New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-30

to Nr. Pegger, Grand Master of the ,;oose IN
the dominan Of King Keno. calling the meet.
, ing to order. Mr. Latherem a graduate nI
! Scrapers Tonsorial Institute, and who ba.
ever since been ambitious ofnotoriety of auy
kind was elected to preside Assuming
what he conceived to be an attitude If dgui.
{ ty and selfros-ession, lie bclched forth as
follows:
"LADrEs ASp GENTLEMEN. feel uroud
of the distinguished honor Won have confer
red upon me this evenin' in bcin elected from
so many who i better qualified to Gil the
distinguished honnr Won have conferred upon
me this evenin. Applause 1t do seem t.
that we have met here for a glorious object.
| | \ slight disturbance at the door INTERRUPTED
! The speaker.1 And we have suffered long
| enough, until patience is ceased IT, he q viz
tue, IN our efforts for the equal elevation Of
| all colored people. think il time for Us to
cut loose from all entapglin' auslilnyes which
does our friends no good and Us harm.
/ [Cheers
! ladies and gentleman, the time have
come, / say, when each OF u must look out
for ourselves. Everyone in this assembly.
more or less, can pass ordinarily As white
person, and ii they can get better treatment
from the world at large, it is his duty to do
So. Duty to himself, his family and hi, God.
| Mr.. Dogwool. in his great work on the
!
theorf of natural election, 1t is natural for
man to indulge the delu>iun- of hope, and
none OF US hope to 90 back into the Egypt of
| color. lGreat applause and laughter.l We
are more white than black. ana since those
who are of darker hue are class,e,l as ne
groes, ii Is our right to be claSsed with the
| race To which We are most closely connected.
Ladies and gentlemen, for one am sick
and tired of the many demands made upnn
M sf,F H..
| am in sympathy in the sense that m-er,
| loves company. We can throw oil the pref
udlce that exists against us, and We come
mere to do 1t by a united effort. This Is the
| onliest way. White people are not opposed
to social equality with Us, aud with our own
prejudices against the blacks We can not
wonder at theirs. We ourselves shrink from
too close contact with black people. But
did not intend to make speech, and in con-
cluson return my thanks for the honor you
have conferred upon me this evening
Professor Sealon, a distinguished artist in
water coors (such as tresCnes without liz
ures, &C., was on motion unanimously
elected Secretary, and Mr.. Catherine, Chair
man OF the Committee on Resolutions. The
committee retired to a corner, where the
chat pulled from his pocket the loclI-
ments they were expected to sign as their
report.
While these fornalties were being COM
peted, the members gathered together IN
little knots and discussed the feasibility of an
immediate entertainment for the purpose of
inauguratng the principles set forth by Mr..
Latherem i'll his speech. Mrs Skimp at once
offered the free use of her parlors, which
were always at the disposal OF her friends
when the provided the cost Of their own
pleasure Miss Grenise remarked to her
next neiShbor, in an undertone, that "Mrs |
Skimp always had an eye to business" To |
which was replied: Yes, she has excellent |
judgment as TO the value OF remnants
Quite discussion ensued on the report of |
the committee, and just before the question
for adoption was put, prolonged and repeat
calls were made for Mr.. Truman. who had |
caused the trouble at the door. There was
general desire to hear his views, az he had |
failed, thus far, to express any opinion on
the matter. Mr.. I.atherem asked Mr.. Tru-
man to say few words, which request that |
gentleman complied with. No description
is necessary. lie spoke as follows:
"MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN, came to this meeting tonight he
cause l was asked. | came here to hear,
not to be heard; to understand, not to be
understood; to see, not to be seen; and to
learn rather than teach 1t seems from the
indications around me. that there are those
among us who sadly need the guiding hands
OF honor and patriotism, that they NAV walk
in the direct path of truth and morality. |
have listened with establishment at the views
expressed here tonight, and regret to find so
many OF these l esteem wandering after an
ignis .tatuus that will lead to destruction.
Ladies and gentlemen, my father was my
master: my mother was his slave. That
will account for the fairness of my complex
ion. l have looked upon my brothers driven
i'll chains; have seen my mother sold in the
cattle market; l have had the lash applied
to my own shoulders-all done at the orders
of my own father. For thirty years | have
borne the Sings and arrows OF an outrageous
fortune, heared upon Inc by my father or his
race; for thirty years | have been made to
feel that was, to all intents and purposes,
a negro; for thirty years | have realized all
the care and comforts of love and affection,
from my mother and the race from which she
sprung. During all the struggles of my life,
where did look for friends: In my disap-
who gave me sympathy; In my
troubles and Affections, where did | obtain
relief? Some Of us, Mr.. President, need
travel but a short distance back upon the
genealogical tree to find our black ancestors
and do you propose to deny your own
IL have read that distinguished Attorney
General, when deserted in youth by his
against poverty and want, solemnlv vowed
to make his name known and respected. ,
When climbing the hill Of fame he was met ,
by his father and offered all the inducements ,
mat could be given to assume the name
which righttully belonged to him, but he :
'purned the offer from him. ! have sworn ;
to pay back what l can the claim upon my !
gratitude, and the time is coming-nay has ,
;ome-when part of that obligation may be )
cancelled. Shall / shrink now? And yet /
you say 'eut loose from the race with which /
Te have been identified Cut loose from the ,
negro, and what race may we join-what /
ace will receive yon? Twenty years ago ,
something might have been gained by such |
l course; twenty years ago and only white j
ace dared travel; twenty years ago and only '
white men cast their ballots; twenty wears \
ago and only white men aspred 10 Office t
But now Old things are done away with /
The negro is rising to the stature vi man d
mood. The years are passing, and, as each i
1ne glides by, new responsibilities are placed '
Ipon his shoulders, new duties assigned him I
hat must eventually lead to his full civil aud !
ocial recognition. Desert him now and ten 5
,ears hence will find him in your place. La '
lies and gentlemen, consider where yOn are I
lrifting." And they considered. /,
| presume | need hardly add that no fur
her action was taken. The question was
lot even put, and the meeting adjourned |