CHAPTER 1.

The Emancipation Celebration at Salem, Va.,

January 2, 1893.

I. The Letter of Invitation and its Acceptance. About December 16, 1891, I received the following letter, extending to me an invitation to address the people of Salem and the adjoining towns on January 2, '93:

“Salem, Va., December 16, 1892.

Professor D.F. Williams. Dear Sir: The Emancipation Proclamation Celebration Club of Salem, Va., joined by the Roanoke Club, will celebrate here January 2, '93. At our meeting last night, you were chosen Orator of the day, and I write these lines to know if you can be here and deliver the oration on the occasion.

Please answer at once, stating whether you can come and giving your terms.

Very truly yours, B. F. Fox, Chairman of Committee of Arrangements.”

After duly considering the request, I mailed to Rev. B. F. Fox a letter containing these words:

“Rev. Fox: I received your letter, and in reply will say that I shall be pleased to render my services to the citizens of Salem and Roanoke on January 2, '93. While I usually have a set price for lectures and addresses delivered on certain occasions, I will not make any definite charge on your patriotic committee on account of my devotion to my race and State and the patriotic duty which is due from us all on such an occasion. I congratulate you on the fact that a change in the political aspect of our national government has 0007 6not dampened your ardor in keeping green and fresh the memories of our freedom and achievements. If Providence permits, I shall be present on the occasion.

Very respectfully, D. B. Williams.”

(2). The Trip to Salem.—On `Friday, December 29, I arrived in Petersburg from Wilmington, N. C., where The American Association of Educators of Colored Youth met December 27, and where was organized The Association of Authors. I left Petersburg on Saturday morning, January 30, and arrived in Roanoke about 4 o' clock in the afternoon and in Salem about six o' clock. I was conducted to the boarding house of Mr. John Baptist, one of the oldest and most progressive citizens of Salem, from whose hospitable hand I received all needed accommodations. At the urgent request of Rev. Fox, I delivered to his congregation on Sunday morning a discourse on The Growth of Christianity. I remained at the house of Mr. Baptist in the afternoon when a number of ladies and gentlemen honored me with their presence.

(3). The Procession—On Monday morning, the crowded streets and the cheerful sounds of horn and drum announced that the people were deeply interested in the day's celebration. The procession formed on Water Street about ten o' clock with Booker Freeman as Chief Marshal, with whom were associated the following subordinates: First Marshal, S.R. Rogers; Second, L. Manns; Third, William Scruggs; Fourth, Henry Duckwilder; Fifth, W.E. Nash; Sixth, R.A. Maze. Lawyer J.R. Dungee, Dr. J.R. Bolland, Professors D.W. Harth and W.R. Watkins, Lawyer T.T. Henry and Alert Brooks commanded the Roanoke contingent, and acted under the Chief Marshal. According to the President of the Club, the procession was fully a mile long, containing two brass bands, five hundred horsemen, one hundred carriages, 0008 7and nine hundred pedestrians, making in all more than fifteen hundred persons in line. About three thousand persons assisted in the celebration. Having paraded the principal streets of Salem, which were covered with a large number of white and colored persons, they proceeded to the Town Hall.

II. The Exercises at the Town Hall. The hall was crowded with a cultured audience, each of whom paid an entrance fee of fifteen cents to aid in defraying the expenses of the celebration. On the platform were seated some of the most prominent men of Salem and Roanoke, among whom were lawyers J.T. Oatneal, T.T. Henry, John Liver and J.R. Dungee; J.W. Wingfield, Rev. J.L. Spurlarke, Rev. B.F. Fox, John Davis, the colored capitalist of Roanoke, Professor John H. Duckwilder, the President of the Emancipation Club, Professor W.R. Watkins, the Chairman of the Committee on Publication, Professor D.W. Harth, and others. Some prominent white citizens showed their appreciation by their presence, and many brilliant and cultured ladies added lustre and charm to the occasion.

