The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-02
HIS WHOLESOME ADVICE
Yesterdays CELEBRATION BY
THE CoLORED PEOPLE.
EXCELLENT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
A Large and Orderly Crowd Met in MeIropoIi
tan Ha--The Governor and State Off
GERS Were Present--The Gov
errors Short Speech.

ii
known to them as their Emancipation
Day. 1t was on January LIST, 1863 that
Lincoln issued his famous order proclaim.
ing the freedom of all the slaves of the
United States.
On every first day of January since
the war the negroes have in some man.
ner engaged in festive celebration OF
the event.
The celebration in Raleigh yesterday
was perhaps more dignified and more in
keeping with high toned appreciation
of the event than it has been ON any
previous occasion. Metropolitan Hall was
crowded to overlooking, but the vast
crowd was exceedingly we'll behaved.
There was a quiet transformations atten-
ton paid to the address and other exer-
cises that is not always seen in gather
ings of this kind. Those who took part
in the exercises were dignifed and i'm
pressive and the audience responded in
like manner. The address was not the
best possibly that has hitherto been de-
liyered on such occasions, for it must be
remembered that the late Joseph c..
Price delivered the address ON one or
was always wholesome and as a negro
Orator he stood without peer. Since
Prices death there has been none to
fill his place, Henry F. Cheatham, not
only because of the position he holds but
because of his ability and character
comes as near perhaps measuring up
with Price. as any man of his race.
Had he devoted his life to teaching his
race and preaching Christianity to them
as Price did, instead of storming with
his eloquence the corridors of parti-
san politics, he would likely have climb
ed to the same exalted position as lead
er of his people that Price attained.
his address yesterday was able digni
fed and full of good ADVICE to the negro,
devoid of all bitterness, race prejudice
and with scarcely an allusion to partisan
politics. Ii his utterances be needed by
those for whom and to whom he spoke,
the result will be elevating and the race
of which he is a leader viii be benefited.
CheathaIn is a native North Carolin-
ian, born in Granville county, and was
educated at Shaw University in Raleigh.
He now occupies the position of Recorder
of Deeds OF the District of Columbia
the place held for so many years by
Fred Douglass.
The meeting was attended by several
of the State and county officers. On the
rostrum, besides the officers and commit
tee of arrangements, were seated Gov.
Russell, Secretary of State Thompson,
Private Secretary Alexander, Superin
tendent of the Penitentiary Mewborne,
Col. Eugene Harrell, Mr.. j. Rogers,
Mr.. Centre and Ex-Congressman Cheat
ham. the orator of the day.
1sN1 hx
James Ell. Young, and Prof Chas. n
Hunter, principal of the Garfield school
read the report of the committee on
resolutions.
These were most excellent, both in
conception and sentiment, harmonizing
in this respect exactly with the elo-
-quent speech delivered by Recorder
Cheatham.
Indeed the spirit of progress, good will
and ambition for better things that per-
vaded the meeting may be seen from the
following extracts from the resolutions
read and adopted amid great applause
and enthusiasm:
"Our rejoicing to-day carries with it
no spirit Of hate. We have none. other
than the kindest feelings for the race
that once had us al slaves. We rejoice
to know that thousands of that race
living in North Carolina, and in the
South, reciprocate this feeling We in
yite their confidence. We value their
sympathy and the generous aid which
they have given US in the past, and arc
still afforGling rs.
''The negro is making progress. Enlan-
cipation has produced no such conse-
quences MS were everywhere predicted
by the enemies of freedom. Liberated
from the restraints Of the former master
class, we have not relapsed into bar
barism SO far from this. through the
agency of the great institution of learn
ing provided and sustained by the philan-
thropic friends of the race; and by
means of the common schools provided
by the various States; the negro is
steadily rising to high rank along all
the lines of human activity. The race
is furnishing the nation scholarship
professional knowledge and artistic excel
lence, which negative every plea of it:
unftness for the responsibilities or citi
zenship in a free republic. From con
iition of absolute, abject poverty, We
nave. within the 35 years since the is
suance of the Proclamation of Enamel
patton acquired and pay taxes on ove1
$500, 100000 worth of property. In Nortl
Carolina the assessed value of property
owned by negroes is SS,1S0,074. Pas
in review the conditions under which
such progress has been made, and thu
result is simply astounding. The history
of man fails to furnish a parallel.
= I'VE love North Carolina. IT is on
home. We love her people. We wer,
born and reared among them. We de
sire to cultivate the friendship of oui
white fellow-citizens and live in peace
We seek no encroachment upon thu
sacred precincts Of their social lives. I
there be those who think otherwise, the,
may rest assured that this declaration
embodies the sentiment of ever,
negro in the State. We only contenl
that the State shall enact just laws an,
administer them impartially, without re
gard to race, color, or class. We see
not to dominate the government of tn
State The history of The race in Mort
Carolina furnishes no act or acts tina
would Justify a charge to the contrar!
!Ae aa~aenscious Of our limitations an
Weaknesses. We acknowledge the 81
perior governing power Of our whit
fellow-citizens as Il race. We only al
that we be not prescribed and our RICH
denied because Of our race variety. VI
only ask that. since we are bearir
without complaint our proportion Of II
burdens Of government, we may shal
without protest in its benefits.
Upon the sentiments set forth
4Jaro Joolora4;one LoI;or