The Big Parade. The 28Th Anniversary Celebration Of The Emancipation Of Slaves In The District, p.1
Dublin Core
Title
The Big Parade. The 28Th Anniversary Celebration Of The Emancipation Of Slaves In The District, p.1
Description
"The 28th anniversary celebration of the emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia was celebrated by a procession of all the colored military and social organization in the city . It was reviewed by the president and followed by exercises at Lincoln Park.
The rendezvous for the procession was 7th and K Sts., and the crowd centered there. Men and women and their babies thronged the streets. Now and then a company in bright hued uniform would arrive and take its place to await the procession’s starting. The day was almost universally observed and made a gala-day by the people, and as a result work on new buildings was suspended because of the absence of colored laborers. The procession was formed on K street with the right resting on Seventh.
At the White House the parade was reviewed by President Harrison and the companies marched on down Penn. Ave., and out East Capitol Street, to Lincoln Park. It was estimated that over 6,000 men were in the long procession. Along the route the sidewalks were packed with people. At the White House there was a large crowd. On East Capitol street the column was halted and formed along the sides of the streets, while the carriages containing the speakers were driven through to the stand at the West Side of Lincoln Park. The stand was raised three or four feet, and was festooned with large flags. Long before the arrival of the procession a crowd, that constantly received fresh accessions had gathered. The speakers as they were driven up the stand, dismounted and made their way through the dense crowd of 10,000 people, to the steps leading on to the stand.
The speeches were made from the side of the stand toward the park and was listened to with the closest attention. On the stand, besides the speakers and members of the committees, were Gen. E. W. Whittaker, 4th Auditor John R. Lynch, Ex-Tax Collector Cook, Revs. S. G. Lamkins, Robt. Johnson, G. W. Moore , S.M. Brown, Dr. Wilder and others. The first of the proceedings were rendered inaudible by the bands that had rendered music for the procession . Mr W. Calvin Chase began the exercises by introducing Hon. B. K. Bruce, the recorder for the District. While Recorder Bruce asked Rev. Dr. Rankin, president of the Howard University, to lead in prayer, [ill.] efforts in the shape of the motions and shouts were made to stop the bands but they could not be stopped and president Rankin’s prayer could not be heard by the people more than a few feet from him.
Mr. Bruce then made a brief address, in which he said that no day was so significant of the joy and hope as the one they were celebrating. The Fourth of July and the 16th of April were each days commemorative of a triumph liberty. The one commemorative of a nation's disenthrallment and the other of of a birth of a race.
Mr. Bruce then introduced Secretary, E. L. Thornton, who read letters of regret of their inability to be present from the postmaster General Wanamaker , Assistant Postmaster General Clarkson, Secretary Rusk, Senator Sherman, Mr. Frank Hattou, Supt., of Census Porter, Col. H. L. Swords, Capt. Wm. Meredith, Mr. H. W. Coffin, Mr. B. H. Warner, and Judge Miller.
Rev. Walter H. Brooks read a graceful poem setting forth the religious aspects of the emancipation and closed by saying I will not finish the poem on account of the lateness of the hour. Lawyer E. M. Hewlwtt read the text of the act freeing slaves in the District, and Mr. Bruce introduced the orator of the day, Hon. John M. Langston. Mr. Langston began his address by telling how, fourteen years ago, he was present when the statue (pointing through the trees to the Lincoln statue in the center of the park) commemorative of the “grandest act of the Martyr-President’s life” was unveiled. He said his race joined with the white people in celebrating the Fourth of July and he wanted the whites to join in the celebration of Emancipation Day. He told how in the early days of the way a Kentucky Senator had said the negroes would soon run out. “Does this look it?” waving his hand over the crowd. “I thank God,” he said “that every time the sun rises 500 new negroes babies raise their eyes to the free sunlight.” [Applause.] Washington, he said, has been almost entirely Africanized. “It looks to day as if there were nothing by negroes in Washington. Ever since we were given our freedom we have been multiplying. And now how beautiful are our daughters, and how our sons love them.” The race, he said, is not dying out, but growing better looking and better behaved every year. “This is our Capital. When Lincoln gave us our freedom he gave us this city and we will never leave it.” In many cases he said, the next fifty years would show the black man to be better than the white. The negro would not emigrate, he said. He would stay here and continue to advance he hoped, under Harrison and Morton and Sherman and Reed. “We are Americans and we love our country,” he said in closing.