The meeting was called to order by Professor John H. Duckwilder. After the band had played a patriotic selection, he called upon Rev. Joseph L. Spurlake for an invocation; after which the choir, under the leadership of Professors U.S.G. Patterson and W.R. Wilson, delighted the audience with well-selected music. The President of the Club then introduced Miss L.A. Johnson, who read a well-conceived and neatly expressed essay entitled “Why we Celebrate,” after which the “Emancipation Proclamation” was read by Miss Josie B. Matthews. Both of these young ladies performed their parts with credit to themselves, and won the generous plaudits of the audience. The President in well-chosen remarks then introduced the 0009 8orator of the day, Professor Daniel B. Williams, of the V.N. and C.I.

That the reader may be more interested in the address and more fully realize its general effect, I deem it advisable to reserve it for chapter second and to insert at this juncture comments on its merit from several papers and the request for its publication on the part of the people of Roanoke and Salem.

III. Comments from the Press. (1). From “The Roanoke Times” of January 2.—The oration of Prof. D.B. Williams, Dean of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute of Petersburg, was a superb effort, full of good advice and noble sentiments, delivered in eloquent language. Possibly some of it was a trifle beyond his audience, but there was so much good sense in it, and it was so entirely different from the average run of such speeches, that it could not fail to do some good. Running through the speech was the sentiment that the white men of the south are the colored people's friends. He urged his hearers to not only educate their children but teach them a trade, keep out of mischief, and make them a credit to their race.

(2). From the “Richmond Dispatch” of January 3. Eloquent and Sensible Address by Prof. Williams. Salem, Va., January 23. —Emanicipation Day was celebrated here to-day by between two and three thousand colored people from Roanoke, Vinton, and adjoining towns Prof. D.B. Williams of the V.N. and C.I. of Petersburg delivered the oration, which was full of good advice, rich in eloquence and was permeated with the sentiment that the white men of Virginia had done much for the colored people, were willing to do more, and were undoubtedly their friends. He paid a handsome tribute to Hon. John E. Massey, and urged his hearers not only to educate their children 0010 9but to teach them a trade, so that they might not be led astray, but might become useful citizens and a credit to their race. IV. The Request for its Publication. This speech would not have been given to the public, if the leading men of Salem and Roanoke had not urged me to publish it. It is sent forth with a wish that a perusal of it will be beneficial to its readers.

About the third of February I received the following letter:

Salem, Va., February 1, '93. Prof. D.B. Williams. Dear Sir: The address you delivered to the citizens of Salem, Roanoke City, and Roanoke County assembled at Salem, Va., on the Emancipation Proclamation Celebration occasion, January 2, 1893, has been the subject of much favorable comment by those who heard it. Your strong reasoning and powerful eloquence will not soon be forgotten.

The E. P. C. Club of Salem feels highly gratified in having secured your service for the occasion, and, in view of the appropriateness, beauty, force, and effect of your address, do hereby most earnestly request you to publish it in pamphlet or some cheap form for circulation, which, we think, will promote the welfare of the people.

At a regular meeting of our club and citizens generally, we, the undersigned, were appointed to communicate thus to you, and hope you may find it practicable to comply with the above request.

Yours respectfully, W. R. Watkins, Principal Salem Graded School. J. H. Duckwilder, Teacher in “ “ “ B. F. Fox, Pastor First Baptist Church.”

0011 10

On February 10, I received the letter written below:

“Roanoke, Va., February 8, '93. Professor D.B. Williams, A.M., Ph. D., Dean of the College Department of the V.N. and C.I. Dear Sir: The colored people of the city of Roanoke, in accordance with the resolutions passed at the last business meeting of the Club at Salem, heartily join in the call requesting you to publish the oration which you delivered at Salem on January 2, '93, and which was so favorably received and commented upon by both white and colored. Since it was the subject of flattering comments from several white and colored newspapers, we feel assured that its publication will be favorably received, not only by the white and colored people of the Southwest, but also by the people of the whole State. It will, no doubt, arouse a spirit of emulation in our aspiring youth, and will teach them to know our great men and honor and perpetuate their memories and how to meet their grave responsibilities.

