Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-23
WAsHINGToN's DAY.

WASHINGTON'S DAY. Birth of Conntry's Father Ffttingiy
 Remembered.
 NEW YORK, Feb. 23.-Washing. rons birthday was observed by special services of patriotic societies, and many ciergymen made the anniversary the Gubject of their sermons.
 The society of the Sons of the Rev. ulution of the State of New York had it's thirteenth annual service in the Brick Presbyterian church. The ser- mon was preached by the Rev. William Rogers Richards.
 At Carnegie hall a patriotic mass. meeting was conducted under the aus pices of the west side branch of the Young Mems Christian association. Pa- triotic airs were rendered by the Sev. enth Regiment band and the New York festival chorus of 300 voices, the audience Joining in the singing of the national anthem and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Prayer was offered by the Rev. W. O. Stinson, and eulo- gies of the character of Washington were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Fagnani, the Rev. Dr. Donald Sage Mackay and the Rev. Dr. George O. Lorimer.
 Booker T. Washington was the ora- tor at memorial meeting held at night in the Academy of Music, Brook lyn, under the auspices of the Brooklyn Academy of Arts and Sciences. The speaker devoted his address to the con- sideration of the race problem and said in part:
 Unlike the Indian, the original Mex ican or the Hawaiian, the negro, so far from dying out when in contact with a stronger and different race, has con- tinued to increase in numbers to such an extent that whereas the race en- tered bondage twenty in number there are now more than D,00O.0O0. So I want to emphasize the truth that
 whether we are of northern or of southern birth, whether we are black or white, we must face frankly the
 hard, stubborn fact that In bondage and in freedom the negro, in spite of
 all predictions to the contrary, has con-
 tinued year by year to increase in num-
 bers until he now forms about one-
 seventh of the entire population and
 that there are no signs that the same
 ratio of increase will not hold good in the future. Further than this, despite all the changing, uncertain conditions through which the race has passed and is passing, you will find that every
 year since the black man came into this country, whether in bondage or in
 freedom, he has made a steady gain in
 acquiring property, skill. habits of in- dustry, education and Christian char
 acter.
 ITO deal practically and directly with the affairs of my own race, believe that both the teachings of history as
 well as the results of everyday obser- vation should convince us that we shall
 make our most enduring progress by
 laying the foundations carefully, pa-
 tiently, in the ownership of the soil, the exercise of habits of economy, the saving of money, the securing of the 1 most complete education of hand and
 head and the cultivation of Christian virtues.
 II cannot believe, will not believe, that country that invites into it's midst every type of European, from the highest to the very dregs of the earth, and gives these corners shelter, protection and the highest encourage ment will refuse to accord the same protection and encouragement to her black citizens. The negro seeks no spe- cial privileges. All that he asks is op- portunity, that the same law which is made by the white man and applied to the one race be applied with equal cer- tainty and exactness to the other. 1.-The age for settling great questions, either social or national, with the shot gun, the torch and by lynchings has l passed An appeal to such methods is unworthy of either race. believe the time has come, and believe it Is a perfectly practical thing, when a group of representative southern white men and northern white men and negroes should meet and consider with the 1 greatest calmness and business capac- l ity the whole subject as viewed from
 every standpoint"
 Washington Remembered Tn Rome. ROME, Feb. 23.-Beautiful and springlike weather prevailed here yes- terday, and all the homes of Ameri- | cans were bedecked with the stars and stripes. Because of Washington's birth day falling on Sunday some objections were made to holding receptions. These objections, however, were smoothed away by making the reception at the ! United States embassy purely infor- nal affair, at which tea was served. 1t was a most enjoyable affair, and 600 Americans were present. The Ameri- l can college gave dinner in honor of the day, at which toasts were drunk 1 to the pope and President Roosevelt
 General Corbin mt Fathers Funeral. l BATAVIA, O.. Feb. 23. Adjutant
 General Corbin is here from Washing 1 ton to attend the funeral of his father.