The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-22


CUES, articulatcd under new skies until
the great Father OF the universe SHAH
the rallyinE cry OF oppressed humanity
these truths were taught and widely
prncticed among Odd Fellows. Justice
and Charity Friendship and Truth
bear the same Interpretation. and KIM
die the same enthusiasm IN America as
In England. Liberty, founded upon Jus
tice, Charity, tempered With fraternity.
equality based upon merit share larse
place In the teachings OF our order
our order IN America. represents the
hleh-water mark among the masses OF
our people. Young men OF the better
social standing cultivation and worth as
well as their white haired slres, the Sold
men among US. have linked thelr for
tunes with our brotherhood. The pro-
gress OF the American negro, during the
last generation finds no parallel In the
history OF the world Whatever eur enc
niles may say, facts are more convincing
than theories and truth is stranger than
fiction. Al the close Of the war OF the
rebellion, the freedmen were the poorest
people un the face OF the earth. We had
no home, no roof TO shelter US from the
Unacceptable storm-hOthing save the
blue SIX. and friendly sunshine by day,
the Observation-Disclosures stars by night. We
were huusoless, homeless wanderers
upon the face OF the earth. The negro
had no family TO strengthen and encOur-
age him; family ties were largely denied
him by the circumstances OF his most
unhappy past. He was void Of house
hold goods or sacred memories 10 hold
him IN a steady course We had nothing
but willing hands, honest hearts and I'M
shaken trust in God. Under such cir
cunIstances, TO have established nome
and gathered under a common family
tree, in a generation mis- wife and chill
dren would have been one OF the most
remarkable accomplishments OF history.
To our credit we have done this and
more. In n generation We have accum-
ulated and pay taxes on HOO.OO0.OOO
worth OF real estate. We own and oper-
ate a street car railway In Arkansas We
own $685., 900 worth OF shipping. 10000
worth OF wharfage, five banks with
capital 81 50, 900, 900, 200 daily and weekly
newspapers. In one state alone, we own
500. 900 acres OF land.
small indeed are these figures when
compared with the aggregated wealth OF
our great country. but worthy OF con-
sheraton. when lt Is remembered that
under circumstances NOT the most favor
able. we have accomplished - much In
so short a time. Our material prosperity
rs Uy no NIltdIAH AuA RleAAErs AhAAAAAFAhAAh
our mental advancement has surpassed
our material advancement. In a quar-
ter OF century over 5,500,0O0 OF our race
have learned to read and write. We have
acquired and control IS colleges. 81 acad-
emles, 81 high schools and 9eminaries.
We have more than 10000 teachers In
the public schools. 30 painters OF merited
reputation. l6 sCulptors. 1000 physicians,
2g5 dentists, 5000 lawyers. 2,S0O H. y.
ministers. $40 telegraph operators. $1,000
skilled workmen OF all sorts and condi-
tons. l.i6d engineers, 1900 captains and
pilots Of vessels, $3.50 b0Ok-keepers and
stenographers. 5000 printers.
This work OF educating and uplifting
the masses has been largely done by our
own people. Circumstances have com
PEELED US 20 uplft ourselves. Where In
the annals OF mankind can be found an
other example OF a race rising TO the
sublime statue ut intellectual manhood
and womanhood by its own power. We
have been largely our own teachers We
would not detract from the help given us
by the church. nor the noble self-sacri-
ficing men and women who have suffered
oStracism and contempt In order that
they might devote their energies TO the
cause OF the despised, but the fact re-
mains, the great force used In eleVatlng
our people, has come from within. We
have made bricks. gathering our own
straw. We do not complain: the exer-
lion has been helpful rather than ener-
waiting Circumstances have taught us
self reliance We only beg for our
schools and churches, brad for the
mind. food FOR the soul. The marks OF
past sOrr0ws are not altogether Obllter-
ated, sun our star Of manhood continues
TO ascend. Reformation goes not back
ward. II race has left the first apathy
OF ignorance when Il longs TO shake on
the darkness OF the past. then are we 10
the whlrl OF advancing time and Keeping
step with the music of progression.
Trained in a school OF misfortune, we
hopefully, fearlessly face the future.
Our past sorrows were providentlal.
Through the fiery clouds of suffering
can be dimiy outlined the pulssant hand
OF God. These facts may be prosaic, but
they lead 10 a brad generalization IL
the order has been able TO grow under
circumstances 50 forbiddlng. what must
be the future under brighter skies and
more Inviting prospects2 II IA a pleas
ure TO report that the night IS passing
md faint streaks OF the Incoming light,
soften the threatening sky. with prophe-
cles Of better day. Here and there as
the grey dawn steals nolslessly upon us,
a nlcksring bonfire. or an Illegal lynch
Ing flashes out. proof that Error dies
hard.
By the heart throbs that beat In uni
son. by the mutual sorrows OF the past.
by the frequent touches OF nature that
make the whole world kin. We are nenr-
Ing a better understanding II Is coming
by the way OF the schOolhouse scatter
,lng enlightenment: by the way OF
church disseminating purer concep-
ton OF the Holy Christ. just as the ha-
tired engendered between the two sec
tons OF our country, by war. IS disap-
pearlng as distance from II recedes so
we believe that the aspcrlties between
races must yield to the better Influences
which time alone viii produce. We
have faith to look into the frownlng
face OF bIackest nlght for the rosy hues
OF coming morning faith to believe that
through the threatening clouds that
have so long ovcrshadowed us. VIII
break the golden light OF a new emanci-
On ton. Next to our own happiness, we
pray for the prosperity Of England. our
people. to n man, hope that the friendly
feeling, so long existing between Eng
land and the United States may contln-
ne 20 strengthen az the years roll by
We cherish the hope that never again
the two nations bound by common
tongue. heirs to a common literature
seeking the same high destiny. the nes-
tors and promulEators OF civil and Sc
llgious llberty-wc hope. nay, we de-
mand that nations so united by com
rnunlty OF interests. shall always find
some means 10 settle their differences
without an appeal 10 arms.
We are only on the border OF the
wave OF fraternity which must ult-
mately sweep our land, We Increased
our membership 1900 during the last
year, and still there are more to follow
The principles which we teachand prac-