Col. James Hill, of Georgia, who was a delegate to the National convention, spoke of the remarkable advancement of the race in its quarter of a century of freedom. “Slavery” he said, “could quote the scriptures as an authority,” but it was nonetheless iniquitous.
Hon. A. M. Clapp was introduced and offered congratulations on the auspicious occasion, he said he had watched the celebration of emancipation for more than twenty years, and each successive year marked a step forward in the intelligence, respectability and manly bearing.
Hon. H. C. C. Astwood, pictured the contrast between the ocean of blackness of the past and the ocean of light of the race’s future.
Mr. Bruce thanked the assemblage for its good order, and Rev. Mr. Johnson said that before he offered the benediction he wanted to say something about Prof. Fowler’s ship, which was on the platform, resplendent in red cord and gilt. He said the colored race should build ships and engage in commerce. Ships should be sent to Africa. Col. Hill stopped the minister’s speech and “John Brown’s body was song, J. L. Turner leading the singing. Rev. Mr. Johnson then offered the benediction while the crowd stood with uncovered heads.
At night the annual banquet was held in the Cadets armory on O st. A large crowd was present and the occasion passed off very pleasantly. Hon. H. C. C. Astwood presided and Hon. James M. Townsend made the opening address. The Metropolitan orchestra furnished music during the evening.
Dr. Townsend was introduced by the President of the day, Mr. Chase. His speech was pointed and was well received. The banquet was was under the auspicious of a special committee, W. H. Jackson, chairman, Geo. Washington, B. C. Whiting and C. H. Watson and others. The refreshments and other delicious edibles were served by the following young ladies: Misses Pauline Bruce, Ednor Ford, Sadie E. Anderson, Edwardine Bruce, Mary E. Bruce, Ella Greenfield and J. E. Anderson. The ladies were tastefully dressed each having a pretty bunch of flowers in their bosom."
The rendezvous for the procession was 7th and K Sts., and the crowd centered there. Men and women and their babies thronged the streets. Now and then a company in bright hued uniform would arrive and take its place to await the procession’s starting. The day was almost universally observed and made a gala-day by the people, and as a result work on new buildings was suspended because of the absence of colored laborers. The procession was formed on K street with the right resting on Seventh.
At the White House the parade was reviewed by President Harrison and the companies marched on down Penn. Ave., and out East Capitol Street, to Lincoln Park. It was estimated that over 6,000 men were in the long procession. Along the route the sidewalks were packed with people. At the White House there was a large crowd. On East Capitol street the column was halted and formed along the sides of the streets, while the carriages containing the speakers were driven through to the stand at the West Side of Lincoln Park. The stand was raised three or four feet, and was festooned with large flags. Long before the arrival of the procession a crowd, that constantly received fresh accessions had gathered. The speakers as they were driven up the stand, dismounted and made their way through the dense crowd of 10,000 people, to the steps leading on to the stand.
The speeches were made from the side of the stand toward the park and was listened to with the closest attention. On the stand, besides the speakers and members of the committees, were Gen. E. W. Whittaker, 4th Auditor John R. Lynch, Ex-Tax Collector Cook, Revs. S. G. Lamkins, Robt. Johnson, G. W. Moore , S.M. Brown, Dr. Wilder and others. The first of the proceedings were rendered inaudible by the bands that had rendered music for the procession . Mr W. Calvin Chase began the exercises by introducing Hon. B. K. Bruce, the recorder for the District. While Recorder Bruce asked Rev. Dr. Rankin, president of the Howard University, to lead in prayer, [ill.] efforts in the shape of the motions and shouts were made to stop the bands but they could not be stopped and president Rankin’s prayer could not be heard by the people more than a few feet from him.
Mr. Bruce then made a brief address, in which he said that no day was so significant of the joy and hope as the one they were celebrating. The Fourth of July and the 16th of April were each days commemorative of a triumph liberty. The one commemorative of a nation's disenthrallment and the other of of a birth of a race.
