The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-02
EMANCIPATION DAY
Celebrated by the CoIored
People of Raleigh.
Address Delivered by DR.. J. W. Kirby. Resc'
u.ions Adopted. Old Officers Re-
elected for 1903.

OF their freedom was yesterday nelQ Dy
the colored people of Raleigh in the Met
ropolitan Hall. The meeting was called
together by the chairman, E. A. Johnson.
The attendance was very large and much
interest was manifested.
DR.. j. W. Kirby, pastor of the Colored
First Baptist church, delivered
the annual address. His speech,
which was well received. abound
ed in good wholesome advice to
the members of his race. He advised
his people to buy farms invest in bust
ness enterprises, and above all to learn
some trade. His advice. If needed. VIII
make good citizens and will bring about
a better feeling between the two races
The officers of the past year were re-
elected for this year. They are as ioi-
lows:
President, w. w Graves; Secretary a.
]. Rogers Treasurer, w. r. Dephah'
The following resolutions were ADOPT
ed:
..vrbereas through the omnissient
workings of an all wise ProVldehce we
are permitted to assemble for the cele-
bration of another birthday OF our llee
dom; unmolested by pestilence' wal
famine and dire adversely, ano'
Whereas, on our assembling together
on these annual occasions we should re-
count the trials of the past, and build
for the future We therefore feel call
cd upon and believe it our duty, to issue
the following address to the people
among whom we live, and to our own
race especially.
Having resided in this country in more
III ,ha,.c cir hO
year 1920; and during all this time de-
meaned ourselves properly as a race IN
whatever station we have occupied it be-
ing admitted that we were faithful slaves
and the only charge against the race,
as such, since freedom, is that we have
only attempted to cast the ballot given
us by the laws of the land. Our useful
ness as laborers being admitted, and
having started out at the close of the
war penniless, and now being the pos
sesors of over seven hundred million OF
the wealth of the nation; and having
commenced with 80 per cent. of ilhteracy
we. can now boast of having reduced
the same to 40 per cent. in 81 years;
and having produced over 1000 titles in
literature and over 500 patents and
achieved the highest award for merit IN
art in the Exposition of Paris of any
living American, and withal having pro-
duced as post bellum products a Bruce
Price and a Washington, and hav-
ing won renown for gallant service In
war. no less than in peace, we bring
forward these triumphs as most potent
argument in behalf of our Stewardship.
Weighing the disadvantages growing out
of the lack of training, we feel that no
hnu hos
done we'll We feel also that our efforts
refute the idea of the race being men
ace rather than a help to progress, and
we hold up our past achievements of the
first 81 years of our freedom as an in
dex of that service, We may be to the
country in the future if our efforts for
progress are not further retarded. But
we emphasize the fact that recapitu
lation of past achievements must not
lure us into believing that all has been
accomplished that might have been. We
could have done more, and we must do
more in the future. We would call at
tention to the fact that many idlers
roam the streets, who thought not all
vicious, yet if employed would be pro-
ducers to their own and the races cred
it. And on the vicious and law breakers
We call for a separation in the public
estimation of the law abiding from the
law breakers, to the end that the race
may not be rated by it's criminal class.
We note that the criminal class Is sepa
rate and distinct, that many of them
have been recommitted to prison several
times over for like offenses. These par
ties are known in every community and
fla
hands of the race except to turn from
their unlawful to lawful living; and to
the end that idleness and crime may be
leSsened, so we hereby give warning
that we call for a vigorous enforcement
of the vagrant laws of the state We
hereby memorabilia the incoming legis-
lature to establish house of correc-
ton presided over by Christian men and
women, where Juvenile offenders may be
kept until they are mature under whole
some and reforming influences.
We urge our people against extrava-
CANT living useless excursions and
picnics but rather to save their surplus
earnings and purchase homes and land
for cultivation.
We believe that properly managed
farms and truck gardens will pay, and
therefore TeCOHl1Ueuu tlcoC oSNuPobiOho
to our young men and young women. We
urge our people everywhere to patronizc
race enterprises. and whenever oppor-
tunity offers to take stock in mercan-
tile and manufacturing enterprises that
bid fair to make employment for the
people. We would encourage peace with
our white neighbors and even an extra
effort to show them that we wish them
we'll
We appreciate the friendly feeling that
exists in most communities in this State
between the races, all desire this feel
ing to grow and to that end We urge
our white fellow citizens to cease from
mob violence and to treat negro Grim
inals in the same way they treat white
criminals, and thus subdue the growing
tendency to mob negroes for any and
every petty effense against a white man
regardless of who is in the wrong. We
make this plea the more urgent because
our white friends who advocate our dis
reimbursement claimed on the hastings
that these things would cease with the
adoption of the amendment Rather than
cease we note an increase in mob VOL
ence against negroes, and the lynching
in