Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-11

sensible views On the Color Question.
RkMARKs OF coUNcILNAN BRooKs-sEoRGE e
Town e"-oRED MIN sxDoRsrSG THE COURSE
OF MR. BROOKS. E
Therepublican club Of the ID district George
town. cest Of High street. met last night and
adop ed the report of the committee on bylaws.
Far: John H. BROOKS, who was present by in
vitAtiOn, addressed the H,eeting at some length,
defending his course In the Council on the nor
, NAL school bill. The question now 10, he said +,
will colored men take the position of forcing
appointed to Office to act in their interest solely
upon the ground Of color ? He assured colored
men that such course would do them great
harm. for II IL was just for colored men to legis-
late upon the basis Of color, it was equally right
for white men; and If the whites were forced
into that position, coored men must be forced to
the wall. For himself, he wished il understood
be would not take such position for any con-
sideration. He would stand up for the princi-
pies of right and justice, citizenship and man
colored men afraid to take q position on 1ues-
tons Of public import until they have first con-
suited Mr.. Sumner. Mr.. Summers opinion,
when supported, as it generally is, by argu-
ment and authority, Is entitled to great weig ht.
But in this case he quotes no law, cites no au-
thority, advances no argument; and in the alb
sence OF law, argument and authority he could
not take his or any other mans ipse dixit con-
tIary to his own carefully considered opinions.
He was proud of Mr.. Summers efforts IN behalf
OF the principles of equal and exact justice to
all; but he had not forgotten that Mr.. Sumner
ten letter of advice that he could not follow
and among others for this main reason, that in
that letter Mr.. Sumner advised the colored men
to support Mr.. Greeley and the democratic
party, instead Of U. s. Grant and the republi-
can party. DIR. Purvis seems very anxious for
Governor Cooke to recognize the equality of
the colored men in appointments to Office.
COlored gentlemen were Ignored entirely. The
Governor only remembered servants and wait
ers-men who could serve him good dinner"
What does Mr.. Purvis mean by equality? Does
be mean to say that Mr.. John A. Gray and
William ii. A. Wormley, who were present
when he made these remarks, and known to
him to have been appointed as trustees by the
Governor, are not his equals and not gentle
men? This matter has come to this, that it is
dishonorable to labor; to be a messenger in a
department, a laborer, a waiter or servant is a
disqualification for Office. AT CT thanking the
members of the club, Mr.. Joks closed by re-
ferring to Mr.. Henry Johr son, who he said, is
now confined to his home by illness, aggravated
by cowa-dly attempt upon his life by would
be assassin. He was very sure the official re-
port, soon to be made, would viDdicate the
board OF trustees in their removal OF the teacher
of the High school.
The president in behalf of the club thanked
Mr.. Brooks for his able address.
Mr.. Lloyd Williams said he had come to
oppose Mr.. Brooks, but was now perfectly
satisfied that that gentleman had been misrep-
resented.
On motion of Mr.. S. R. Collins, resolutions
were adopted endorsing the course of Mr.
Brooks in the Council as a judicious and wise
legislator, and especially in the Chase amend
ment to the normal school bill, believing that
he was acting in accordance with the law of
Congress; endorsing the course pursued by the
board of trustees of cOlOred schools in reno wing
the teacher of the high school, Mr.. Greener
and that they had sufficient and Just cause for
so doing, and denouncing the action of the
meeting held at Union League hall, believing
that II WAS called by few sore-headed NAL
contents, who would raise an instruction here
in the District.