Mr. Bruce then introduced Secretary, E. L. Thornton, who read letters of regret of their inability to be present from the postmaster General Wanamaker , Assistant Postmaster General Clarkson, Secretary Rusk, Senator Sherman, Mr. Frank Hattou, Supt., of Census Porter, Col. H. L. Swords, Capt. Wm. Meredith, Mr. H. W. Coffin, Mr. B. H. Warner, and Judge Miller.
Rev. Walter H. Brooks read a graceful poem setting forth the religious aspects of the emancipation and closed by saying I will not finish the poem on account of the lateness of the hour. Lawyer E. M. Hewlwtt read the text of the act freeing slaves in the District, and Mr. Bruce introduced the orator of the day, Hon. John M. Langston. Mr. Langston began his address by telling how, fourteen years ago, he was present when the statue (pointing through the trees to the Lincoln statue in the center of the park) commemorative of the “grandest act of the Martyr-President’s life” was unveiled. He said his race joined with the white people in celebrating the Fourth of July and he wanted the whites to join in the celebration of Emancipation Day. He told how in the early days of the way a Kentucky Senator had said the negroes would soon run out. “Does this look it?” waving his hand over the crowd. “I thank God,” he said “that every time the sun rises 500 new negroes babies raise their eyes to the free sunlight.” [Applause.] Washington, he said, has been almost entirely Africanized. “It looks to day as if there were nothing by negroes in Washington. Ever since we were given our freedom we have been multiplying. And now how beautiful are our daughters, and how our sons love them.” The race, he said, is not dying out, but growing better looking and better behaved every year. “This is our Capital. When Lincoln gave us our freedom he gave us this city and we will never leave it.” In many cases he said, the next fifty years would show the black man to be better than the white. The negro would not emigrate, he said. He would stay here and continue to advance he hoped, under Harrison and Morton and Sherman and Reed. “We are Americans and we love our country,” he said in closing.
Col. James Hill, of Georgia, who was a delegate to the National convention, spoke of the remarkable advancement of the race in its quarter of a century of freedom. “Slavery” he said, “could quote the scriptures as an authority,” but it was nonetheless iniquitous.
Hon. A. M. Clapp was introduced and offered congratulations on the auspicious occasion, he said he had watched the celebration of emancipation for more than twenty years, and each successive year marked a step forward in the intelligence, respectability and manly bearing.
Hon. H. C. C. Astwood, pictured the contrast between the ocean of blackness of the past and the ocean of light of the race’s future.
Mr. Bruce thanked the assemblage for its good order, and Rev. Mr. Johnson said that before he offered the benediction he wanted to say something about Prof. Fowler’s ship, which was on the platform, resplendent in red cord and gilt. He said the colored race should build ships and engage in commerce. Ships should be sent to Africa. Col. Hill stopped the minister’s speech and “John Brown’s body was song, J. L. Turner leading the singing. Rev. Mr. Johnson then offered the benediction while the crowd stood with uncovered heads.
At night the annual banquet was held in the Cadets armory on O st. A large crowd was present and the occasion passed off very pleasantly. Hon. H. C. C. Astwood presided and Hon. James M. Townsend made the opening address. The Metropolitan orchestra furnished music during the evening.
Dr. Townsend was introduced by the President of the day, Mr. Chase. His speech was pointed and was well received. The banquet was was under the auspicious of a special committee, W. H. Jackson, chairman, Geo. Washington, B. C. Whiting and C. H. Watson and others. The refreshments and other delicious edibles were served by the following young ladies: Misses Pauline Bruce, Ednor Ford, Sadie E. Anderson, Edwardine Bruce, Mary E. Bruce, Ella Greenfield and J. E. Anderson. The ladies were tastefully dressed each having a pretty bunch of flowers in their bosom."
Creator
N/A
Publisher
The Washington Bee
Date
1890-4-19
Collection
Citation
N/A , “The Big Parade. The 28Th Anniversary Celebration Of The Emancipation Of Slaves In The District, p.1,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 28, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/5.