Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-30

us that the department of the gulf contain
ed greater portion of black soldiers than
did any other department. and that there
We're few, if any, important engagements in
which the colored soldier did not take part.
The negro soldier felt that he was fighting
for a principle and 1t meant much to him
In other ways. His bravery in this great
conflict has challenged the admiration of
the world. His devotion to his countrys
cause and his manly fight in his own be-
half have won the respect of an civilized
nations.
Douglass. Philips Sumner, Garrison and
Lincoln stand head and shoulders above all
other men in their efforts to blot out the
Ubiquitous curse of slavery In this country.
In 1863 this whole country of ours was up
turned in confusion. The north was array
ed against the south and our land was
wrapped in a mantle of darkest gloom. Our
lowlands had become rivers of blood Fred
erick Douglass the grand old man eloquent.
had thrown his thunderbolts of oratory
across the Atlantic and wrapped the whole
country in a mantle of sympathy for the
American slave Abraham Lincoln, rising
from his couch one beautiful morning, with
a single stroke of his pen broke the shac
kles from the limbs of four million Of
slaves.
Douglass Holiday.
1--WE ought to have in this country a ma
tional holiday known the Frederick
Douglass day, and we, as Afro-Americans
should celebrate such a day if all others
did not. This man gave his all In all to the
cause of freedom-gave his time, gave his
energy and sent his two brave. heroic sons
to battle and offered their lives willing
sacrifice upon the altar of freedom, but,
thank God. this sod has not reclaimed them
yet; they are still found among us. urging
their race forward to grander and nobler
efforts and especially assisting the younger
men of their race In their efforts to rise.
The grand old man eloquent is gone. but
his devotion to the cause of his country and
his race Is indelibly written upon the pages
of American history.
Veterans, when you marched forward to
battle you left us a race of slaves when
you returned you found US a race Of freed
men. When you marched forth to battle
the country was divided, but after bloody
conflict of years. amidst shot and shell, you
returned to find us reunited country.
without single star being erased from the
flag.
Some one has said that we, colored
people. cannot truthfuly- sing. My Coun-
try IT'S of Thee Why not? Our fathers
have watered the American soil with their
sweat and blood: they have drained Its
Marshes cultivated its highlands and its
lowlands; erected It's stately mansions It's
school and Its churches with their steeples
towering sky-hgh. If to kiss the illum-
ined sun. and withal. pray tell me, Is 1t not
our country
Further the speaker said:
Man With Great, Broad Heart.
"In the wife House we have man with
a great broad heart in the person of Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt. AS citizens of
this republic feel deeply the sense of
gratitude which owe to our country's
chief magistrate. This just man Is encour-
aging all that Is good in all races and all
classes and doing all in his power to make
this truly liberty-loving nation, guaran-
teeing to every one, rich or poor, high or
low black white. the fullest protection
of the law. We Join with him in this effort.
and while cognizant of the civil and politi-
cal inequalities under which our people are
suffering. we, nevertheless, advise them
to continue striving to shape their conduct
so that they may prove themselves worthy
of any right and privilege now enjoyed by
any other portion of our country's citi-
Zenry."
The exercises at Harmony cemetery
closed with the pronouncing Of benedic-
ton by the chaplain and the sounding of
taps" by the bugler.