Year: 1870




PHILADELPHIA. April 26-To-day the col
ored people celebrated their complete political enanoi-
nation by q grand procession, which has added TO our
national life a new element OF the picturesque


ON civic days and state occasions the rreproachable
Citizen hitherto, however solid and comfortable ms ap-
pearance in broadcoth and beaver Is hardly gracefni
or especialy gadsome object Indeed he wears as part
OF the regulation regalia fatgued, indnereht an"
slightly disgusted expression as one should say, you
ace know its all sha this making believe to be gay
and the sooner It Is over the better"


Multiply the broadcloth by thousands and the rou'e
by miles and you have dusty penitents Ioo"hg
in unereal fashion those martyred men In oaroucheS anu
the anxious cavaliers who marshal the unhappy pahh-
an American procession. Tottering under moral ban
ners Knocked by music martial or merry, not muscle
reaxes rueful rigidy but all thoughts all eyes arc
fixed fin one direction the happy goal OF there dsnlss
But at last have color In the picture, ana the
parade" wears other features now! The newy-made
citizens OF the Fifteenth Amendment bring warmth
and sunshine and glow into their rejocings that are
caught up and reflected by the white ookerson m the
street from end end ia vast surge OF laughter and
merry making One hardly hears the music In the happy
din indeed that is the music Such sofvoiced greeting,
such CHEEKY words such ringing laughter IT seems that
new tones have into the language az well an new
colors into the light Never before was such orderly d
order such wholesome tumult. The race makes hohday
Tho children that at last have future, the young





who all their long sad memories can add ths crown
ing Joy.


The throng moves on; the laughing girls the happy
mothers keepng pace with the ward banners. Brianb
ms an Italian festa with gay coors flowers and pctur
es0ue costumes as bright the crowd kindes into yet


more radiant expression for underneath these gay pulses
throbs Thought Look in their faces! Such multitude
of emotion and expression The old ache OF the days
that are gone the thrill OF the battleags, and the
memory that these wounds had and these orphans
made while yet the nation stood with averted face and
cold-al-a Is overlooked forgotten and forgiven in the
mighty 10y ofIthe hour. From ambulance and wagon
fash back happy smiles and looks OF hearty confidence
in the future and In you.


And they have their banners too, borne alot In the
sunshine. The dark pathOs OF Abraham Lincons race,
the tender grace Of his words; Garrison, sevens and
the benign motherhood OF Lucretia Mott They know,
they know the shrnes Of blessing and OF dispensing
hands These people have been to church this morning.
have Joined solemn prayer and praise and come forth
to show us how the most devout communion may pre-
lude ftly these full free draughts Of Freedoms WINE
The tide streams on the route not long enough tho
day is not long enough the fair day that sets in smiles
And sense Of something added, something broader,
fuller comes to us, too, the sun goes down. May We
not have found at last the key TO many problemf


May not these citizens with their hearty value OF
enjoyment for its own sake, their love OF music and
color together with the Christian kindliness the sweet
humility and gentle courtesy Of their race have brought
into the wear and of American business lie the
lon lost elements of gladness and OF grace