Hoping that you will regard the wishes of the great mass of the people of this section more than any private scruples which you may have, we subscribe ourselves,

Very truly yours, J.T. Oatneal, A.J Oliver, J.W. Wingfield, T.T Henry, J.R. Dungee, Attorneys at Law.

0012

CHAPTER II

THE ADDRESS.

Our Duties and How to Discharge Them. In introducing Professor Williams to the audience, the President of the Club said among other things the following:

“Ladies and Gentlemen: We come to-day not boasting of any superior ability or achievements, but rejoice to know that we are citizen of this great nation, protected by its stars and stripes. As we celebrate, we offer our heartfelt praises to the giver of every good and perfect gift, through whose mighty arm we are what we are.

Our present history gives promise of future greatness. We have with us to-day one of the greatest educators of our time. He is an author and orator of widespread fame. He has for years been Dean of the Collegiate Department, Professor of Ancient Languages, and Instructor in Pedagogy and Oratory in the V N. and C.I. Among the educators of the colored people he occupies a first place, and, in his departments of languages, pedagogy, and oratory, he has few equals and no superior. I now present to you Dr. Daniel Barclay Williams of Petersburg, who will now deliver the Emancipation Address.” (Much applause).

After the introductory remarks, Professor Williams arose, and delivered the following oration: “I slept, and dreamed that life was beauty; I woke and found that life was duty.” Ladies and Gentlemen: it is befitting that we keep green and fresh the memories which cluster around 0013 12Emancipation. I am well aware of the fact that orators on such an occasion as this usually speak of the days of the past. I feel confident, however, that you will pardon me for a deviation from this custom when I state that I am fully convinced that I can accomplish more good by calling your attention to our needs and obligations than by referring to bygone days. That the colored people have shown themselves worthy of American citizenship is no longer questioned by those who consult facts and figures. They have made laudable progress in population, education, wealth, social purity, general industry, and religion. Our general advancement is so well known to you that I decided not to speak of it on this occasion; but I earnestly entreat you to give me your careful attention while I address you on the practical subject, Our Duties to our Race, State, and Nation and How to Discharge them. I. Our Duty to our Homes. “Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.” —Payne.

The family is the nucles of civilization. The peace and good order of a community is largely dependent on the condition of families. Englishmen, Germans, and Americans—the noblest and greatest representatives of the white race—cherish and cultivate a lofty standard for the family. The progressive colored people of our family are actuated by similar purposes in regard to family purity. That we have made praiseworthy advances in family virtues cannot be seriously questioned. We can proudly point to thousands of well-regulated Christian families. Notwithstanding this pleasing fact, we fully realize that we can make great improvement in our general home life.

All real progress is primarily from within. The 0014 13noblest and purest of men said, “Ye must be born again.” To produce a noble Christian family, the husband and wife should be true Christians. If the husband is shiftless and indolent, the wife will be dissatisfied. If he is given to strong drink or loves other places more than home, she is rendered unhappy. If he is cruel to her or fails to make necessary provision for home, she is more or less wretched. So, too, when the wife fails to attend to her own home duties, the husband becomes dissatisfied. When she proves herself faithless and untrue, he loses interest in home. Thus the condition of a family is largely dependent on the doings of both. There are some writers on social science who maintain that the wife exerts, on the whole, a greater influence in making home happy or unhappy than the husband; but I am convinced that it is very difficult, except in a few special cases, to decide whether the husband or wife exerts the greater influence in shaping the destiny of home-life. The sensible advice of the inspired apostle should be duly regarded by every husband and wife. He says: “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord.” (Applause).

