Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-10
cOLORED CONVENTION
Views on the Necessity and Conss-
queRes of the Meeting.
DOUGLASS AND LANesToH DIFFER.
Why the Former Went Into the Movement in
Favor Of a Convention at Louisville
Mr., langston Thinks the Negro
Should Not Complain.

WASHINGTON, September s. - Professor
Langston, United States Minister to HaJti,
being asked his views rs to the purpose and
necessity Of The proposed colored Copvsn-
ton, intimated that he thought the Con-
vention was called by dissatisfied office
holders and that the tendency of it, unless
checked, might be to the advantage of the
Democratic party. He said:
Certainly, colored men ought not to
complain that the Republican party has
not given them Office. There were seven
colored men Lieutenant Governors in
Southern States from 1866 to 1875. Two
.coiored men have served In the United
States Senate, and thirteen in the House.
There have been five appointed Foreign
Ministers, ten chosen members OF North
ern Legislatures, and q great many have
been members of Constitutional Conven-
tions and Southern Legislatures. In the
Washington Departments there are a thou
and young colored men and women, and
we are only twenty years from general
emancipation. The colored people have no
cause of complaint against the Republican
party.
My impression is that this movement
was started for two reasons: First-The
Was AbOut TO Come into Power:
second-a disposition to find fault with the
Republicans, in the hope that by so doing
additional influence in the party might be
allowed them. 1t is bid that works both
ways. Fred. Douglass, who signs the call
as chairman, felt keenly the removal OF
his friends from office by the District Mar
shal, and the call for the Convention was
evidently made under feeling of dissatis-
faction by those who called it. No Con-
yen tiOn indorsing the sentiments contain
ed in that call, can receive the sanction of
the Colored people. The colored people do
not need Convention, unless it should be
for the purpose Of creating an enthusiasm
in behalf Of the education of their race
Fred, Douglass.
speaking in regard to the reason for hold
ing Convention at Louisville, and thus
apparently recognizing color line, said:
Il say, first, because many are more than
few; because the united word of whole
people is more influential than the isolated
word OF an individual because mutual
cOunsels and deliberations of representa-
tive body, coming together from all sec
tions Of the country, will naturally lead to
action in the light OF wider experience,
broader knowledge, higher wisdom than
that of any Individual or local organiza.
ton, because conventions in this free
country are the usual instrumentalities
through which great bodies of men make
known their wants, their wishes and their
purposes; and why the colored? The an.
swer is Just this: We are, whether we will
or not, in some sense
A Separate Glass
from all other people of the country
and we have special interests to sub
serve them II is not strange to me that
colored men should differ very widely as
to the policy OF holding Convention. In
that respect they are not singular. With
us, as with the Hebrews, all are not Israel
who are OF Israel. There were tories in
the Revolution, cOpperheads in the late
war, informerS In ireland"
my connection with this Convention"
continued Mr.. Douglass, was very sub
ordinate one. was not aware until after
the Convention was determined upon of
sny intention to hold such a Convention.
When the matter was submitted to me
conclusion had already been reached, and
was compelled either to put myself in op-
position TO it or to 20 along with it. Now,
as at all other times during the last forty
or fifty years, | have been for The move.
nent. | could not do other than give it
my support. did it with no expectation
of being put in the front and receiving all
the abuse that has been heaped upon me-"