Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-24

REPUBLICAN.
( The best reply that can be made
to the above is the following address,
ed to the New York San, by Prof.
Richard T. Greener, a representative
negro: ....,.
THE PROTEST OF THE NBGRoEs-PRoF.
- RICHARD T. GREENER AND THE PROPOs-
ED CONVENTION OF CoLoRED MEN.
To the Editor of the Sun: t...
DEAR SIR: Your editorial of May
l, ''The Protest Of the Negroes" as
'sociates my name with other signers
to a call for proposed convention OF
negroes, to assemble in this city in
September next, to express the dis
content of the colored people with
their political and social treatment by
their fellow citizens. The signers are
said to assert as san undeniable and
lamentable fact that the present con-
dition Of the race is insecure, and the
future still more alarming The
five specific charges of this committee
you then give in substance.
You are justified in using my name,
since you found it appended to the
committees circular.
The prominence given to me by
your paper alone forces me to thus
publicly bring out the fact that have
attended none of these meetings OF
this committee, have no sympathy
with the notion Of a convention, de
not believe the charges and specifca-
(tions true, and, if they were, do moi
regard the method proposed as likely
to attain the desired end, nor do the
class Of men calling the convention,
with few exceptions, commend them.
selves to my judgment by their past
concern for the welfare of our race,
nor does their past disinterested yea
correspond with their present lugu.
brious anxiety for our people.
We have had fourteen years of un
rivalled opportunity, in which many
Of these gentlemen. who are now anx'
ious to convene and resolve, have
had ample chance to meet, counsel
and act. On the contrary, they have
done nothing except scramble for off
ice, and rest content after they wer,
provided for. They have neither at
tempted to make eur race i perman
ent political factor, nor have the,
ever outlined a policy looking to tn
permanent good Of our people, so
ciaHys politically, or in an industria
sense. Indeed, though holding office
they have failed to show even sympa
thy, when the rights, liberties, ant
franchise of our people were far NOR
seriously menaced than at the presen
moment. Fat political offices and ia
political retainers effectually stoppe'
their ears and closed their eyes t
murders and outrsges unblushingl
lperpetrated. Their dynasty is fas
waning to its close, it is to be hoped
4 for the good of the negro race in Am
lerica; and now, when their politics
tether is nearly reached, they ar
4 ldeeply solicitous about the welfare Q
1.-THE race, and the failure Of the Am
erican people to do enough for us
These are the foes of our own house
hold, and they are the greatest.
is high time intelligent, judicious, an
thoughtful colored men took a stan
against these blatherskites,, who {
one time are going about hat in han
and with distended palms whinin
like mendicants for more Office, an
at the next moment are brandishing
club and threatening dire vengance t
the party and people who have give
!. them unexceptionable opportunitie'
The poor black Sinbad has been rlt
den by these old men Of the sea, III
til he is footsore, weary, and sick :
, heart. =s-
II the colored people needed col
; vention, Washington is the wor
place in which it could be held. III
reasons are too obvious. fors elabor'
ton. A convention would cost $2'
: 600, at the lowest estimate, and
maintain there are hundred ways
: which VIC could use that sum to be
! ter purpose. Besides, we have b
of conventions not a few from 1s;
to 1879, not one of which ever devs
8 oped an idea that was acted upon !
0 the race; not one that did not sii
n into oblivion with the froth of the re
). olutions. The last convention whi'
met here in 1865, did rs much as al
+ other thing to disgust people wi
n reconstruction, and was used by t
!; Southern people as a conclusive arg
n ment against negro rule. A conye
ton of colored people truly represe
= tative should meet at some southe
or central point-Richmond, Mas
h vile, St. Louis, Louisville, or Chat
nooga-where the colored peo!
:. have not been demoralized by
! j scramble for Office nor ruined by
'f long retention at the Governm'
pap. 81 q :. Ef "a.
~ /, for one, deny that the pres
ss .SB<iF.s4si =