The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1910-11-19
BIC CELEBRATION
AT PITTSDURG
Notable Event In Smoky City
Witnessed by Thousands.
ECHOES OF FREEDOM HEARD.

Emancipation Day Exercises Wsrs
Crowded With Many Brilliant
Scenes, Which Showed the Progress
Of the Race Along Many Linss-Dr.
w. q. Johnson's Stirring Address
At the recent emancipation celebra-
ton In Pittsburg, which was witnessed
by more than 1000 people. DR.. ".
Bishop johnson, the celebrated Bap-
list divine from Washington, was the
principal speaker. The occasion was
one Of the most notable ever conduct
ed by the colored people of Pittsburg.
and the mammoth parade Of floats,
representing every trade and craft,
with citizens In automobiles and car
riages, was a picturesque sight.
Mayor Magee and other prominent
citizens OF Pfttsburg made addresses,
and the whole affair was under the
direction Of d committee Of wen
known colored citizens. headed By
Rev. DR.. R c. Fox. pastor Of Carron
Street Baptist church.
On. Johnson's address was q com
prehensive review OF the slave dues-
ton, particularly IN is bearing upon
the civil war, and a strong ana force
ful exposition Of the duties ana re
suits Of emancipation upon the life OF
the Negro race and the American na-
tion- Dr.. johnson laid down the great
! principle that moral right Is omnipo-
tent and no man or government OF
men can resist It.
Just what emancipation meant TO
the Negro, coming a. he did fresh
from the horrors Of slavery. was de-
scfibed 10 a vivid and convincing
manner By the speaker, who was Ike
wise emphatic IN enunciating certain
obligations and duties his new found
freedom imposed upon him. DIT. John
sons speech was, IN part, as follows:
Viewed As to Its results. the emanctpa-
ton proelamation Eas an overshadoWing
and glorious success- Il united the friends
\ OF the Union II threw into despafrfnR
forces new lke- II brought into ths ar
mics Of the Union As BY magic 5000 SOL
| diers from the enfranchIsed race. II was
the deathblow 70 slavery. II was the IN
| ishing stroke OF the rebellion.
The immortal Lincoln was in no sense
snattereT. He WaS q profound reason-
| q. learned In the law. he studied and
understood the constitution Of his eoun-
1 Try. He did not issue . proclamation for
sport or TO Be booted At
He ala not toy with ne mighty con-
Germs Of the republic His every act wa
governed by the sincsrest convictions,
q statesman. and patriotism and heroiam
were his GROWING virtues.
The emancipation OF the slaves was the
most important and faTeachtng a. wen
a. the most equitable and humane fact
recorded In American history. Nothing
has occurred in the long and eventful his
tory OF the republic like the breaking Of
slavery shackles from the souls and bodies
/ Of the American bondsmen-
II affected the American people legally,
morally, sociologically and spiritually a.
no other thing had done or has done
Eince. II was the elimination Of q long
series OF struggles between national self
respect. national purity OF conscience and
national greed and selhshness.
Forty-seven years have elapsed The
American Negro. while hampered BY pref
udice, poverty and prescription. has had
time enough to show himself q blessing
or a curse. Have the conditions OF free
dom exhausted him7 Has he assimilated
- a man and citizen? Does he antaEo-
niZe the Just ideals and traditions OF the
American people?
He Is interviewer into the being OF the
nation. IN its llfeblood its homes, its
schools, its industries and enterprises, its
victories and defeats. Its legislatures
cannot enact a law. its courts render Q
decision. its political parties gain a VIC
tory, without considering him
IA e a Marina nenf clement Of Amarican
life, not dangerous 10 her well being. be-
cause he Is a Christian and progressive;
not vicious. because he r. industrious and
rapidly becoming intelligent. not a pau
per, because he is a taxpayer on over
800. 10000 in property.
One Of the most essential elements Of
racial strength the Negro must have now
II an exalted race pride The Negro who
IL ashamed Of his race ought to be driven
out and marked as a traitor.
It should be the highest ambition OF
every black man to invest the race with
honor, dignity and power. We have moth
ing Of which TO be ashamed. Forty-seven
years Of freedom read like a romance.
The Negro has no primrose path for the |
future He must rise on his merits every |
time. He must make himself an tndis- |
psnsable factor In American life and con- |
tribute the best citizenship and sterling |
worth into the community in which he
lives
He must simply compel the community |
to recognize his honesty and industry not |
by q Eervfle, hat In hand policy, which u |
more hypocritical than real and which |
costs him self respect and the respect Of /
all his neighbors, but q manly. straight |
forward course that shows him 70 b TO |
liable. honest. industrious. virtuous and |
law abiding.
We must organize IN business. religion. |
society, against lawlessness and crime. |
for the protection Of home. church. polit-
ical right and every other thing that n |
sacred 70 the man and the citizen.