The Denver star., 1913-10-25
Nv N. BARNETT DoDsoN.

selected to represent tne coloreu Clti
zens of the country at the recent cele'
bra ton of the centennial of the battle
of Lake Erie was conferred upon the
Rev. A. j. Carey. Phi. D., pastor of the
Institutional A. Nj. Il. church OF this
city. Only two names We're presented
to the committee on speakers for this
part of the program, that of Dr. Book
er L. Washington and the Rev. A. j.
Carey. the ktter being chosen.
1t is possible that it is not generally
known that 100 of the 43O seamen who
fought with Perry were colored men
DIR. Carey brings out this fact and also
calls attention to what is generally
known-that colored men have fought
with bravery and heroism in all the
wars for the protection and preserva
ton of our country and have won the
right to Il square deal. He makes n
strong appeal to the American people
to turn the most effective forces OF
American life upon injustice and un
righteousness.
DIR. Carey's speech is a message to
the American people from the great
body of intelligent Afro American citi
Zens. who are not satisfied with pres
ent conditions. He pleads for fair
chance for the race aud says. I'VE ass
nothing more: will be satisfied Will
nothing less" DR.. Carey in part said
When on that September Afternoon
the unconquered Perry. fresh from tho
deck of the battered Lawrence. drove
his pennant 10 the Niagara's s masthead
cut his way through the lines of the
British squadron. dismantled the De
troit. shattered the Queen Charlotte
and forced to unconditional surrender
the entire British fleet he lifted above
the clouds to shine in immortal glorl
not only his own forever honored
name, but the names also of the Law
renee and the 400 dauntless seamen
who could die but never could give W
a ship. f
We gather here on this historic spoj
100 years after the battles over aug
the victory won to celebrate. to com.
memorate, to rejoice. not SO much In
the victory of arms as in the triumphs
of peace and to learn. If we may, some
lessons that will tend toward making
ours indeed a universal peace and our
land in fact. as in name. the land Of
justice and of freedom
Historians have written. poets have
sung and artists have painted in glow
ing colors the stories of Perry and FL
liot. of Yarna and Brooks, of Dobbins
and DR.. Parsons And yet somehow
there is 10 character in all that thrill
ing drama that has for me Il greater
fascination than that of Alexander,
.l.lf "a
of his love and devotion. his loyalty
and hcroism: how lie was with Perry
at the start from Hartford. amid the
riSors from Hartford to Albany, from
Albany to the lakes
He was mt his side when shot and
shell tore away rigging. maSts and
bulwarks. resulting in carnage IN
paralleled in naval warfare; with him
as he passed over the port gangway
| with his fighting tiag under his arm;
with him in the little boat while round
shot ard grape churned the water on
every side; with him when lightly he
stepped on the Niagaras deck; with
him when the intrepid but i'll. led
Barclay pulled down the British fight
ing flag and displayed the flag of truce;
with him when he penned the match
less message, We have met the enemy
and they are ours"
And do you ask me why the story Of
Alexander the story Of the 100 colored
seamen and the little brothers" 10y
atty. heroism and devotion possesses
SO great n charm to me? Perhaps this
is why: The loyalty. devotion and love
for his country of The little brother in
black" have never righteously been
questioned. Like Alexander he has
been with you. his bigger brother, from
the beginning until now; with you at
Boston and at Bunker Hi, where
Crispus Attucks. Peter Salem and n
dozen sable hurd shed first blood FOL.
American independence.
And who can forget the sixties. the
horrible years of the civil war when
brother fought against brother. father
against son and our glorious nation
was rent with internecine strife?
How dark were those days. How i'm
perfied was the Union, Yet when
Lincoln's Gull came forth from Wash
| ington-a call for volunteers a call for
men who would bare their breasts to
| shot and shell for the reuniting of
severed nation-the little brother" an.
swered. We're coming. Father Abra-
haul 100000 strong
Thirteen ustrous stars were falling
from the folds of Old Glory. falling
| INTO the dust Of secession and rebel
Hon. But beneath these falling stars
nearly 100000 colored soldiers march
| ed side by side with their ''bipger
brother caught those falling stars
on the points OF bristling bayonets.
pinned them bnck within the folds Of
the star spungled banner sealed them
with their blood and marched on. sing.
ing the Union Forever