The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-04
THE COLORED PEOPLE.
Proceedings Of the National
Convention at Louisville.
Ero., ETo., Erc.

Proceedings Of the National
Convention at Louisville.
An Address Embodying Their Views
and Sentiments.
Tho National Convention OF tho colored
people convened In the large hall Of the
Lederkranz building, ut Louisville, KY. and
was In session three days The convention
was called to order by N. N. Holland, OF
Warrington, d. G. A NJ Green, OF LOuis-
ana, was made temporary Chairman In ac-
cepting the chair he exhorted the delegates
to stapd by the principles set down in the
call, and refrain from all discussions Of po-
lttical questions j. n Gregory OF WASH
ington, was made temporary Secretary.
There was wrangle over the permanenc
the proceedings Too many delegates want.
ed to speak ut once. The Eastern men
charged the West and South with
desire to dominate the convention,
and considerable feeling was. worked
preside was finally settled BY the choice
falling upon Frederick Douglass, who enter.
tanned the convention with q two hours
speech. He urged the people Of his race %
move toward the goal of prosperity and cd
ncation, and to compel tho world tor e receive eve
outrageous lynchings be stopped and that
colleges the professions and trades unions
welcomed the negro. The speaker told his
hearers that the colored race would never
be properly recognized until one q its class
position In the Cabinet A resolution was
adopted that his address be sent to Con-
gress as the sentiment OF the convention.
good deal of time was spent In wrangling
over the minor details OF the permanenC
organization, which was finally completed,
and Committees on Civil Rights, Education,
Rolls, and Address were appointed Namcr-
GUS resolutions intended to be sent to Con-
gress asking for back pay, for money loss
TO depositors in the Freedman's Savings
education OF the colored people, etc, were
referred to the Committee on Resolutions
The following resolution was introduced
by . delegate:
WHEREAS, The administration OF President @.
A. Arthur is in harmony with the principles q
the grand old Republican party: therefore be "
Resolred, That this National Convention 0f
Colored Men assembled give to the administra-
tion their heartiest support.
This caused the widest uproar, and the
convention was on its feet The South and
West pressed the resolution, while only
few from the North and East appeared to
favor it Personal violence was offered IN
one instance, and bedlam followed, DuC
finally the resolution, on motion OF Her
bert, OF Louisiana, went to the Committee
on Resolutions. from which it was never re-
a Kentucky delegate moved the follow
ing. which also made great uproar:
Resolred. That the colored people Of tho
! United States in convention assembled DO anirm
our devotion anew to the Republican party. and
will use our utmost endeavors for the continued
ascendency and control Of the National Gov
ernment believing it to be for the best interests
| The convention refused to adopt tho
resolution. Many protested against bring
Ing politics into the deliberations OF tho
| body, and only the wise decision of the
chair In sending the question to the COM
mitee on Resolutions saved the convention
from split.
The convention adopted the following I'D.
dress, after which 1t adjourned:
The National Convention Of Colored Men re-
| spectfully present the following embracing
ansa sSs anu reoce n tho
miraculous emancipation that came to 0ur race
twenty years ago. The shock Of embattlcd arms
ean orss the great saercc Ii tho
| women and the heroic men who made possible
the struggle in which treason and slavery were
Ne would be unmindful Of the measure Of de-
| votion and patriotism that the ls6 white and
seven colored soldiers rendered the nation.
2. We are not insensble TO the fact that the
Congress OF the United States has spread upon
the statute books many laws calculated to make
us secure in our rights as citizens, nor woulu We
the constitution intended to render forever i'm
possible the crime Of human slavery.
5. We do not ask any more class legislation.
| We have had enough of this; but we do believe
that many Of the laws intended to secure rs our
rights rs American citizens are nothing moro
than dead letters. In the southern states AZ
4 pNln
denied the fruit OF their honest labor defrnud-
ed Of their political rights at the ballot shut
ont from learning trades. cheated ont ol tnslr
civil rights by innkeepers and eommcn-carr1er
| companies, and left by States to an inadequate
opportunity for education and general improve-
4. We regard labor on the question OF educa-
tion and moral training as paramount 70 all
other questions. We believe that the question.
plantation credits and the mortgage sy..em
should be abolished. Honest labor should De
remunerated. The landholders or the South
should recognize that this question is to be
solved by encouraging the negroes 70 industry.
frugality, and business habits, by inctting them
to habits OF thrift. by assisting them to acquire
wa wages for honest work. and BY making them
sSassA's sSeir nativity The fkss white men men and and
settle the question Of labor and capital between
white and blak. We believe IN = broad snq
comprehensive system looking toward the edtS
become intelligent and faithful women. and thak
yosang colored boys may learn trades and be-
come useful men and good citizens The relig-
ious and moral training Of the youth OF our
race should not be neg ccted. The hope Of every
people Is adherence To sound social and ethical
principles The moral element IN the character
Ii or greater value than wealth OF education. ana
this must be fostered by the family and encour.
aged by the pulpit.
s. The failure of the Frecdmans savnes
Bank and Trust Company. established TO TO-
ceive the earnings of persons heretofore held ID
bondage and the descendants Of such persons,
was marvellous. II WAS established by the Gov.
erlment and WAS thought solvent. In changing
the charter the Trustees transcribed thciE auA
thority and thereby made themselvss liable.
The Government; IN appointing special maSnslnl as.s
the United States statutes on bankruptcy. and
should therefore reimburse the creditors OF The
d. The distinction made between white and
colored troops In the regular army is upgrates
full The white men can enter any branch OF thu
service, while the colored men are confined e
the cavalry and infantry service, and in the APP
pointment OF civilians to the regular army ~
believe it tho duty OF the President of the
ored men. This distinction is carried into the
!. II is not our province to dictate the policy
for tho government OF cur fellow citizens In the
several states 1t is . matter that circum.
stances and patriotism should shape
8. Asa race struggling and contendine w
our political rights, we are not unminufnl of th(
efforts OF Ireland to gain her rights: and We cx'
tend 70 our Irish friends our profound symnA'
thy and best wishes We earnestly desire the
abolition or the chain-gang convict system and
the admission to trades unions Of men Of oul
race, and employments in commercial pursuite
.. In nearly every state IN the union. boil
North and South. people Of our race are not al'
lowed to enter freely into trades or 70 gain EN-
ployment in the higher walks OF life. Ihis \
unworthy Of our institutions and hnrtful to IN,
reputation Of our country ut home and abroad
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AMONG OUR EXCHANGES.
THIs year sdning London has been thl