Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-01-08
ROANOKE SPECIAL.
EMANCIPATION CELE-
BRATION.
A Grand Success.
GLOWING SET OF RES
OLUTIONS.
Other Doings in the Magic
City.

RoAxeKB, VA, JAN. 4, 18eS.-Last
Saturday, January 1. 1888, was = day
that will long be remembered as long
~ Roanoke is q city and the people
who Witnessed il live. The day
brought to bear the occasion of cele-
brating the Proclamation of Enamel
patton. Notwithstanding the day be-
ing very cold and windy, hundreds of
patriotic meR and women were seen
early in the morning busily engaged
going to and fro endeavoring to make
the EFFORT one more grand success.
which they did.
The parade which left Davis's Hall
Marshal, DR., r. J. Bland, ably assisted
by Messrs. ]. W. Curle, A f. Brook. J.
Riley pungee $50, Robert Jefferies,
ID. Jackson, ". G. Bland. P. w. Oliver
Sn1 others w2s indeed . marked sue
eegs. The ps5Stle was fully mile
long and never before in the existence
OF Roanoke has so many representa-
tive and business men been marshall
ed together to make another page in
history and it would be Of interest TO
our many readers il spaee would per-
init us co men ion the participants, for
there were carriages open and closed,
men on horseback, boys on bicycles.
Aoats, farm wagons filed with hay and
country produce, and most everything
that showed where progress had been
made since the unhappy days OF yore
Along the line OF march which was
ss.rc.-rh the pTiGciDal streets fully 10,
600 people Witnessed the parade.
Nevertheless it was freezing cold
people could be seen on house tops,
On porch-tops and every available
place where they could get q glimpse
at the passing show, About 4 p m,
the parade ended at the Opera House,
where the second part of the program
was carried in part, caused by the
lAteness of the hour.
Three bands were in attendance and
form shed music for the occasion re-
specuvely: the Russell Cornet Band
Lynehburg, the Silver Cornet Bsnd
Elkhorn, w. va, and the True Reform.
ers Band of Roanoke. The music wal
grand and up-to-date and speaks muct
tor the conductors.
The Opera House was packed from
stage 10 door. The house was called *
order by the Elkhorn Band rendering
. aslection, Mr.. Peter France ccnduc
tor. Then the president OF the Eman
- 10
I'd fAA meeting with an introductor,
address, in part as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen I'VE hav'
asse M bled ourselV sxcSs -etIer this da,
10 celebrate an event not less justifia
BILE than the Declaration of Independ
ence. aid second only am sure TO tn
greatest of all events-the coming o
Ohrist.
THE first day of January, 1853, o
which this is the thirty-Hfth anniver
aary, IS q day never to be forgotten il
sacred 10 the hearts OF the America
Negroes. 1t affords me no small de
gree OF pleasure to greet this vast as
aembly Of my countrymen and neigh
bora, brought together for q commend
able purpose and in honor of right
eous cause.
"We are here to-day to recall tn
events that surrounded as on the firs
day of January, 1869, when the Eman
ciPation Proclamation, that swee
message of deliverance, brought free
dom to every slave"
WHIT he had finished his address
Mr.. K. MCPHERSON led in singin
America" while every body presen
Joined in. Rev. r. 4. Jones then in
Voked the Lords blessing. The ban
played Nearer my God 60 thee" an
cha programme was on. Mrs. r I
Harth then read the Emancipatio
Proclamation which received q gres
applause. The Russell Cornett Ban
rendered a selection, and a very inter
estiDg paper on the NEGRO, past an
present" was read by Miss Lucy Add
son then came a sweet number frol
the True Reformers. At this poir
the programme was abridged owing [
.-~Nk Al 4. y -
tor of the day was introduced, Bon {
go1nery. w. Va, his subject bein
"So!Ei0g problem or what next" FC
an hour and Q half he swayed his aud
ence, having them as it were in raj
eastacy, listening to his magnifieeI
and matchless eloquencs. In ii
course Of his Grafton he gave lyncI
law q terrible rap and paid gloriol
eulogies to the Negro IS . soldier
the time when the dogs of war" wei
let loose.
Then he added: "Those who saw Il
parade to-day have already conceive
chat tine Negro is not coming, but
here" All through his address he W
loudly Applauded; and when he hi
dnished the following resolutions we
unanimously adopted:
Provide nee to preserve and protect
through the shifting scenes Of the ps
year and enabled us to assemble 81
day in the name Of liberty TO greet 6
incoming OF q new year under favor
BILE conditions such as enable US to co
tinuOusiy depend upon the gracio
favor OF Almighty God and
v heress; it becomes our duty a
race spe tally favored in the past, n
only TO manifest our thanks on this Q
eAsion, but also to declare and affiE
our position for future action in ord
the more to merit the approval
heaven anu considerate Judgement
man therefore, be it
Resolved by the oolored citizens
southwest Virginia, now assembled
lst; We record our universal SO
row that death has recently remov
from our midst two Of our most d
tsnRuished Virginians, Hon. John
Langston and Rev. William W Brow
by whose demise our race has lost &
Bhising lights.
ID; We congratulate ourselves til
the spirit OF liberty is on the incree
Ia all civilized lands and will so co
tinue until not q slave is left to cln
his chains.
Sd; Notwithstanding the short col
ing OF those in authority as regards t
treatment OF the Negro in many piac
OF the Unite States, we re-afirm o
Loyalty and devotion to the Americ
Gag and the American principles
justice AT d we urge ocr people eve
where 10 abstain from all acts of vi
Ience, or any conduct calculated to
elite hostility between the races, or
any way disturb the tranquility tn
should prevail within our borders.
4th; Recognizing the natural q
vantages by which we are surroundl
in the south, we believe it the mo
favorable portion OK the United Stat
for the habitati0n Of the Negro, as
evidenced by his industrial, fnanci
aud intellectual progress in this se
tion since emancipation.
kth: We condemn the fndiscrim