The Influence of Woman Proverbial. History, poetry, and the Scriptures are full of the deeds of woman. Some of those deeds, like those of men, have benefited the world, and others have injured it. Homer in his immortal Iliad tells how bewitching Helen left her husband, the brave Menelaus, and fled to Troy with handsome Paris and how a direful war of ten years' duration lasted. Leighton and Gibbon narrate with scholarly power the wonderful influence which the beautiful but voluptuous Cleopatra exercised over Mark Anthony, the Roman chieftain, and the Holy Scriptures record the wickedness 0015 14and crimes of Jezebel, the vicious wife of Ahab. The influence of these women was bad. On the other hand, the Bible speaks in glowing terms of Dorcas of Joppa, who performed among her neighbors deeds of love. History tells of the noble Mrs. Elizabeth Fry, who went to the prisons of London to teach the religion of the Savior. But time does not permit me to speak of the thousands of noble and pure-souled women, who, in the family, the Sunday school, the church, and in the public walks of life, are exerting a noble influence in building up humanity. Certainly, all thoughtful men concur in the sentiments expressed in the following stanza: Blessings on the hand of woman; Angels guard her strength and grace In the palace, cottage, hovel, O, no matter where the place. Would that never storms assailed it, Rainbow ever gently curled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rocks the world.” —(Applause). II. Our Duty to Educate our Children. “School-houses are the republican line of fortifications.” —Horace Mann.

The colored people deserve to be praised for the great progress in education which they have made since 1865. According to the report of the Commissioner of Education, there were in our country in 1889 the following schools: Public schools, 22,956, with an enrollment of 1,213,92. It is safe to say that we now have 25,000 schools with an enrollment of 1,500,000. The following tabular statement shows the approximate number of other schools among us: Class of Schools. No. of Instructors. Enrollment. Normal, 41 316 7,642 For Sec. Inst., 53 354 11,480 Universities and Colleges, 22 283 5,010 Theological, 2289 1,008 Law, 415 88 Medicine, 430 241 For Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, 960 287

0016 15

Firstly, our duty in education consists in seeking to secure a more universal elementary education. The report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction shows that about 58.2 of the white school population is enrolled and about 44.8 per cent of the colored. There are about 55 out of every 100 of our children, who are old enough to attend school, not attending the public schools. Making allowance for a few who receive private instruction, it is safe to say that fully 45 out of every 100 are growing up in comparative ignorance. Every parent should aim to secure a common school education for every boy and girl. Our teachers and preachers, too, should exert their influence in creating a sentiment favorable to common school culture.

Secondly, we should put more stress on industrial education. According to the best statistics I could gather, there are among us about twenty-five industrial schools having about 2,500 students. But a very much larger number of our boys and girls should be taught the principles of industrial education. They should be thus taught for two reasons. (1). Such an education renders them more moral. When persons have trades, they are more apt to secure continued work. Their very industry ofttimes preserves them from crime. (2). They are thus better enabled to earn livelihood. Unskilled labor is poorly paid. Skilled labor demands higher wages. In educating our boys, they should be taught different trades. Our girls should be taught all household duties. (Loud clapping).

Thirdly, we owe to ourselves the duty of sustaining higher education. While we have done well along this line of progress, much remains to be done. We should uphold higher education because it is a great factor in the world's progress. I need not state that 0017 16England, Germany, and France owe much of their greatness to higher education. The grand civilization of which we are so justly proud is largely the offspring of higher education. The noble men who landed on the rock of Plymouth, built homes on the Lehigh, founded the settlement of Jamestown were cultured by a study of higher branches of learning. The majority of those who have conferred lasting benefits on our country by discovery, settlement, a successful termination of war, wise legislation, executive and judicial ability, and by manufacture and commerce received the benefits of higher education.

The unparalleled progress of the colored people since 1865 is largely due to a development of higher education among them. Our advancement along the lines of politics, business, invention, education, journalism, morality, religion, and general literature is much indebted to this great force. Our normal and high schools, medical and law schools, colleges and universities are yearly sending forth scores of young men and women cultured in higher branches. We should encourage some of our most brilliant and promising boys and girls to obtain a collegiate and professional education.

