The Denver star., 1914-12-05
BIG EXPOSITION TO
SHOW ADVANCE
Virginia Celebration Scheduled
to Begin July 4 1916.
GILESR JACKSON As LEADER

Promoters Of Crest State Function
Advance Many Good Reasons Why It
Should Interest Our People Through
out the Ceuntry-conorsss Appro-
PIRATES 5000 Toward Expenses
sential and proper that the former
slaves and their descendants should
dttingly celebrate the semicentennial
or f,ft3eth year Of their freedom in ev-
cry state Of the Union. the exposition
to be held near Richmond. Va. In July
and August, 1915. should take pre-emi-
nence over all similar celebrations.
since It was at jamestown. Va. that
the drst slaves were landed soon after
they reached this country in 1919.
The colored people served for 248
years in actual slavery in Virginia. the
mother Of presidents and Statesmen
In Virginia, that gave to the country
Washington. Jefferson, Patrick Henry.
James Monroe. John Randolph. Stone
wall" Jackson. Robert E. Lee. John
Wise, William Malone. John Mercer
LAngston and many other national
characters, white and colored, and
where the great civil war ended on
April 8. 1865, which was followed by
the freedom OF the race, the celebra-
don should be a magnificent display
of what they have achieved in the
past fifty years Of freedom.
Not only our race In Virginia. but
those in every state, should take part
In this great event and make 1t one
that our whole country and the civi-
nzed world will admire. While the
celebration In a sense is local, 1t should
be carried out for the reasons named
on such a high scale as to make it ma
donal in character and thus set the
pace for a great national centennial
celebration at the proper time
This generation will then have pass
ed away, but it will have laid a foun-
dation on which future generations
can build in forming the history of
race that the Bible tells Us shall yet
stretch forth its hands unto God and
become a mighty nation" The colored
people in some of the states have al
ready held similar celebrations. and
others viii celebrate in 1915. In some
states annual fairs have been held reg
ulariy and a larger number Of county
fairs, at which the Industrial and ma
tertal advancement Of the race has
been exhibited. All Of these have been
gradually paving the way for larger
celebrations
Not more than two years ago large
number of leading colored men sought
to bring about a national semi-centen-
nal OF the freedom Sf the race In 1918
and asked consress for an appropria-
ton Of 100000 during the Taft admin
istrauon. but after long deliberation
Congress showed that it deemed it In
expedient that the race should under
take to celebrate upon such a large
scale after only afty years Of freedom
and thai the exhibits that could b6
made within that time under the CIR
cumstan>es would not justify - greaf
an outlay of money BY the general
government, and the bill making the
appropria ton did not pass.
Able men in congress thought that
more time and more advancement were
necessary before the holding Of a ma
uonal celebration should be undertak-
en- by the newly emancipated race. 1t
took the white race from the founda
ton Of the government in 11S9 and
the holding Of many hundreds Of state
and thousands of county fairs to get
ready for the great national Centennial
which was held in Philadelphia IN
1876 The wisdom Of the course of
congress in that case fs now clear.
Whenever the people Of any single
state have attempted to put on such
an exposition congress has readily act
ed in the matter. as It did In making
an appropriation of $55.OOO for such
celebration and exposition by the
co,ored people in Virginia
When our race continues in its prog
ress till 1865. when 1t can celebrate
100 years Of freedom. place its achieve
uents on exhibition and ask con
gress for help 1t will be granted with
out scarcely any opposition. The rea-
son for this ought to be clear.
The colored people Of Virginia as
well as the whole race are now on trial
What have colored people done along
all lines to elevate themselves in Vir
ginia on a plane with the best citizens
OF the state? Let their exhibits and
the conduct Of the exposition under the
supervision Of Colonel Giles B. Jack
son in July and August. 1915. answer
this question. 1t must answer 1t. The
national government will expect 1t.
The colored people and the white peo-
Pile of Virginia will expect 1t. Then
IT becomes the paramount duty OF ev-
cry intelligent colored man and intel
liSent colored woman in this state to
DO all they can In every way to make
II great success in order to sustain
and uphold the honor Of the coIored
people Of the state, before the state.
the nation and the entire race In this
hn lnbH Hai h..