The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-28
BISHOP ARNETT'S WORDS
AN OHIO DIVINE TALKS SOUND MON
Ely TO CoLORED MEN.
Enthusiastic Meeting at the Grand
Opera House-Bryan VIII Get None
of the Negro Vote.

Bishop B. w. Arnett, of Ohio, last night
addressed the colored people of the city at
the Grand Opera House. The place was
filled, there being scarcely a vacant seat
and those present were well repaid for at
tending. Bishop Arnett has all the fire of
his race, and abounds in their wonderful
gift of figures of speech. His many we'll
placed figures kept the audience laughing
or cheering most of the time; in fact it was
often the case that he could not resume
his remarks for more than two or three
minutes on account of the laughter that
would come out and could not be quieted
until 1t had spent it's energy. Although it
was a colored peoples meeting, there were
many white people in the audience, and
their laughter at the witty remarks of the
speaker indicated that they were getting
full value for the time spent With his
unusual store of wit and fun Bishop Arnett
also has a great power Of oratory and the
ability to frame expressive periods that
Is almost unexcelled. His eu1ogy of Lincoln
and his description, or rather sketch, of the
part the negro race has played in the af-
fairs of this country were loudly applauded.
His eulogy of Lincoln was especially good,
and when ne closed it with the statement
and now he is saint in heaven" there
was a tremendous applause which lasted
for fully two minutes. His closing remarks
put the audience in a paroxyism of laugh
ter which had scarcely died out when the
people reached the street In a very solemn
manner and tone he had been speaking of
the power of the ballot and of the APP
preaching time when every free man
would express his views through the ballot
He closed with the remark that next Tues
day each man would drop 1.-The ballot that
faiI ell A. -.
sod, yet executes the free mans will as the
lightning does that of God" land will ex-
ecute Bryan at the same time" The close
was unexpected, and for Il moment the
hearers did not seem to fully understand
the change from the most. solemn manner
TO the llghtnesS of the last expression. but
when they did realize it there was a great
cheer went up, amid which the speaker sat
down
1t was Sis o'clock before the speaker ar
rived at the opera house. escorted by a
number of the vice presidents of the meet
ing. Elder Morton then opened the meet
ing, and introduced Gabriel l. Jones as the
~ evident that Bryan's visit to this city
had left a few colored people who are still
Republicans The vice presidents of the
meeting We're; G.; l.. Knox, J. NJ. Porter,
c. A. Webb, ]. n. Baptist, John A Pur-
year, w. III. Jackson. ID. d. Wells, Nathan
Pierce William Jackson. DR.. S; A: Fur
A. Mays. James Shelton, w. w. Christy
William Walden, Charles Brown Frank
btChWOIlH. <AHdETSOn LEWIS, Alien SIMS,
Laws Seaton, Charles Stapp. Joseph II.
Broyles, Thaddius Johnson, John Smith,
Octavius c. Royal, Bruce Bagby, Jesse
Ringold II. c. Turner. Isaac Allen and Ben
Thornton.
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS.
In opening Bishop Arnett said: "Mr.
Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen, and, by
the Grace of the Republican Party. Fellow
citizens-I offer apology for being here.
came at the demand of my citizenship and
because the interest Of my country called
me. There are times when the issues
affect, either directly or indirectly, every
man, woman and child in this country.
During the war of the revolution, when the
Americans chastised the British tyrants;
in the war of 1861 and 1865. when our Ma
ton groaned from center to circumference:
when the war cloud hung low and dark and
mimic balls whistled their desoiating songs