The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-02
And Negroes Skin be no In
dex of His Politics.
SPOKE REV. WILLIAMSON
Emancipation Celebration Largely At
tended by Colored People.
POLITICS SHOULD BE SECONDARY
This the Sentiment Expressed by the Orator Of
the Day, Rev. c. n. Williamson. Re-
solutions With Good Advice
linani,youet,, adonlod
Unanimously Adopted.

Unanimously Adopted.
In his address at the Emancipation
son, the orator of the occasion, said:
Let the white people govern the coun-
try and let the colored men so discharge
their political duties that in the future
you cannot tell the politics of colored
man by the color of his skim
A tremendous crowd that taxed the ca
pacity of Metz opolitan HALL took part in
the celebration yesterday, conlmelnora tive
of the Proclamation of Emancipation. It
was an orderly and we'll behaved assem-
blage of colortd citizens. Every speech
was pervaded with the idea of uplifting
the race from an educational and progress
sive standpoint. The words of the orator
of the day, Rev G. II. Williamson, pastor
Of Blount Street Baptist church, which
are quoted above, met with responsive
sentiment.
There was interesting music, the read
ing of the Proclamation of Emancipation
and other interesting exercises. The cleo
tion of officers resulted as follows:
President, Willis NJ. Graves.
Secretary, A. j. Rogers.
Treasurer w. F. Debnam.
Rev. Williamson took as his subject,
MAN makes himself and fidelity to prin-
cirle is essential to success" He referred
to the love of the race for Abraham
Lincoln.
His reference to State politics con-
cerned the effect of the constitutional
amendment on the negro. The speaker
said:
after next July the privilege of voting
will be confined so far as our race is
concerned, to those who can read and
write. This limitation of suffrage has
been on the ground that the men who,
by their votes select the rulers of the
State ought to have sufficient intelli-
gence to understand the system of gov
eminent under which they live, and that
these voters will not fail TO select men
of the highest character and intelligence
to execute the various offices Calm
judgment hereafter should alone dictate
the vote of every colored voter The
man best fitted for the office to be filled
should be the one to receive our stuff
RACES. Politics should not be neglected
in the future, but should be secondary
Colored men should use every energy
to acquire property-especially real es-
tate. The ownership of property car
rieS along with it power, influence, and
commands respect. Whenever the col
ored race become landowners they will
be power in the land for good. Let
the white people govern the country, and
let the colored men so discharge their
political duties that in the future you
cannot tell the politics of a colored
man by the color of his skin, and you
will have done much toward a great
work for our race.
Our chances are ten times better in
the South. In the South the negro is
hopeful, while in the North he is hope
less. Let him stay at home Tin the
South.l"
The report of the Committee on Reso-
lutions was presented by Col. James H.
Young The resolutions, which were
adopted, speak well for the colored race.
RESOLUTIONS.
The negro citizens of the capital city
of North Carolina assembled for the
purpose of celebrating this tie 3oth An
niversary of the emancipation proclama
tion issued by President Abraham Lin
coin, the great humanitarian and brave
defender of the liberties and rights of all
the people, black and white alike, do sen
forth the following resolves:
First. That we hail with pride and 10Y
this 18th birthday of our freedom and
cherish as sacred the memory Of those
men and women who as pioneers
did so much to bring about human free
dom in our land
2nd That we advocate the religion of
Christ as the only safe rule for each mon
and woman's habit of life, and as the only
true solution for the greatest of Ameri-
cas- problems.
Bird. That we sincerely appreciate our
States stand for universal education anu
We are confidently expecting that led by
North Cardinals school Governor all the
children in the near future regardless of
race will be given a fair chance TO walk
out from under the gloom of illiteracy
into the MONDAY glare of an enlightened
citizenship.
And for the missionaries. teachers and
schools made possible by charitable and
pbilanthropic friends, we have nothing
but hearts full of gratitude, and with
peculiar pride we point TO thousands
whose lives have been made noble by
4th. That we condemn anarchy in every
form whether as mob violence, 1ynching
or assassination, and we do heartily
commend the law abiding spirit of the cit
liens who youchsafed to the murderer
of our late President speedy, fair and
complete trial in the courts of his country,
after perpetrating such horrible deed.
9Th. That we commend to ourselves the
following:
Ia To live Cody lives, both in the
home and elsewhere
3D. To see to it that we ourselves and
our children, when not in school, are
regularly employed at some honest labor.
(c) To be quiet; not to disturb our
neighbors, but attend each to his own bus
mess.
Id To stand unqualifiedly for righ-
teous life, a pure manhood and a protect
ed womanhood, protesting for and de-
handing clean and equal accommoda
tons on the railroad cars, and the right