Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-21

The celebration was opened by a
street parade in the morning. which
formed at Twelfth and Chaplihe
streets, and moved at IL o'clock over
the principal streets in the central por-
ton OF the city, and then to the fair
grounds. A disappointment was az
forded in the fact that Stephen B.
Elkins. who was booked for an adj
dress, did not put in an appearance
In the parade the alignment was:
Chief Marshall r. " Strange.
Staff-Aides Charles Farley, Ruben Nor
ris, George Wright Raymond Pryor.
Col. Frank Johnson.
Opera House Band.
Hercules Division No. 2, L. r. K. of p,
Commanded by Capt Frank Pryor.
Patriarchie No. IS, Capt. j. r. Mason and
Lieut. James Brandon
Gsll Marching Club of Bellaire, Capt. Os-
car Taylor.
Blue Lodge No. 5, K of p
Mayor Sweeney, Chief of Police Clemans,
Thomas n. Morrison, speaker of
the day, in carriages.
Rev r; Or. bentley re Rev core9ran, OF
of Wheeling.
Other carriages.
AT the fair grounds in the afternoon
the exercises of the day were heard
by a small crowd of people, the
greater number being out in the
ground. The exercises were opened
with prayer. The first speaker of the
day was Rev. Bentley, of the Market
Street NJ. E. church, who delivered
the opening address.
The reply was made by President
w. H. Winters, in an able, concise
address.
The next number was the reading of
the proclamation by Miss Jessie Payne,
of bridgeport.
The next speaker was Attorney
Thomas Norris. the orator Of the day.
Mr.. Norris is the only colored attor-
ney in the city. He began by saying
it afforded him no small pleasure to
address meeting of the day on which
the two thousand colored people in
the city could really call their own.
He spoke of the different revolutions
of the world occasioned by down
trodden human beings After a short
review of the American civil war; he
named number of the heroes of that
struggle who fought to abolish the
slavery practice.
The Union was victorious, but never
was victory won from more cour-
ageous race. The negroes in that war
bore their part honorably. If history
is truly recorded, high upon the roll OF
honor will go down the names of the
colored men who, without hope of re-
ward, barred their body TO shot and
she'll. and died in the defense of their
liberty.
They were gathered, the speaker
said, to commemorate the result of
that conflict which freed the band OF
1000, 0tU,ov0 slaves The negroes in
proportion to their knowledge, have
justified the efforts OF their friends
There can be no doubt, the speaker
continued, of the ability of tais coun-
try to protect its subjects But the
Government is inconsistent In the
face Of the proclamation, a half million
Of negroes in the Philippines are gov
erned without their consent.
He spoke bitterly CT the conditions
exIsvng concerning race troubles in GER
tain sections of the South, and the dire
results occasioned by some one man of
the race. But he asked that they con-
slider there were classes of distinction
among them. Lines of character are
distinctively drawn. The race is no
more responsible for the crimes com
mitted than the Caucasian race for the
treachery of Benedict Arnold or the
assassination of President Lincoln.
AS whole, they are law-abiding cit
liens. Since the war there have been
lynchings, tar and feathers. burning
at the stake; in fact, continual war
fare fhatred waged upon them. and
it has in some sections become a
struggle to prevent total extinction.
Before leaving the subject, he said
that the result of the race war was In
every instance more harmful than the
result of the crime unavenged would
have been, and he believed it the
sound sense and good judgment of
every fair-minded American in both
the North and South, that such pro-
ceedings should be prevented for all
time.
If the negroes wished to better their
condition it was necessary that honesty
and purity should enter into all their
dealings with men. They also need
homes of real Joy, wherein no matter
what its condition is contained happi-
ness and content into which the angels
of Heaven may enter. Let no man scorn
to gain a livelihood honestly, for there
is dignity in all honest toll. 1t is no
reason to feel discouraged because the
race has not excelled in theology,
medicine or law, since the opportunities
have not been afforded All that Is nee
eSSary is that the doors for learning be
Thrown open and prejudice be put aside.
He advocated the methods originated
by Booker T. Washington for the up
lifting of the general character of the
race.
In closing he chose the subject of
politics for the line of discourse. He
said that the acknowledgements in the
South are the direct results of a long
existing sentiment against the race. But
they can be but temporary iniunctions.
He neither upheld the Democratic or
Republican side. The Republicans used
the race to the furthering of their
schemes and when the race had served
them they We're no longer of any good
to them and so cast off On the other
hand the greater portion of the Demo-
cratic party was embodied in the South,
and so long as that section revered the
memory of Jefferson Davis. and so long
as they remembered the conflict. the
result of which despoiled their property.
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