Let us return our sincere thanks to those illustrious Virginians who have, for the last six years, sustained the Collegiate Department as well as other departments of the V.N. and C.I. Let us give due credit to the Board of Education and the Board of Visitors, who generously uphold the President and Professors in their efforts to give a collegiate training to young men and women. The Hon. John E. Massey, the present Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dr. John L. Buchanan, the Ex-Superintendent of Public Instruction, deserve our highest regard for the encouragement and aid which they have given to the 0018 17higher education of the colored youth. They with other thinkers believe that such an education will augment the productive power of the colored people, and that Virginia will be more greatly benefited thereby. (Much applause).

Fourthly, it is befitting that we should know the past and present history of the race. The sons of Cush can proudly point to a glorious history not withstanding their years of degradation. The Ethiopians for two thousand years were the leading people of remote antiquity. After the migrations of the sons of Ham, Shem and Japheth, they, the sons of Ham, reared the most magnificent civilization of their time. This is the testimony of Sir William Jones, Volney, Hollis Read, and others. They, in time, like Greece, Rome, and other people, fell from splendor to shame on account of a violation of the principles of righteousness.

Notwithstanding the fact that our ancestors were slaves in this country, the Colored-American can point to many deeds achieved by him in this country, of which the nation may be justly proud. It is admitted that he has been the bone and sinew of the labor of especially the South for two hundred and seventy years; that he aided in the independence of the nation in the Revolutionary War and that of 1812; that, during the four years of civil war, some faithfully protected the wives, mothers, and daughters of the heroes of the South, and others fought for the preservation of the Union. Yea, it is equally admitted that, on the whole, his record since the war has met the favorable judgment of the majority of the thinking men of the South and the Nation at large.

In order to teach our children these grand truths, they must have the privilege of reading the noted books written by colored men and women. The Colored-American, 0019 18since his connection with this country, has produced about one hundred authors who have written well-bound volumes. These books cover practical life, general philosophy, theology, politics, linguistry, education, biography, and other important subjects. Those who think that we have no literary achievements of which we may boast remind me of some incidents of which I have heard. A farmer said to a professor in whose charge he was about to leave his son: “What does my boy especially need that he may be a good scholar?” “He needs capacity,” said the professor. Upon this the farmer said, “Tell me where I can buy the largest in town, and he shall surely have it.” I am reminded of another story. A preacher, in giving an exegesis on the word “dives,” stated that the rich man was called “dives” because he was a diver, and was accustomed to dive for pearls in Lake Gennesaret. As the farmer and the preacher were ignorant of the true meaning of “capacity” and “dives,” so some persons are ignorant of our literary progress. (Much laughter and applause).

III. Our Duty to Acquire Property and Enlarge our Business Interests.

“Productive industry is the only capital which enriches a people, and spreads national prosperity and well-being.” —Samuel Laing.

This duty is evidenced from the fact that a poor, penniless people cannot command the respect and esteem of leading nations. We should desire to stand well with our fellow-men. , When we were released from bondage, we were not worth, possibly, one half million dollars. We are now worth about two hundred and fifty millions of dollars. In 1865, the grocery, eating-house, and bar-room were about our only branches of business, now we can point to diversified business interests. We have manufactories, wholesale 0020 19houses, insurance and joint stock companies, book and shoe stores book publishers, building associations, and even banks doing good business.

We should co-operate on a still larger scale in carrying on business interests. This is an age of great organizations. A number of men can accomplish in business what one cannot. When joint stock companies attempt to build an industry officers and stockholders should be perfectly honest with each other. A great responsibility rest particularly upon the officers of such companies, as they are the custodians of the people's money. (Applause).

As far as practicable, we should patronize each other in all enterprises calculated to improve our condition. We should encourage our merchants and other business men by purchasing from them articles of food, clothing, and other commodities. I realize that it is sometimes to our advantage to transact our business with others, and I think that this is proper when we believe that our best interests demand it; however, we should be inspired with a sense of obligation to aid our struggling industries. In this connection, it may be well for me to state that both buyer and seller should exercise scrupulous honesty with each other.

IV. Our Duty to Our Heavenly Father. “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” —Solomon, in Proverbs xiv: 34.

