The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-04
ANNIVERSARY
OF FREEDOM.
Observed by COlOred Citi-
zens Last Night.
AN IMPRESSIVE AFFAIR.
Addresses Made by Gov. Dyer,
Mayor Baker and Others.
AN IMPRESSIVE AFFAIR.
MRS. BUSCH'S ORIGINAL POEM.

The anniversary OF the emancipation
proclamation was ce.ebi ated hy the color
ed people of this city last night at Music
hall.
1t was the most complete celebration
OF ths day whom the slave became free
man that has been held in the city. Ad-
dresses were made 10y Gov. Dyer, Mayor
Baker, Adj Gen. Sackett and Brig. Gen.
Kendall. Mrs Olivia Busch read an
original poem and the oration was de-
liyered by Thomas Hope. Several solos
were rendered during the evening and the
emancipation proclamation was read ty
Miss Nellie Dixon.
Between ble hours OF Z and an in
formal reception was held during which
several piano solos were given.
Rev. Il. Harrison opened the formal
exercises at O'Clock with prayer. Rev.
Il. Ill. Hill presided over the meeting and
introduced Gov. Dyer as the first speaker.
lie spoke OF the propriety of celebrat-
ing the day from one end of the country
TO the other, and he thought A braham
Lincoln by signing the emancipation
proclamation only carried out the designs
of God.
Long before that act the people had felt
that In the end, In deluge of blood,
the right must prevail. The right had
prevailed and look at the results. See
what the colored race had become aud
see what 10 was becoming.
When, in the Southeru CoDfederacy, the
men, young and old, were called upon to
enter the Southern army, leaving the
women and children In the homes, al
though the slaves knew that freedom was
coming, there was hot n ohse or violence.
They stayed on the farms and were true
to their trusts.
lhere was here now no difference be.
tween white people and colored men.
Ihs great duty OF good citizenship de-
yolyed upon the freed colored men: the
duty of upnoldIng the flag and il today
the destinies OF the nation were 20 be put
into the hands of the colored people the
nation would be safe.
The chairman congratulated Mayor
Baker upon his success in the recent
campaign and expressed confidence tnat
his term of oiiice would be OF benefit TO
the citizens.
Mayor Baker said that If there " as any
time when political differences should be
laid aside il was on such an occasion as
this.
The act of A Abraham Lincoln in issu-
ing tho emancipation proclamation was
the noblest act in his career and was "A
grand event In the progress of civiliza.
ton. Now that the bond OF slavery had
Leen removed there was Donly one bond
that could keep back any citizens That
was the bond OF ignorance. White and
back citizens alike should seek to reach
a point beyond tbe.slavery OF Ignorance.
In conclusion he shid that the kinRliest
act OF freedom was freedoms vote.
General SackotU spoke of his desire TO
do all in his power for the ooored race
The white race realized equally with the
colored what Lincoln bad done for the
nation and the interests OF both races
were the same He said the colored
militia served the state with ss great de-
votion ms any.
Gen. Kendall gave high praise to the lst
Separate Company of the militia and said
that nothing was more interesting than
the lite of Lincoln. The proclamation
WAS an established fact and the only
thing left was for the negro TO SO educate
his children that they could occupy flttin (
places in society. Education was the
one thing that made citizens and good
mothers. Educate the race aud got it on
a level with the best Of the white PEOPLE.
There was no di ference between goou
white man and good black man,
Mr. Hop, in his oratiOn,. spoke elo-
quently of the history OF the battle