The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-26
FREEDOMS DAY.
The Emancipation Proclama-
ton Celebrated by Afro
Americans.
MAYOR HOGS PRESENT
His Honor, Andrew Corcoran
and Bishop Walters Told
of the Races Progress.

Baldwin Park was alive with colored
people yesterday afternoon and evening,
who visited the spacious pleasure grounds
to join in the celebration of the enamel
patton of the slaves. The event was I'M
der the auspices of the Zion A. M. p.
Church. Fully three hundred colored
people and one-third as many white 1olKs
were there.
The feature was the clambake. This
was prepared N the centre of the. park in
full sight of all the visitors. Mayor Hoos
and Andrew J. Corcoran were the only
two to respond to invitations. Governor
VOORHEES, was invited. He sent a letter
Of regret. stating that business kept him
from Joining in the merrymaking.
Mr.. Corcoran began the afternoon exer-
eises with a neat speech. He dWelt chiefly
on the advances made by the colored
people since the termination of the Civil
War. He praised the coiored race IN very
high terms and then introduced the
Magistrate he said the Mayor possesses
all the qualities necessary for a person
occupying his responsible position
Mayor HooS received a most enthusiast
tic welcome from the gathering. He was
cheered several times. He then began an
address filled with praise for the colored
man. The wonderful advances made since
the emancipation of that race in this
country, he said, simply went to show
how quickly those people could get in IN
the world if given a chance. He said
that every cOlOTGQ man SuOu4u DC SlNCti
due credit for what he has accomplished.
This race, he added, should be treated
the same as white men. and given equal
chances in life.
Bishop Alexander Walters of this city
made the principal address of the day.
He drew two pictures of the colored race
in this country. One while The colored
people were struggling in slavery bonds
and the second, what they had accomp-
lished since the termination OF the terri
BILE strife in their behalf. He said that
the slaves were ignorant and sadly lack
ing in education before the Civil War
This was attributed to the condition in
which they were kept. The slaves, he
said, were never given the chance to ed
ucate or enlighten themselves.
The second picture he drew was of the
wonderful strides made by the race since
branch of business he said, the colored
man had found his way and had demon
strated his ability to hold his own. He
advised his people to keep out of strikes,
to mind their own business and to keep
sober.
aYou cannot afford to imbibe intoxi-
cants," he said. you need all your mon
ey to advance you in life. Keep your
earnings, ave them an enter business.
Be prosperous and show the world that
life if given an equal chance"
The clambake was served at the con-
clusion of the speechmaking. Tables were
set on the grass and the Mayor. Bishop
al the head of the festive board. There
were plenty of good things to eat and
plenty were disposed of by the partici-
pants. In the evening dancing was the
feature. The large platform was COM
fortably filled with enthusiasts who re-
ing. Everyone termed the event a de-
cided success.