Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-09

'Wnat Is the object OF this c0nventiOn?" q STAR
reporter asked yesterday Of Mr.. Frederick Doug
lass, referring to the national colore1 convention
for which call was issued recently by a CON-
mittee, OF which Mr.. Douglass Is chairman.
"Wen," replied Mr.. Douglass, "the call Of the
convention is perhaps the best explanation that
can be given. assure you that there is no secret
intention or purpose about it. The colored cti-
zens OF the country occupy, or think they occupy,
peculiar relation to the other citizens Of the
public. Whether they wish it or not, they are in
some sense separate class They are reminded
Of this In all their relations to the general Amer
can public. / think it Is the Intention to come to-
gether for consultation as to the best means of
lettering our condition as a class l am surprised
that the proposed convention has met 80 little
favor from the republican papers of the country,
and am equally surprised that the editors of COL
ored newspapers have generally opposed the con-
vention. The republican presses betray q fear
the colored editors fear that the convention Will
be controlled by the existing administration.
Neither sground OF opposition Is really tenable.
Nothing Is more common In this country than con-
ventOnS for various purposes. We have all sorts
OF conventiOns-Irish conventions, wOmen's con-
Uen1lons Iemperance conventions, Workingmens
lions, conventions to put God into the Constitu-
tion. and conventions opposed to putting God into
Judged upon It's merits. One would think that
that there was something wrong in the very idea
Of convention , but it Is not so. They are the
saiety valves OF the republic Men meet to-
gether and speak OF their wants, their
wishes, present their grievances they have any,
use for dynamite where men can assemble in con-
yentions The opposition to this convention on
tne part OF coored editors has an element OF bit
be called Washington is not the place for 1t, and
that the men who signed the call for 1t are not
suitable persons to DO so. There is no force In
either OF these objections. Washington is easily
accessible to all parts OF the country 1t is the no
.c fad center e1 OF tns republic thousand presses
can convention be brought into more instanta-
neous communication with the whole country AS
favorable comparison with the same number OF
colOred men anywhere In the country But III better
men C, can be found let them step to the front,
and, for one, am ready to step down and out
1t Is easy to stand on and criticlse the work OF
other men. AS the callers Of this convention are
them come and do 1t better. / see that INV old
friend Greener IS opposed to the convention, and
seeks to belittle the men who have called IT. re-
greet this all the more because looked to him "a
one OF the guarantees OF the success OF the con-
vent1on. Could we have convention composed
be one OF which we would not be ashamed; but
even without him we think very profitable con-
yentiOn can be held and held here in Washington.
what ne Is pleased to say against Office holders,
as not being the stuff of which to make leaders, /
have only to say that see very little moral differ
ence between one who is an Office holder and
another who is an Office seeker. have no doubt
That the general unsettled condition of political
parties n so and the prospect OF some combination
being formed in politics has given rise to the idea
OF holding this convention, and whether such a
contingency should arise or not do not see that
there could be any harm in our peoples coming
together and consulting as to0the course which
VIII be the w1sest for them to pursue In any con-
tingency that may arise"
What do you hope or expect from the conven-
tom" asked the reporter.
"If the convention does no good" said Mr. Doug
lass "or Is likely not to do any good, feel it my
duty to act with 1t and do my best to prevent its
doing any harm to the cause OF the colored man.
My belief Is that 1t can put forth such an utter
nrQ6 man In fhoo
ton of his fellow.citiZens and secure for him a
better footing in the republic ALI OF motives
are attributed to the callers OF the convention
That they are Office seekers-and the Boston Ad-
reTtiser tells us that we make mistake when we
challenge consideration on the strength OF color
or the former state OF our race that the color of
MS skin Is no reason for giving man business,
ONCE or special courtesy. All of which is very
true, but equally true Is it that mans color
should not be the reason of his exclusion from any
business or Office or denial of any courtesy The one
proposition is true the other and It IS to this
last proposition that the convention or cOlOred
men, as understand it. propose to address them
selves"