The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-07-17
The African VI. &c Church Opposes
the Exodus.
Editors Democratic, Statesman:

Editors Democratic Statesman:
Finding very courteous note of ir-
vitation to attend a session of the dig
trict conference of the A. M. +. Church,
in session in this place, lying on my
table, l concluded to go. At p NJ
I entered the new, neat, and large
church building which these Poop e
have erected, as if in defiance of hard
times, and found the presiding eide
of the district, Rev. Mr.. White, pre-
siding over considerable body of
ministers and lsymen which, ct the
moment, had under consideration "the
exodus" One speaker, who l after
wards found was the chairman of the
committee which brought in the report,
was upon the floor speaking in an ami
mated strain, going into the history of
this movement and saying some things
not in the slightest degree compli-
mentary to some of their Northern
friends, and strongly denounciDg the
whole movement as IN every way dam
aging to all of the interests of the col
ored race. A brother followed, who
took the last speaker to task for
too sweeping denunciations of the
men of whole section, claim
ing that they had received much
assistance from Northern men, and in
stancing cases. The first speaker ex
planned that mis- remarks had reference
TO the leading faction at the North.
The next speaker was evidently an
educated man, as were the two that
preceded him, and better speaker
than his brethren. The solution of the
difficulties of the colored people of the
South was t } be reached by themselves,
not by change of place, but by change
of their manner of life. He insisted
that self culture, and the education OF
the people up to higher standards of
morality, intellectual culture and thrift,
would work the changes sought in
their condition, both socially and po-
litically.
The vote upon the adoption of the
report was unanimous.
The report started out with a review
of the causes of the present agitation,
locating it chiefly in louisiana, and for
cause alleged the political intrigue of
the Republicans seeking to alienate the
negro from his whilOm m .steI, and to
attach him to themselves by claiming
to be their liberators, etc. The whites
of the South grew angry at this and its
disagTeeable consequences and blood
shed and riot followed. Designing
men saw in this state of things a rich
harvest and they are trying to gather
it, having no respect to the interests of
the negro. The report pointed on,
self-culture, ETC., as the remedy for the
evils of the s7aation. One OF tie
s)et keIs cook up jay Gould's PROPOSE
ton to have them 81 lie on lands own
e3 by him in Kansas. He claimed to
be acquainted with Mr.. jay Gould's
dealings on other occasions, and after
referring to suffering caused by him.
said ''he wants q new set of victims"
The body took action against any Of
their ministers engaging in this move
ment by making speeches and the like.
/ have written this to call attention to
the fsct that there are sensible men of
the colofed race oppC sing the exodus
upon other than political grounds. To
go further, the A. III E Church and
the other negro organZ tons know
that they csn never compete with the
Methodist Church n nth in heated
atmosphere Of political strife, because
the record of that church cannot be
matched for extremeness Of its meas
ures during the war AMI the years i'm
mediateiy following. And If the me-
gro can be conveyed 10 Kansxs. and
successfully planted there, be would
be bound 70 belong 70 the church Of
the intensist political antagonisms to
bis old ms I 4 and 70 his old secnon.
Bat while / suggest this, il il due to
THIS body Of Christians to say that they
msds no reference 70 anything Of this
kind either in their spefche. or their |
report. OccAsI0NAI-
Bryan. Jsly y. 1873.