The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-02
SENATOR WHITE IS PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
 AT NEGRO MEETING
Observe Fiftieth Anniver- sary of Freedom at Sixteenth Street
 Church

l ne sixteenth Str aet Baptist cnufcn was the scene of unique celebratio yesterday when former Senator Frank s. White, a Confederate veteran, was the principal speaker at the celebration by
 the negroes of Birmingham of the fiftieth anniversary of their emancipation Sena- tor White was given an ovation when he arose to speak and although his address lasted two hours he was given wrapt attention throughout. The celebration was attended by over 1900 people and the capacity of the church was taxed
 This occasion deeply impresses me said Senator White in beginning his ad- dress. ''I have never had my heart to beat so quickly I thank you for the kind greeting which you have given me, for it shows that a kind word spoken will bear fruit.
 Tn the Senate of the United States had occasion to speak in advocacy of a bill appropriating $100000 for an ex- position for colored people in commence ration of their half-century of freedom which was introduced by Senator Martin of Virginia. 1 spANe on the impulse
 of the moment. but the words came from the bottom of hy heart. I was proud to stand on that great floor and tell of the friendly fS-.ng and kind regard for the colored people that the people of the south have and to praise their advancement
 A FAITHFUL NEGRO
 You might suppose that 1 fought to keep you in slavery, but not at all. The institution never did appeal to me. My companion in boyhood was a negro and he followed me to the war. l never knew him to fail to prove his loyalty on any occasion His bravery was not sur passed by any soldier in the C3nfcderacy, though he fought to keep himself slave. Our children and our wives were not left exposed, but were protested by his
 loyalty and by his honor and when we returned all were safe. When the white flag bearer was wounded Ieeled and fell, it was the negro's arms that caught him and the loyal negro bore his body to the E'other, the sister and the wiie and all mingled tears with the tears Of the slave oE CT the prostrate form of the dead hc,o Slavery was objectionable but you must not forget that you are not the only people ever held as slaves. It was Joseph who led his people from famine inro slavery. It is not always a term of degre- dation. It has proven on many occasions to be a blessing. St. Patrick was a slave in Ireland, but it was he wno brought his people out of sin and idoialry.
 
 the feet of the southern white man. 1t
 was thrust upon him as it was upon you France. England and Grast Britain brought it about. We were made the re- cipients of its infamy and the bearer of it's burden. All the British Isles held slaves and Massachusetts was no further removed from it in 1861 than you are to- day. Lincoln. southern man brought about your freedom. It was fe who said Sn bOt a slave cannot stand upon it Grant fought the battle, but it was Lincoln who furnished the inspiration. He was d southern man, born just 6O mics from where Jefferson Davis was born We must remember him; we must erect q statue to him, and I want to have the
 honor of being the first to contribute to it's erection in Birmingham.
 HELPED EACH OTHER
 "The trouble was, slavery outgrew it. self It was the act of God. not mine, not
 yours. He works in mysterious ways. he knew his business when He placed you among southern white men. You
 have made the southern people the greatest people that ever lived You should realize it, we should appreciate it. Don't forget. however, that we made you. We gave you your religion, which is the best of you. We gave you your udSe anu we Sp6dk IL dIlke not as the northerner but as southerners We gave you civilization and what you had when you were freed. We did not educate you in books however not be- cause we did not want you educated but because it was not compatible with the institution of slavery. Yet some of us went beyond the law and taught you any way. We gave you broad educa- tion, at least the Yankees thought so
 for they made you senators and repre- sentatives in Congress immediately after slavery. The trouble was they
 made it too sweeping. They enfran- chised you and disfranchized us in a passion of bitterness. Had Lincoln lived
 that would not have been done and
 much of the antagonism and animosity
 of the south between the races would
 have been spared
 Senator White further admonished
 his hearers to thrive for morality, dis
 card bad habits, which are more harm
 full than the master of slavery days;
 get property, for it gives dignity and carries with it responsibility; start a savings account. though your bank here has failed, don't be discouraged; organize another;' look with contempt on all men and women who are immoral
 and without virtue" He closed by say
 ing: "Bss loyal to states rights, love