The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-05
SILK FLAG PRESENTED
High Tribute 20 the Col-
ored Soldiers

Several weeks before the meeting OF the
National Encampment G.. a. r.. AT Chr
cago. the committee representing the city
offered the prize of silk flag TO the pest
in several States which had the largest
per cent. Of its members in uniform in the
parade. the department officers to be the
judges. Ii was the unanimous decision OF
Department Commander BEEN and his as
sociates that Martin r. Delaney Post. No.
20. the colored post OF this city. was the
pest entitled to the first prize.
Department Commander BEEN was at the
ample headquarters OF the George II.
Thomas Post last night TO make the pre-
sentation About forty members OF De-
laney Post were present with a drum corps
to receive the banner. In presenting the
banner. the department commander paid
the Delaney Post the compliments of the
department for its zeal and devotion Ia the
Grand Army. In the course of his eloquent
address. Department Commander BEEN
said:
1T was once said by a distinguished poll
tician of Indiana that no colored man had
ever written book. carved statue OF
painted a picture. The thought was that
the colored race inferior race and
had never accomplished any great or noble
man who was the bitter foe of the colOrcd
race, and who during his whole public life
opposed every step OF the colored man
progress This was said by a man who
during the whole period OF the war never
expressed "A hope nor breathed prayer FOR
the success of the Union arms. IL was said
by way of apology for the institution OF
slavery, and given a reason why the col
Ored men should be kept In bondage aif
forever be denied political and civil rights
IL must be remembered, however, that X
va nf
probably before Fred Douglass became dis
t1nguished as an orator, author and WRITER
before the 10000 colored troops I'm tho
Union army had exhibited their patriot
, ism, valor and endurance on "A hundred
battlefields of the republic; before Il. X.
Bruce. of Mississippi. had shown himself
TO be equal i'm intellectual force to most and
superior 20 many in the United States Sem
ate; before Booker I. Washington had
taken rank with the foremost scholars and
educators OF the land, and IL was before
Martin r. Delaney Post had covered itself
with glory i'm the great parade in Chicago.
Recent events have shown that this re-
mark was a gross Islander upon the colored
man. in spirit if not in fact. The splendid
record made by the colored soldiers during
the last two years of the rebellion, their
valor upon the field and their unfaltering
devotion to the cause of the Union demon
strate their capacity for high and noble
achievements. Many colored men since the
wer have attained positions of honor and
trust, which they have filled with credit TO
the country and TO themselves. The i'm
provement which the race has made during
the last thirty years i'm education, in intel
ligence, i'm the industrial and business
walks of life shows that they possess the
elements of progress and are capable or
approaching and worthy of enjoying Amer
lean citizenship
by this banner, comrades OF Delaney
Post, you will be reminded of the important
position you occupy I'm the public mind. The
eyes of the community will be upon YOU
You are among the survivors of the great
est war OF modern times, and Will be ex-
Iected to exemplify before the rising gener-
alton that splendid patriotism which you
exhibited in the days of your country's
peril. You will be reminded that in this
great country of ours the principle that
all men are created equal and endowed by
their Creator with the inalienable rights
Of life, liberty and pursuit OF happiness Is
| firmly established. You will be reminded
| that il in any part of our country these
| rights of your race are sought 10 be i'm
paired abridged. II Is your duty to fcown
| upon such efforts and I'm all proper ways
| show the world that there is no justifca-
| ton for them in fact"
Commander Charles Brown. who was
| personally complimented by the depart
| ment commander for his superb leader
ship" responded for Delaney Post in
| fitting manner, expressing the devotion of
| his post TO the Grand Army. II was very
| interesting occasion.