The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-04-16
THE COLOR QUESTION.

In our Topeka exchanges of Tuesday
there appeared full report of a meeting
held in that city on Monday, of the
prominent colored citizens of Kansas, in
relation to the exodus, and at which
list of resolutions were adopted setting
forth the sense of the convention in con-
nection with this question.
A resolution reported by the commit
tee, discouraging immigration to Kan
sas among that class of cOlored people
in the south who are destitute of the
means requisite to give them fair start
IN the new conditions awaiting them in
this state, but warmly encouraging those
those whose financial and educational
requirements are more favorable,
to come, met with very decided
opposition at the hands of different
members of the convention, by whom it
was discussed in a very spirited manner.
1t was claimed by those opposing the
resolution, that the exodus was at least a
step in the direction Of progress, and that
it was better for the refugees to come to
Kansas and suffer little than to always
remain hewers of wood and drawers of
water. "God forbid" said Mr.. Stuart,
of Topeka, "that we should ever throw
cold water upon the cOlored mans hopes
when he is ambitious to retain the pros
pect which we have before us. Let us
suffer little, starve little, but let us
advance"
The opposition to the resolution pre-
vailed almost unanimously, and a sub
stitute was adopted deprecating the
present mode of applying the cOntribu-
tons of the public by the refugee relief
board, adding that it tends to encourage
pauperism and foster a non-producing
dependence, and suggesting that the
board use SAID monies and contributions
for settling said refugees on the public
and school lands in this and other states,
making first payment on the same, and
aid in supporting them until they shall
have raised their first crop.
The importance of taking such meas
ures as shall render the refugees selfsus-
tanning was unanimously recognized and
justly regarded as the only practical so
luton of the problem.
The resolution pledging the conven
vention to an uncompromising support
of the principles of the national Repub-
lican party so long as it advocates for
the colored people that complete liberty
and exact equality in the civil and polit
/ ;c.l -i.xh,s ,Krorane..s1 ,Narn Ia, tha l.,.
amendments, WAS discussed and after q
somewhat protracIed debate, the follow
ing substitute was adopted:
| ResOlced, That we are attached 10 Re
publican principles and institutions.
Then came resolution favoring thu
prohibition amendment. This was, aftel
the airing of views by the many present
voted down. While the convention
seemed to favor the amendment almos
to man, they didn't care to endorse i
until they saw what issues would be pre-
sented with il
There seemed to be a feeling among
some of the members Of the convention
that the claims of the colOred men haC
been ignored in the dispensing Of politi
cal patronage, and TO use the comparisoI
of one the speakers, that, as Republi
cans ''they are deserving Of some of tn
oats that support the team" We favo
no discrimination against color, hut W,
think the colored men must admi
that it is TO the Republican part,
that they are indebted for the establish
ment of all those conditions which hav
contributed to the elevation of their rae
and secured TO them their civil and poll
; teal liberty.
Il AS to the action of the convention Il
relation to the exodus, We regard the n