(1). Nations rise and flourish in civilized life in proportion as they exemplify in private and public life the principles of sound morality. While most nations of antiquity did not believe in a true God, they followed other principles of morality to such a degree that they rose in culture and progress. The early Romans were characterized by industry, virtue, and religious zeal as far as they knew. In time, Rome became the proud mistress of the world. She produced 0021 20families of unsullied virtue, poets of matchless song, warriors of renown, orators of enchanting eloquence, and statesmen of high ability and patriotism. The ruler of the known world, she could truthfully, proudly say in the language of Julius Caesar, “ Veni vidi, vici.” “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

The Pilgrim Fathers who landed on the rock of Plymouth, the noble Catholics who settled Maryland, the followers of William Penn, and the pioneers of other colonies were worshipers of the living God. Through virtue, industry and a true education, the colonies waxed strong. When the iron-hoof of war trampled upon their inalienable rights, relying upon their God, they went forth, like Cincinnatus of Roman fame, leaving their ploughs in the fields to meet the invading foe. On the emblazoned banners of the army of Washington were inscribed such sentiments as these: “In God we trust,” “Nil desperandum Christo duce,” “Nothing should be despaired of with Christ as leader.” In time, the war was successfully ended for the colonies, and we became a nation. We owe our present greatness very largely to the holy influence of the religion of Christ. (Applause).

(2). History also shows that nations and people sink and decay in proportion that they disregard the eternal principles of righteousness. Thus, great Babylon succumbed to avarice, luxury, and crime, and fell from her eminence. So Ethiopia, once mistress of the ancient world, surrendered herself to corrupting agencies, and lost her high civilization. So great Rome began to fall when her vices far out-weighed her virtues. Her citizens became avaricious, and sold the empire to the highest bidder; they lost faith in each other; luxury flourished; and conspiracies and sedition arose. At length, weakened by her own excesses, she fell an easy prey to barbarous nations. 0022 21Such interesting facts concerning past nations should admonish us to be careful in exemplifying as a people the holy principles of righteousness. Let us be more honest and truthful with each other; let us lay aside that spirit of jealousy and prejudice which ofttimes seeks to detract from the worth and usefulness of one another; let us be more temperate in the use of strong drink which blasts our families and impoverishes our children; let us exemplify true religion in every sphere of life.

Gratitude—that queenly virtue—should induce us to be true to Him. For when we were bowed under the yoke of serfdom, he inclined his ears to the piteous cries of our fathers and mothers, and brought us into the sunlight of freedom. Oh! liberty! liberty! the jewel for which civilized man has ever fought, thou child of the skies, how we love, how we prize thee! (Applause). Surely, we should gratefully say with the Christian poet: “Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess; Thy goodness we adore; A spring whose blessings never fail, A sea without a shore. Praise to God, immortal praise, For the love that crowns our days; Bountiful source of every joy, Let thy praise our tongues employ.” V. Our Duty to Aim to Live on Friendly Terms with our White Fellow-Citizens. “Let us have peace.” —Gen. U.S. Grant> “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” —St. Paul.

Slavery is past and gone from our shores forever. The leading men of the South rejoice with us that slavery is a thing of bygone days. Freedom has put upon us new duties and rights, and altered the relations betweens the races. The responsibilities of freedom demand that the white and colored people of the 0023 22South should live together in peace and harmony. The colored people should cultivate friendly thoughts and purposes toward the white people, and the white people should cherish like thoughts and purposes toward them.

The colored people are but a fraction of this great nation. The white people of the country are greater in number, wealth, and intelligence. They govern the nation and the individual states. In the solution of the problems which confront us, they are a great factor. If the great mass of them oppose our progress, we cannot reasonable hope to become a truly prosperous people even if we should perform fairly well the duties which have been mentioned. We have many reasons for believing, however, that, as we advance in intelligence, industry, morality, and religion, they will become more and more friendly to us. Indeed, that illustrious Christianity which has ever been a potent force in Anglo-Saxon civilization will, no doubt, influence the great mass of them to give us greater opportunities and larger privileges as the mass of the race evinces a greater capacity for citizenship. (Applause).

