gaze unmoved
On the bronze figure Of the immortal
Lincoln. as he holds out that sacred
paper, The Proclamation OF Emancipa-
feet.
How any man Fan contemplate tina,
picture without being moved by the
rushing memories Of the third of the cen
tury past, is a mystery incomprehensi-
Die. never look upon il that my mind
does not revert TO the scenes Of my
ooyhood down in the Virginias, where
l saw the cianking chains of slavery
and heard the crack of the masters
lash, and / can again hear the rattle
OF muSketry and the belchiag of can
non. l see these colorsed men and wo-
men flying 20 the north for protection,
pining for liberty as the Gagged bird
beats its wings against the bars of its
PRISON, in vain attempt TO gain its
freedom l see the husband separate
from his wife, the mother torn from
the ba be of her bosom and sold into
other bondage. ] see the officers OF
the law authorized 10 arrest the escap-
ed slave wherever found and return IL
10 the ''Lagree" Of the south with his
relentless lash and wicked heart. I see
all these millions OF human beings de-
MED the right TO meet together for any
1ruoSe. even to WORSHIP the God who
made them, denied the right 10 learn
to read or write les5 thew should aspire
10 freedom and rise against their inhu-
man to-mentors. And I see all this
enforced by laws made by the Chris
tan white man who controlled the ma
ton.
But when the battle Of Gods wrath
was full, saw him rise up a man and
pat him az the head Of this nation
whose great heart controlled his head.
and he wrote in letters of blood amidst
the awful wreck of war and the noise
-
burden Of your cabalistic words Friend
ship. Charity and Benevolenee," in his
own characteristic way. When he said
with charity to all and malice toward
none
II was then the clanking chains fell
away from the black mans limbs and
these millions Of poor, ignorant broken
IN spirit and homeless people began to
aSr'i~e - the estate Of manhood and wo-
r -soi. And one Universal God
bless you Massa Linkum" welled up
from the hearts of this down-trodden
people. Their gratitude was shown at
Fort Pillow. at Petersburg and wher-
ever they were called upon TO carry
the stars and stripes for "Massa Lin
ikum;" they were small in mind but
great in heart. Their bravery on the
field of battle has never been question
ed Dy any man.
Mr. Lincoln gave these people good
advice. They looked upon him (as wen
they might as their Moses, and were
willing that he should be their law
give--
Ny friends you have followed this
advice much closer than any other peo-
pie would have done, and now I watch
your struggles from ignorance and pow
erty. without money. lands or homes IN
through the denSest prejudice. you have
earned your reward. And you have il. |
Your progress as people. ia without i
parallel in the annals OF history.
And now / see these same millions
Of people and their children within the
short space Of thirty years reading.
writing. teaching. taking their places
In the learned professions. engaged in
business. owning their own homes, step
ping in this short time from slavery 10
congress and the legislative halls Of the
states. Representing this great coun-
try in foreign countries and perform
ing all these duties with credit 10 their
race.
This is what makes IL possible for you
10 meet in This city today as members
Of q secret organization. and engage IN
the work OF bsnevolence 70 humanity.
As such l welcome you 10 a city
whose cc@oSed population with a friend |
ship" warm and hearty hangs the |