Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-11-16
By WHITTIER II. WRIGHT.

BY WIFI LEX H. "
Philadelphia.-The committee having
charge of plans for the proposed cele-
bration in 1913 of the semicentennlal
of the freedom of the colored race in
the United States is making commend
able progress. The colored people OF
Pennsylvania are taking lively inter
est in the work as it is being outlined
by members of the committee.
The mechanical. trades and manu-
featuring departments will reflect the
skill and efficiency of the race along
these special lines. 1t is proposed to
build a house, construct an engine,
paint q picture and serve a dinner, all
in the presence of those who come.
great concert with smaller recitals will
show the progress of Negro music
1t is hoped to have a chorus of 5000
voices to sing daily only the Negro
melodies, while the drama will be rep
resented by a play entitled FIFTY
Years of Freedom" by Negro author
Congresses of Negro business and pro-
fessional men, such as the National Ne
gro Medical association, National Negro
Bankers association. National Negro
tist convention and National Negro Re
ligious congress, will be held.
What will be the civic benefit of the
exposition? The exposition, which has
been planned, will not only encourage
and inspire the colored people, but 1t
will be a lasting civic and national ben
eft in that it will help to allay preju-
dice, for it will inspire Il higher respect
on the part of the community at large
for the colored population when it
sees assembled in one place the prod
ucts of its handiwork. The white
people of the country know too little of
the good work Of the Negro.
1t will encourage the more despOnd-
ent ones of the race to renewed efforts.
1t will show them opportunities that
they have overlooked. and it will open
up opportunities for them to make
themselves better workmen. Too many
Negroes are discouraged because of
the still existent race prejudice which
they must face.
Where shall this exposition be held?
1t seems fitting that an exposition
should be held in the state Of Pennsyl-
vania and in the city of Philadelphia
for many reasons. Pennsylvania is by
tradition the state most favorably dis
posed to the colored race. Here there
existed the mildest form of slavery,
which, indeed, compared with the con-
ditions farther south could hardly be
called slavery at all. Here was uttered
the first protest against slavery in this
country, in lGSS by the German
~. q fx, ~
abolition of slavery was organized and
is still in existence. The illustrious
Benjamin Franklin was its first pres
ident
Here the first law for the gradual
abolition of slavery was passed. Here
the first anti-slavery meeting was held.
In this state the underground railroad
had its beginning. Many Of the most
illustrious names of Pennsylvania his
tory devoted themselves to the advance
of the colored people of this state, from
William Penn to Rudolph Blanken-
burg, including Francis Daniel, Pasto-
rious, Benjamin Franklin, DR.. Benja-
min Rush. Bishop William White, Will
liam Severn. Joseph Clark. Lucretia
Mott, Thaddeus Stevens.
Indeed Pennsylvania is rich in Negro
history. The first schools for higher
training of colored people, the first eX-
pertinent of colored churches, was be-
gun, and the first independent colored
churches came into existence within
the bounds of the state of Pennsylva-
MIA. Indeed the first record of prop
erty holding among colored people is
in this state, while there are some of
the largest businesses operated by
these people. Here are found the
largest secret orders, the Oldest news
papers and magazines.
Pennsylvania has the largest colored
population north OF Mason and Dix
on's line. and in proportion to this
population its colored people have
made greater advance possibly than
the colored population Of any other
state. The city Of Philadelphia and
vicinity includes one Of the largest
communities of colored people to be
found anywhere in the world.
If there is any place, therefore. in
which the progress Of the race can be
shown to advantage it is in the city Of
Philadelphia. And II there is any city
in the Union which should give an ap-
preparation to the colored people to do
this 1t is the city of Philadelphia. Col
ored Philadelphians are known to have
taken part in the Revolutionary war.
and as far back as 1893 the records
show that the bravery OF colored men
under most distressing circumstances
elected the highest praise and com
mendation from one of Philadelphia s
mayors. And in the war OF 1872 it
was Philadelphia battalion which
volunteered its service for the protec-
ton OF this city. And from that day
to this signal service has been done by
the colored population.