It must be attributed to the good sense and general good feeling of the white people of the South for the colored people that the school fund has not been divided on race lines. Notwithstanding the fact that some have advocated that white schools should be supported by the taxes paid by white people and colored schools by those paid by colored people, yet the leading men of the South have opposed it up to this date. We know full well that the taxes which we pay for school purposes would not support our schools as they are at present. A good proportion of our school funds is paid out of the taxes of our fellow-citizens. They realize that ignorance is a menace to 0024 23a well-ordered state, and that the Negro for two hundred and forty years added to the wealth of the nation. Let us appreciate their generosity, and give them credit for good and laudable motives. (Applause).

VI. Our Duty to Cultivate Lofty Patriotism.

We should cultivate a strong love for our country and the respective states in which we live. We should more deeply realize that we are American citizens, clothed with the rights and responsibilities of citizen-ship. In order that we may most effectively cultivate patriotism, our children should be taught the history and constitutions of the United States and of the states in which they reside. They should study the genius and practical operations of our state and national governments, and should be encouraged to read such papers and magazines as are calculated to inform them in regard to the great questions which demand the attention of the American people at large and of their own states. Great care should also be taken that they may know the honorable part which the race has played in helping to make our country the foremost on the globe. (Applause). A Great Error.

There are some who affirm that two opposite races cannot live together in peace. They conclude from this that the colored people of our country must either be exterminated or leave its borders. They still further argue in support of their position that the history of the American Indian shows the correctness of their conclusion. The argument presented in the form of a syllogism is this: (1). Two opposite races cannot live together in peace. (2). The colored people and white people of this country are opposite races. 0025 24 (3). Therefore, they cannot live together in peace, and ultimately will either be exterminated or forced to leave the country.

Firstly, let us consider the major premise—Two opposite races cannot live together in peace. The famous case which is so often brought forward is that of the American Indian and the Anglo-Saxon of America. In reference to this case, we observe that the Indian was different in race from the Anglo-Saxon. According to some acknowledged scholars, the Indians emigrated from Asia. Owing to this fact, not a few thinkers believe that they descended from Phut, a son of Ham. The Anglo-Saxon is a descendant of Japheth. It is well to note also that the Indian was opposite to the white man in customs, laws, religion, and general civilization. We know that the Indian has been largely exterminated. Whenever a historic case is brought forward to show that two opposite races cannot live together in peace, investigation will reveal that they were opposite, first in blood, in ancestry; secondly, in customs, laws, and religion. It must be remembered that it is far more difficult for a people differing from another people in customs, laws, and religion to live in peace with that people than if they differ in blood alone.

Now, in the next place, let us consider the minor premise; the colored people and the white people are opposite races. No student of ethnology affirms that the colored people are an opposite race to the white people of our country in the sense in which the first proposition must be understood from the cases that might be cited. While there are a few true representatives of the Negro Race among us, the majority of the colored people of our country are more or less of mixed blood. Then again, they are not opposite in customs, laws, and religion. It is proverbial that the 0026 25colored people imitate the virtues and vices of the white people. They are subject to the same laws and cling to the same religion. (Loud applause).

The conclusion—that, therefore, the colored people must either be exterminated or leave the country—is unwarranted and untrue. I have too much confidence in the manliness and religious principles of the white people of our country to believe that the descendants of Plymouth and of Jamestown will ever permit the progressive and loyal colored people of the nation to be exterminated, or that they will favor any scheme to deport them against their will to a foreign clime. I am convinced that this confidence is shared by the great majority of our people. (Applause).

