The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-09-26
EMANCIPATION
CELEBRATION
Rev, Preston Taylor Delivered the Pin
Cipal Address at HOpkinSVillN
Monster Demonstration and Street
Parade-Deoorated Vehicles, Floats
Autos and Horseback Riders
Queen of Honor with Maids
Present Beautiful Spectacle
Marched all Streets.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Gl0De
Hopkinsville, KY, Sept. 22.-Rev.
Preston Taylor, widely known and
substantial leader of the race Of
Nashville, Tenn, was the orator OF
the day at the fiftieth anniversary
celebration held here today of the
issuance of the proclamation giving
freedom to more than three million
colored slaves in the United States
as a necessity. 1t will be remem-
bered that while Lincoln's proclama-
ton announced that the emancipa-
ton of the slaves would be effective
on and after January 1, 1868, the IA
nous state paper went to the Senate
on September %.
The event was celebrated here
with speechmaking and an industrial
parade, the most pretentious ever
had and drew forth the greatest
praise and commendatiOn from the
white citizens in this section and the
daily press, who paid high compll- |
ments to the race for its advance
ment made during the past fifty
years.
Rev. Taylor's address was made
in the open before more than thou
sand spectators, the very air being
punctuated with enthusiasm, be-
cause of the accomplishments of the
race since slavery Rev. Taylor
delivered a matchless address and
gave to those who listened to him
much inspiration, encouragement and
advice At times the speaker was
cheered by the assembled multitude
until the applause could be heard for
miles away. He was introduced by
Mr.. Louis Berry, chairman of the
Committee of the local Knights OF
Pythias, under whose auspices the
celebration was given, and the pro-
ceeds from which goes toward caring
for the INDECENT poor of the race in
Hopkinsville the coming winter.
There were seated on the speakers
platform, which was beautifully dec
GRATED an even dozen of Kentucky's
most fairest and lovely young maid
ems in the center of the group being
seated the Queen, clad in most ele-
CANT costume, the following gentle
men: Revs. E. Williams, pastor Of the
Virginia Baptist Church; R. l.. Bay
liss, who offered invocation; G. H.
Hubbard and Hon. Hiram S. Smith,
the local colored city councilman.
The proclamation was read by the
Queen, following which Mr.. Louis
Berry, master of ceremonies, intro
duced Rev. Taylor. He called at |
tention to the fact that in Rev. Mr..
TAYLOR, the race had real repre-
sentative type of the American Ne
gro turned loose so years ago upon
the world to become ward upon
the government, but instead, there |
was not single man, no matter for
how many thousand years he boasted
of his ancestry, who would not be |
more than proud to claim unto his |
race such a record as has been made
by the speaker of the day. He COM
pared Rev. Taylor along with DR..
Booker T. Washington and other
noted race leaders, who are singly |
recognized for their forethought,
wisdom, intelligence, wealth and
leadership.
with such advancement along all
lines as has been acknowledged by
all the world in these fifty years,
what will be the results and the ac-
complishments of my race in another
fifty years" was the opening decla-
ration of DR.. Taylor. 1t was the
most appreciative audience that had
assembled on a similar occasion in
Hopkinsville in many years. Our
progress has not been a local one, but
a national one, and there are fewer
drones, fewer beggars, in our race
than can be said of any race in the
whole World" continued the speaker,
this assertion drawing forth tremen-
dous applause, The wealth, intelli-
gence and thrift of the race, said the
speaker may be found wherever one
goes. He told Of recent trip South
which he made and where he Wis
tied the plantation Of one ex-slave
who now owns one thousand and two
acres of land, all paid for through
the savings of the owner, and much
of the land having been purchased
outright at a large cost price from
the ancestors of the man who once
owned him. This story created great
interest. He also told Of visit to
Mond Bayou Miss, the Negro city,
and declared that the people took
such great pride in their own town
and are so stimulated over self-govern-
ment until there has been only one
man arrested there within the last ten
years. For more than two hours
the speaker marshalled such truths
of the races loyalty, progress and
advancement, that the thousands OF
interested listeners were kept con-
stantly cheering and when he final
ly concluded such an applause went
I'D that the air was rent with sounds |
like unto that which had never been {
heard by the oldest residents Of this II
section.
Continued on paeg ~ !