Evening star., 1909-04-17
REJOICE IN FREEDOM
Celebrating Abolition of Slav-
cry in the District.
ANNUAL PARADE OMITTED
Largely Attended Meetings Held by
Negroes Last Night.
ADVANCE SINCE EMANCIPATION
Senator Bradley Of Kentucky Pays
High Tribute to What the
Race Has Done.
ANNUAL PARADE OMITTED
SINCE EMANCIPATION

Slavery was abolished In the District of
Columbia fOrty-seven years ago yester-
day. Negroes of Washington. following
their annual custom, celebrated the occa-
sion with number of large mass meet
ings throughout the city last evening.
But a custom of previous years. that of
having a parade and a public demonstra
tion in Lincoln Park, was omitted.
Discussing the policies of the new ad
ministration toward the negro race. espe-
cially in regard to appointments to Office,
and taking occasion In passing to de-
nounce the Brownsville incident. Senator
William o. Bradley Of Kentucky adj
dressed the largest of the gatherings,
held in the Galbraith A. NJ. F.. Church,
9th street near l. northwest The senator
paid high tribute to the progress of the
race since bondage had been abolished.
"An outrage on Justice was his descrp
tion of the discharge of the troops at
Brownsville by President Roosevelt.
Relative to the attitude of President
Taft toward the appointment of the negro
to Office. Senator Bradley said that he
understood that it would be his policy to
recognize the negro nationally and thus
avoid clashes in the states. In other
words, negroes will probably be ap-
pointed, but not to Offices In the states
In which they live and where friction
would thus be caused. The speaker ex-
pressed the opinion that this movement if
followed out would result injuriously to
the negro and increase the feeling In the
southern states against them. 1t is a
very doubtful question, continued the
senator, whether the white or the negro
in the south will be satisfied with this
compromise.
Urged to Stick to Republican Party.
Although the trend of his remarks on
this matter showed difference of opinion
from the administration. Senator Bradley
urged the negroes to stick by. the republi-
can party. He said that the President
believes that each state should provide its
own voting qualifications. but that he is
against the color line.
Senator Bradley put himself on record
as sound and complete friend of the
negro race, and declared that he was
proud of it. He told Of his experience in
standing up for the race in his home
Ku-klux klan. He said that the negroes
had always stood by him and guarded
him. If the negroes of Washington want
anything, he urged them to come to him
high tribute to the great emancipator of
the race. Lincoln. A group of negroes
from his native state presented the SEN
ator with bouquet of roses after the
address
Rev s. l. Corrothers. pastor Of the
church, presided over the meeting. Mrs.
G. NJ. Robinson sang solo. The eman-
cipatiOn proclamation was read by S. l..
Corrothers. 1r Besides the address of the
evening by Senator Bradley brief remarks
appropriate to the day were made by
Judson w. Lyons. ]. c. Dancy and DR..
j. H N. Waring. Albert White. a negro
educator Of Louisville. KY. was on the
platform
1sire rornrniftea In charge ~ the cole
brauon consisted Of Rev. s. L. Corrothers,
/. A. Young. Frank Wells. James Waugh.
j. W. Watson. James v. Davis. ]. L.
Neill. J. J. D. Lipscomb. John Moore, j.
Boaden, Benjamin Williams. Charles Neal
and S. L. Louise.
Other Celebrations.
William C. Matthews and Maj. w. c.
Cox were the speakers Of the evening at
the celebration of emancipation day, held
by the Emancipation and Historical As
sociation Of Washington. at the colored
Masonic Temple. in 10Th street northwest.
In the Mount Horeb Baptist Church.
colored. 10th and G streets northeast,
meeting was held. at which Prof: William
B. Tunnel. instructor in history at the
Howard University, delivered the princi-
pal address. He traced the history OF the
negroes from the time Of their first ar
rival in America in 16l9.. through slavery
days, down to the present time.
Among others who spoke were F.. NJ.
Hewlett. George w. Jones. Mrs. H. A.
Davis. Arthur Carroll and Catherine
Simms. Rev. s. F. Miles delivered the
invocation.
Emancipation League Celebration.
The Lincoln Emancipation League of
the District held it's annual celebration
Of District emancipation last evening In
the Friendship Baptist Church, 1st and H
streets southwest. James w. Poe. pres
ident of the league. presided. and made
the opening address. extolling the great
ness of the Emancipator and his crown
ing effort in behalf of the black man.
Speaking of the progress of the negro
race during their period of freedom. Rich
ard E. s. Toomey brought out a storm of
applause by comparing former Senator
j. B. Foraker, the champion of the black
men in the Brownsville fight, with
President Lincoln. Perry w. Frisby told
of slavery in America and other countries.
Rev. w. H. Costin spoke on the duties
of the negro as q citizen. Other speakers
included Rev. c. p. Irby, Miss Bessie
Haskins. Rev. l.. c. Moore and Nelson
Keith.
An original poem on Lincoln was read
during the evening by NJ. N. Gorbett the
author. Miss Susie Keith sang several
patriotic selections. Announcement was
made Of another meeting in continuation
of the one last evening, to be held May
5, when there will be a street parade
headed by the Hiram Band.