Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-24
OWES DEBT OF GRATITUDE
Obligation of Colored Race to Those Who
Gave 4 Freedom.
The Negro as Citizen, Patriot, Soldier
and POlitician-Address by
w. Calvin Chase.

emancipation celebration here today
attracted a big crowd of strangers
from different parts of the state,
as well as from adjoining states and
the District of Columbia. After a pa
rade through the principal streets of the
city this morning, the people gathered in
Agricultural Park, where some spirited con-
tests were witnessed. There was band
and drum corps ,est. as we'll as bicycle
races and base bal! game.
President Evan L. Brighton of the eman-
cipation celebration had general supervision
over the days events, and was assisted by
the other officers of the association, as fol-
lows: James N. Davis, vice president; Mar
shall E. Jenkins. secretary; Charles A. Will
son, corresponding secretary; George NJ
Sewell, treasurer; Samuel Wood, chief mar
shall.
The committees were as follows: Execu-
tive commttee-George NJ Sewell George
w. Herbert Harrison NJ. Thomas, Caleb E.
Nichols James N. Davis, Charles A. Will
son, Julius Caesar
Ground committee-Alexander Davis, H
M. Ihomas, Clarence Nelson.
committee on water and ice-George B.
Lyles. George Tall.
General ticket agent-George w. Herbert
Mr.. William Calvin Chase of Washington
denVered the Grafton. President Brighton
introduced the speaker who, in the course
OF MS address spoke of the crimes of the
last year and deplored those committed by
colored men.
About Organizations.
In speaking of organization among the
colored people" SAID Mr. Chase. 81 must
confess that they have failed thus far, ex-
cept in secret orders. and in these organiza-
ions they are divided The greatest farce
OF an organization is this alleged Afro
american Council, self-constituted affair.
whose place of birth is not known For
1hat reason 1t has no legitimate existence
II Is child of misfortune with no visible
nnvahs OF support, and. err or later it
vii De arrested and charged with va
LynchfnE a Crime.
On other topics the speaker said: '.I,ynch-
ING Is d crime 1t is the act of barbarism
Hemed1es have been suggested whereby a
stop should be put to it. Laws have haen
passed, governors have issued proclama-
IONS, troops have been sent to the scene
oI acton, but all is without avail Let
every self-respecting colored citizen put
the seal OF disapproval upon the acts of
nrutes: then will the evil be checked We
good deeds. Our citizenship is abridged
by the bad acts of others or those who have
no respect for themselves
our inability to thoroughly understand
elements of impeachment to our political
progress. The negro as a politician is
failure. He is not only a nonentity in the
pody polite, but lacks that force of char
acter that goes to make up true noble
and brave man. He doesn't look ahead far
enough or long enough to make proper dis
crlmnatlons between himself and his op-
pressors His ballot fluctuates between
poltlcal diplomacy and toadyism.
Demand for Civil Rights,
The negro owes a debt of everlasting
gratitude to those who were instrumental
In lberating him from the bonds of human
slavery, the b!ackest blot on the American
escutcheon, and his liberation was the
greatest boon to American civilization.
Whatever his faults may have been and
are now, he has proven himself true and
loyal to the flag. The true history of the
black soldier in the late Spansh-American
war will never be impartialy written by
the white man Are We grateful, have
we proven false to that flag that gives US
no protection? We don't ask for social
equality: We ask for equal civil and politi-
cal rights so far as qualifica tons entitie
US. We ask only for that political recogn-
ton to the extent of our voting strength
and educational qualifications; or. in short,
recognition according to merit. If you can
not permit this much let the negro carve
out his own destiny, without being shot
down like a dog lynched like brute.
l make no appeal for the guilty. l have
no sympathy for the brute who attempts
to outrage or take from woman her honor.
The assassin the murderer and the rapist
should be dealt with in a manner that will
teach others an object lesson.
Negro a Soldier.
'Our patriotism has been disregarded.
Whose fault is it? 1 am unable to state
The valor and bravery we exhibited in the
late Spanish-American war and our stead
fastness and adherence to the Constitution
have been weighed and found wanting
Have We proven ourselves race of cow
ards or patriots? By our Department of
War, after we showed our competency to
fight we are told that we are not COM
petent to command our own soldiers. The
failure or inability of our government to
throw around us its protecting arm is
mystery that remains unexplainable
Il cannot impress upon you stronger than
] have already, to beware of false prophets.
OF the two great political evils, take the
lesser When l say lesser, l mean for you
to vote soiidly and unequivOcally the repub-
lican ticket in November, because the pu-
rity of our government and the salvation
of the negro depend largely upon the sue
cess of the republican party.
Now that have spoken of the evils that
exist among US and of our trials, toll and
tribulations. what is the remedy? We must
throw aside self and unite as a people
against our common foes. l don't mean
that we should use physical force. The
lCea OF reSOrtlnS 10 the shotgun TO rlSnt
wrong that state can justly remedy is I'M
wise and dangerous
Supports the President.
Mr.. Chase then discussed what he called
the misappication of talents upon the part
of the negro, and said the disregard of his
race for industrial pursuits tended to de-
stroy its usefulness.
Referring to the cry of anti-imperialism
now being heard in the country, he said:
Now that the nations foes have been
defeated now that human beings under
Spanish oppression have been freed, while
the lives of thousands of soldiers were sac
rifced to free them. the President is con-
fronted by another issue growing out of
the war that he was o.rected to carry on
anti-imperialism and ant.-expansion-and
the negroes are now bu-ng asked to favor
the issue that has been iraugurated by the
foes of good government, human liberty and
human rights. You are asked to aid your
enemies to relinquish those possessions
which have been rightly and justly won by
our American army and naval forces at the
cost of thousands of lives. While we mourn
for our dead ones, and while the nation Is
involved in debt on account of the recent
war with Span,. and the debt is daily in
creasing because of the new element that
has arisen in our new possessions. it is the
duty of all loyal Americans to sustain the
Thn chr ,at ha f,lo \