The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-02
THE FRIENDLY
RACE FEELING
Raleigh Negroes Tell of
This Condition.
EMANCIPATION DAY
Express Appreciation of the "Wise
Words of Governor Aycock Re-
Gently Uttered in Baltimore"
President DudIeys Ad-
dress at kinston.
dress at kinst0n.

The Forty-first anniversary OF Emancl-
Raleigh and Wake county in a most APP
proprlate manner yesterday.
There was creditable parade and an
immense gathering in Monumental Theatre
filing to overlooking every inch of space
of that large hall The audience was a
well dressed and highly intelligent one,
and bespoke the progressive studies of the
negroes in our midst.
The exercises were opened with sing
ing America by large choir from st.
Augustine. School, after which an appro-
pirate prayer was offered by Rev. T. NJ.
Nixon, of the Congregational church.
The president of the day. wed in a
few well chosen congratulate. remarks,
after which the choir renderes by the
River of Babylon"
The Finance Committee reported, show
ing a very handsome amount collected for
defraying expenses. The choir next sang
"Star Spangled Banner"
Col j.. H. Young, chairman of the Com
mittee on Address, reported the following
resolutions, which were adopted by ris-
ing vote:
RESOLUTIONS.
The negro citizens of the capital city of
North Carolina, assembled for the pur-
pose of celebrating this the 41st anniver-
sary of the emancipation proclamation is
sued by President Abraham Lincoln, the
great humanitarian and brave defender OF
the liberties and rights of all the people,
black and white alike, do send forth the
following resolves:
First. That we hail with pride and joy
this 41st birthday of our freedom and cher
ish as sacred the memory of those men
and women who, as pioneers, did so much
to bring about human freedom in our
land.
Tn these forty-one years the negro has
wiped out about fifty per cent of his IL
Iteracy; has enrolled in the public schools
of the country about 100000 children,
with an average attendance of more than
600. 900, with forty-one institutions for
training, 80, 900 negro teachers, 10000 grad
yates, and now in training about 1,200,
taking college and professional courses.
LOO special business courses, 1 900 taking
special trades. To help care for the sick
he has more than thousand doctors and
trained nurses. to plead for the unfortu-
nate criminals hundreds of lawyers. He
is speaking to the world through four hun
dred and fifty negro newspapers and four
magazines, three hundred and fifty books
by negro authors, 251 900 volumes in libra
ries valued at about $650,000, helping to
handle the finances in six banks owned
and controlled by negroes; with a hun
bred thousand farms and $50 900 homes in
dependent of these farms; with over $10,-
100000 worth Of school property; $20,0O0,-
000 worth of church property; and owning
and successfully operating and performing
the required service in two silk mills, two
cotton mills, and paying taxes on over
$3.50, 10000 worth of real estate and per-
sonal property. In the face of these facts
who will dare to stand up and say the
negro has not proven his fitness and won
his title to the rights and privileges of
a man and full-fedged citizen?
We appreciate these wise words of our
Governor. recently uttered in a speech in
Baltimore, in which he says of the negro
HE constitutes one-third of the popula-
ton of my State; he has always been my
personal friend; as lawyer l have often