We Will not Leave our Country. There are some wise-acres who predict that the great majority of the colored people, if not the whole of them, will ultimately leave the United States. They prophecy with much confidence that we shall go to Africa, Mexico, Brazil, or the islands of the Pacific. The occasion does not justify me in stating the many good reasons why the majority of the colored people do not entertain any such idea. I simply remark for the enlightenment of those who hold this erroneous opinion that we never intend as a body to leave our native land. No doubt a few will go to Africa in the future, as in the past; it is not impossible or improbable that some may go to other foreign climes; but the world may rest assured that the great majority of us will remain in this country. (Applause). Is it reasonable to expect that a people are willing under ordinary conditions to leave their native country for another which is far inferior to it in almost all the elements of civilization? And if those people have aided in securing its independence, and, in time of peace, greatly added to its wealth and prosperity, would it 0027 26not require very bitter persecutions to force them to leave? These things and more may be said concerning the colored people of our country. Our virgin soil has often been drenched with the sacred blood of our patriotic dead, and it preserves in its hallowed breast the bleached bones of our fathers and mothers; and, when our spirits will have departed to the God who gave them, our bodies will repose in silent graves dug in the same sacred soil. (Applause). No, we will not leave Columbia. “To thee, O country great and free, With trusting hearts we cling; Our voices, tuned by joyous love, Thy power and praises sing; Upon thy mighty, faithful heart We lay our burdens down; Thou art the only friend who feels Their weight without a frown.”

The Sunny South. The census figures place the total colored population, excluding Indians, Japanese, and Chinese, at 7,400,000 in round numbers. About 6,890,000 of these are in the sixteen old slave states, in West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Oklahoma. It is apparent from statistics gathered for the last thirty years that the colored population will continue to increase in the Southern States. Some will, no doubt, emigrate into different sections of the country, but past and present history teaches that the great majority of us will always live in the South. As this section of country is destined to be the home of the mass of us and our children, it is our duty to zealously labor in the future as in the past for its peace and prosperity. May we be inspired with the noble sentiments expressed in the beautiful lines of Alexander Beaufort Meek:

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“Land of the South! Imperial land! How proud thy mountains rise! How sweet thy scenes on every hand! How fair thy covering skies! But not for these, oh not for these I love thy fields to roam, Thou hast a dearer spell to me; Thou art my native home. “Thy rivers roll their liquid wealth Unequalled to the sea; Thy hills and valleys bloom with health, And green with verdure be! But not for thy proud ocean streams, Not for thine azure dome, Sweet sunny South, I cling to thee; Thou art my native home. “Land of the South! Imperial land! Then here's a health to thee: Long as thy mountain barrier stand Mayst thou be blest and free. May dark dissension's banner ne'er Wave o'er thy fertile loam; But should it come there's one will die To save his native home.” (Much applause.)

Thanking you, ladies and gentlemen, for your respectful attention and your generous applause, I sincerely hope that what has been said will prove beneficial to you all. My chief motive in addressing you is to direct your attention to such ideas as are calculated to enable you to more successfully solve the problems which are destined to confront us for some time to come. If I have succeeded in doing this, our celebration has been a grand success, and I have been abundantly remunerated for the time and labor expended in your behalf. (Continued applause.)

After an inspiring and patriotic song had been played by the band, Rev. B. F. Fox spoke as follows:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Committee of Arrangements wish me, as its chairman, to 0029 28state to the public before the adjournment of this gathering as to whether money enough has been collected to defray the expense of our celebration; but before making a statement respecting this matter, I wish to express a few thoughts concerning the excellent address just delivered by Prof. D. B. Williams.

On occasions of this kind, it is natural to have our minds carried back to the days of our enslavement. The institution itself is a thing of the past, and should not be thought of at the expense of other matters, upon which our present and future welfare depends. As free American citizens, we should “let the past be past,” and advance in the right direction by taking into consideration and practicing those things which make noble men and women, worthy citizens and consistent Christians. These ideas were strikingly set forth in Prof. Williams' address from the beginning to the end; and I believe it would greatly and rapidly promote the highest good of our race, if all our leaders would follow his manner of teaching. There is much that I would like to say, but you have done well to listen to what I have already said after being so highly entertained and instructed by Prof. Williams.

As to the statement I rose to make: Our committee cannot state definitely the total amount of money collected, as all agents have not reported yet; but we can say that enough has been collected to defray the expense of our celebration, and that, therefore, we do not ask for a donation, as otherwise we would have been obliged to do. (Applause).