The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-02
4 COLoRED MEMS DAY
Thirty. Second Anniversary Celebration Of
the Emancipation Proclamation.
INTERESTING EXERCISES At CHURCH
a Very Crrditnblc Parade I'm tho AT
%tcrnoom, Followed by SpecciImnlt-
Other ENereiscs Held A.nst Night
by the Sons OF Freedmen.

The thirty-second anniversary CO
emancipation from slavery was cele-
by Il large majority of the col
people yesterday in Il manner
race. The celebration differed from
these Of past years in the fact THAI
yesterday there were two factions In
the field n the manner adopted by
both factions In giving vent to their
enthusiasm was In good taste. 1t will
be remembered that two months ago
wfen the colorcd people began ar
ranging for the annual event, the young
men boltcd the meetings called for the
purpose claiming that IL older men
did not give them any chance 10 take
an active part III the days exercises.
The young men organized themselves
into Sons of Freedman and decided 10
arIanS III observance of their own.
This rs why there were two factions in
the field yesterday, each of which cried
to Guido rchc other.
III older faction. or the REGULARS
as they called themselves. paraded In
the Afternoon. In the line were the
local colorcd military companies, Grand
Army posts, several secret societies,
Pythians, Odd Fellows. two bands of
music and II drum corps. In the rear
were wagons and carriages containing
the widows and children OF the dead
colOred soldiers, female members OF
the association and orators OF the day.
It was an imposing procession. The
principal streets were p%aradcd. after
which he procession marched to the
Bank Street Baptist Church, where an
original poem was read by Luther Cot
ton and the Emancipation p~roclarna-
ton. as signed by President Lincoln,
read by Maggie b. Woolley,. w. II.
Land. 4 c5lorcd attorney. delivered an
address on The Past. Present and Flu
lure of the Negro which was at
tentivcly listened to, after whioh Geo.
l.. Pryor delivered the Grafton, in which
he said:
emerged from the night of slavery into
the light of liberty. 1t was IL cruel
bondage. and we are here to Zebra
the anniversary Of u dcliverance.
We come with nc vain boastinE. with
ND. prctcnse, nor pride. nor song
only with fervent gratitude mingled
with deep anxiety. Here are gathered
the representatives, OF two generations
types of the old and the new order
If things. Soon, ah! soon. these old
mon, children of misfortune and
strangers to sympathy and kindness,
will have ended their pilgrimage here
on earth forever. TO the hands of the
young mel of the race will be con-
si,sncd the destiny OF the American
negro.
Here and there ] see II member of
the Back PhalnnX. They are from the
Trunks OF ll.li SllINN WHO WtnI lDEIn
70 do battle "in the storm OF the years
that are past" Vivid pictures Of the
hcroism OF the contIaband soldier loom
up before me ] hear the call to arms,
and from the cotton and "a plan
tations cnnIN the slave. leaving the
hoe to shoulder the musl,et and prac-
ticc the arts OF war. And now the air
piercing fife, the rub-n-dub of the
drum. and tho dusky troops are off
cad in the blue. following the flag of
the Nation, and Keeping step to the
music Of the Union.
We so with them whittier they go:
we follow them through al their long
and weary marches: we stHnd guard
with some through the watches of the
night. and we tent with Others on the
open battlefield, while above them the
stars WAX and wane, We are with them
one and all. in the thickcst of the fight.
whether at Port Hudson. at Malvern
win. Seven Pines. plustec. Poison
Springs, Fort Wagner or Fort pillow
that most dcplorable spectacle of the
Civil war. Little had these men tn in
-pirc them to deeds Of vnlor They
'iad neither land TO call II country nor
q. spot to call ~ home. For our free
dom came not from any normal CON
dition OF things. 1t carnc to us neither
rs Il blessing from the North. nor as II
blast from the South. 1t arose phoenix
like from the flame Of battle. The
great l'otslilSS ms t'lu us. u c:lnne
across field of fire and smoke, strewn
with wounded, bleeding and dying
men,"
The war was over and we were
clothed with the habiliments OF citi-
zcnship. having. however. no uualifi-
cation for the duties which II imposed.
And now, after a quarter of a cen
tury's experience with the ballot. we
rre gradually realizing that II is far
better to I've qualified for voting than
to vote. The question of morals should
concern us more to-day than that of
citizenship. or even education. For the
educated citizen, lacking in moral
stamina is n constant menace to the
peace OF society. You know that the
state is no better than the aggregate
home life Of the people. Without good
Influences there can be no home worth
the name.
We are just now before the eyes of
the world. wrestling with the problem
of elf-govcrnment. AS YOU hope for
4 strong and better race. YOU must
hear In mind the fact that the race
"anno be better or stronger than the
individuals composing It. In other
words. the stream cannot rise higher
than it's source. Let lis not concern
ourselves about caste and prejudice.
This nightmare will retire at the dawn
of real manhood and real worth. There
is manifest Il growing feeling of dis
Of certain preferred employmcnts for
tho colleges and high schools. This
10 So 80 o,,, ic tfDI11 ,r;t1, 49,. -