Phoenix tribune., 1923-06-30
JUNE 1eTH-WHAT 1T MEANS
TO coLoRED PEOPLE IN
THE SOUTH ERn STATES

Following is an address prepare ed by
Mr.. Curley E. Edbanks. custodian OF
the new court house annex of Mari
cipa County at Phoeni.:. which he
planned to deliver at the Emancipa-
tion celebration held in this city June
18th at East Lake park Circumstances
over which he had NO control pre-
vented him from appearing on the
program and we have been asked to
publish ihs address III full The ad-
dress follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men; Fifty seven years ago by the pro-
clamation of that immortal statesman
that great leader of men, that man
who graced tht halls of our national
legislature, who in the moment of the
countrys need, when it seemed that
the very life of the nation was at stake
rose as it were from the humble rail
splitter to the highest position within
the gift of our people and by his Pro
black man was freed
Fifty-seven years ago today was a
day of great rejoicing throughout the
nation, for victory was won and the
long struggle was over For years the
people had been torn over the great
question of slavery. and today the
question is forever settld in this coun-
try. Now just 81 yars later, we think
back and imagine we can hear the
sounds of rejoicing as they peal up
ward from thousands of lusty throats;
but yet think that with all the feeling
of Joy that was manifest on that morn
ing, there ran a kindred feeling of
sorrow along with it,
AhI yes, we have been told that the
condition of the slaves was one that
was deplorable That the suffering
they were compelled to undergo was of
such nature till we have held I'D our
hands in righteous indignation; but
| wonder if we have been told the
whole truth in the matter? | wonder
If in studying the history Of this case
we have not been partial to one side Of
the case to such an extent that we
have not been able to view the other
side with impartiality.
Turn with me for a moment to the
scene of an old southern plantation
All! | see the old plantation mansion,
and there to the west Of the mansion
| see the long rows of Negro shanties.
The hour is just after sundown. Hark!
| hear the strings of a banjo, and
softly on the evening breeze float
those old southern melodies. Listen to
the words of the song:
Down in the corn field hear that
mournful sound,
All them Darkies am a weeping
cause Masas in the cold, cold
ground"
Why, can it be true that after all
We have been told of the misery of
those poor unfortunates, that they are
singing these songs as a tribute to
those whom we are constrained to
save them from? Ahl Listen to that
other plaintive chord: Cause He
was so good and kind" All what a
eonstrast to the history that we have
been taught. And think you not that
there was feeling of sorrow mingled
with that feeling of joy? Think YOU
not that there were many old Ne
groes who knew that when they were
taken from the protecting arm of "Old
Massa" that then they would be COM
PEELED to battle against the adverse
elements of the world and wrest from
them as best they could their daily
bread-that in that moment he was
being placed in greater slavery than
ne had ever known before?
All! yes. the history of the next few
years has shown that while to some
Emancipation was freedom, to others
-e q bACoeOi Durueu. IL meant
the release from bondage to one who
had their every interest at heart, and
we today would not for a momnt turn
the time backward, yet we can not
help but feel that what brought such
great joy to some on that morning,
81 years ago, brought at the same time
sorrow to the hearts of others that had
never known what sorrow was before.
Editors Note: The araicle is all the
more remarkable when we take into
consideration the fact that the author
is an ex-slave.
INFANTRY SETS RECORD