The Washington bee., 1897-04-24
OUR FREEDOM.

PARK. 10000 PEOPLE PRESENT.
Mr.. w. Calvin CHASE. ORATOR OF
THE DAY. CHAIRMAN STEWARDS
ADDRESS.
Good Friday was holiday for the
children in the public schools as well
as it was the 33rd anniversary celebra-
/ tion of the emancipation Of slaves in
/ the District of Columbia. 1t was a
beautiful day and everything pointed
to good display of military. The
hopes ofthe citizens were realized.
! The Chief Marshal, Mr.. Benjamin
Young formed his procession at the
corner of goth and U streets. Major
/ F. {. RevellS who presented a very
| dignitied appearance was in command
of the military and was mounted on a
fine horse. Marshal Young also look
ed we'll and deserves credit for the
arrangements of the parade.
The line of march was past the
! White House where the procession
was reviewed by the President, thence
to the District building where the
Commissioners reviewed it.
Thence to Lincoln Park where a
platform had been erected and ad-
dresses were delived by Mr.. w Calvin
Chase, orator of the day; Mr.. Jesse
Lawson, and Mr.. John A Moss. Ed
itor Magnus l.. Robinson, of Alexan-
dria, Va, read the acts of the emanci-
patton. There were fully ten thousand
people present. After the preliminary
exercises had concluded, the president
of the day, Mr.. Geo. w. Stewart, in
troduCed Editor w. Calvin Chase of
THE BEE, who addressed the vast
multitude as follows:
My FELLOW CITIzENs:-We have
assembled here today to celebrate the
33rd Anniversary of the Emancipation
of Slaves in the District of Columbia;
!. day that should ever be honored and
remembered by this people, who a
years ago were regarded as common
chattel and plgmies by law and custom.
1t is not my purpose, nor do | intend
to speak OF the atrocities of the past
nor will | inCite the young mind of to.
day with that which is still fresh in
the minds of those who have felt, by
experience and personal contact
those acts and deeds which a strug-
CLING people have endured. | will
speak to you of the negro as He Is
and as He WILL BE and endeavor to
show you by existing facts and cirCum-
stances that he is today his own Ell
emy; that his emancipation has been
abused by his own folly and credulity
his American citizenship on the high
seas has not been protected because
he is not factor at home; his present
civil and political rights are disregard
ed by this State Rights Doctrine, sus.
tanned by court of the highest resort
by virtue of his non-political power
in the American body polite
If he possessed that force of charac
ter in the affairs of governments; if he
had the force of character and mind tC
properly discriminate between thai
which is morally wrong and obliterate
that false race pride which has made
negro Leadership failure; he would
today be demanding from the proud
Caucasian, who rules the civilized
world, equality of citizenship and rec.
ognition according to merit.
THE STATE RIGHTS DOCTRINE.
The State Rights Doctrine has
caused more political agitation than
any other measure that has ever been
introduced in Congress. 1t struck the
vital chord of the Southern people,
because it was presumed that it would
effect their slave trade or it would
tend that way. Daniel Webster, in
the Senate, dnuary. 1880, did not be-
lleve that State could repudiate 4
law that was passed by congress.
Mr.. Webster on that occasion fur
ther said: The great question is,
whose prerOgative is it to decide on
the Constitutionality or unConstitu-
tionality of the laws? The opposition
that, in case of supposed violation of
the Constitution by Congress, the
States have a Constitutional right to
interfere, and annul the laws of Con-
gresS, IS the proposition of the gentle
man, do not admit it." Mr.. Web
Ster said it was South Carolina doc
trine."
Mr.. Hayne in the Senate; January
p, 1880, in reply to Mr. Webster, said:
The proposition which | laid down,
and from which the gentleman desents,
is taken from the Virginia resolution of
| 'eS and is in these words; THAT in
case of deliberate, palpable, and
| dangerous exercise, by the Federal
government, of power not granted by
the compact, CThe constitutional the
States who are parties thereto have
right to interpOse, for arresting the
evil, and for maintaining, within their
respective limits, the authorities,
rights, and liberties appertaining to
them" The gentleman insists that
the States have no right to decide
whether the Constitution has been Vi
olated by acts of Congress or not; but
that the Federal government is ex-
elusive judge of that extent of its own
power; and that, in case of violation
fthe Constitution, however, deliber-
ate, palpable, and dangerous, a State
has no constitutional redress, except
where the matter can be brought be-
fore the Supreme Court, whose decis- |
ion must be final and conclusive on
the subject. 1t cannot be doubted !
said MIR. Hayne, and it is not denied. |
that before the Constitution, each |
State was an independent sovereign |
ty, possessing all the rights and pow
erS appertaining to independent ma
tions; nor can it be denied, that after |
the Constitution was formed, they re-
mained equally sovereign and indie
pendent, as to all powers not expressly |
delegated to the Federal govern
ment."
If the position of Mr.. Haynes is the
correct one, Mr.. Cleveland violated the
Constitution when he sent federal
troops in Chicago, ILL.,, to suppress the