Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-03-27
ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.
IN UhRNOWN INSANE MAN IN
TOWN NTH DOCUMENTS.

IN UNRNOTN INSANE MAN IN
TOWN NTH DOCUMENTS.
The Mass Meeting of COlored Citt-
zeus Sends OuI Strong Address TO
the Cohored Voters of the state of
Delaware.
A meeting Of cclored citizens was held
last evening week in National Hall, at
Nj tn and Walnut streets. 10 the
ab enoe of President Kennett L. Bsyard,
Vice President Alfred Bayard occupied
the CHAIR. The meeting was called to
order at 8. 80 O'Clock.
After the reading and adoption OF the
minutes Of the last meeting the acting
president stated that urgent business as
secretary of the board OF trustees OF the
church claimed his attention, and for
that reason he would ask the assemblage
to elect some one to preside over its
deliberations In his stead. William Miles
was nominated and unanimously elected,
and he was escorted to the chair.
The routine business was then taken
up, and reports Of committees were heard.
Mr.. Anderson, as one of q committee
appointed to draft suitable address to
the oolored people Of Delaware, arose
and asked permission to read the report,
which WAS granted.
The address is designed to arouse the
colored people throughout the State and
awaken lively interest in them. Fol-
lowing is the full text of ian address to
the colored voters of Delaware"
Since we, the coored voters of the State OF
Delaware, in common with the colored voters
Of the United States generally, are part Of
the body polite, and have certain rights (not
priyileges) as consequence of our alleged
citizenship, therefore, In justice to ourselves,
and as a grateful legacy to our posterity, we
are bound to protest against the existing state
of things, especially as they appear in the
politics of Delaware.
We know that this continually ringing the
changes on sour Rights may sound ex-
ceedingly monotonous and disagreeable to
some ears, hut we also know that il we
supinely permit events to shape themselves
in the future as they have in the past, these
very same 'rights" will be more Of dead
letter than ever.
Every school boy knows that without revo-
luton there would have been no United
States, and we know that without constant
agitation we can hope to accomplish nothing.
We, therefore, submit the following PROPOSE.
tions for the consideration of the colored
voters of Delaware, feeling sure that if they
are carefully pondered they will bear their
legitimate fruit
First-That since the colored voters form
about one sixth of the voting population Of
the State, they feel the time has come when
they will no longer submit to be relegated to
the rear ranks of the Republican party, denied
voice in its councils and made to pick up
the crumbs that fall from the table through
the Vaccinations of the machine politicians
and demagogic whippers-in who temporarily
hold the reins.
Second-That, in "tnowing our rights and
daring to maintain them," we shall no doubt
receive severe structures from the disnter-
ested (heaven save the mark , political
friends with whom We have been heretofore
identified; but let their animadversions be
never 30 caustic, they cannot make lis forget
that interesting page of natural history which
tells us how the jackal chases the lions
quarry, and having caught it, waits until his
majesty comes up and eats his share which
is very often all, and the other animal may
eat what is left, which is very often none.
The inference is obvious
Third That il, as is alleged, the colored
voters owe a debt of gratitude to the Repub-
lican party, that debt has been repaid with
interest in the blind devotion and unques-
tioning obedience which the negroes have
given it ever since they were enfranchised
but, since scharity begins at home, it be-
hooves colored men to give their votes and
their influence wherever it will be of the
most immediate benefit to themselves. The
charge of standing on the block for the
highest bidder" is anticipated by assuring our
white friends that we have learned from them
to demand recognition in proportion to SER
vices rendered.
Fourth-That wherever the Republican
party is in power through the help of the
colored voters, they Cthe colored Yoters)
should be accorded equal rights and protec-
ton in common with the party, and should
share its triumphs as well as its disasters
and any failure to do this is, in effect a
notice served on colored men to 'go" for
themselves.
Now gentlemen, we colored men who send
you this message have the interests of our
race as much at heart as you have, and in
tinitely more than anyone of another race can
have and yet to serve their own purposes,
they will openly pat your brawny shoulders
and secretly bet their money on your blood.
They will tell you that we who send you
this address are "sore-heads,n 'bolters, "
''kickers," &c, and we will tell them en-
phatically that we will bolt and "kick" as
| long as they will give us serpent when we
| ask for fish, and give us stone when we ask
| for bread. 1t il time thinking colored men
| had ceased to be tools and cat's-paws for a sci
| of machine bosses whose only claim tc
fairer complexion, and who only use blacl
men as stepping stones to satisfy their OWL
ambition.
The committee's report was accepted
without dissent, and on motion of Mr.
Anderson, 1000 copies were ordered tt
bs printed for distribution Throughout
| the State.
The several wards reported the elec
tion Of tine following committees, the frs
named being vice president of the ward
Second ward--William II. Barrett.
Lewis Il. Banthem; and George Walker
Fourth-Theodore Purnell, the Rev
Gsorge Tilghmsu, Samue! Stanley an'
James Rollins.
Sixth-James A. Anderson, William
H. Lewis, Simeon Hood and samue
Glascoe.
Seventh--Joseph Poulson, Kennett L
Bsyard, DIR. W, F. Butler and william
T. Lewis.
Eighth William Gumby, DR.. d. 7
RUSSELL, Isaac Sufphay ard william
Johnson.
The report from each ward was &C
ceptsd, and those wards which have no
yet made a report OF the organization G
q ward committee were urged to do so 8
soon as possible.
Addresses were made by Joseph 7. Bass
William H, Lewis, DR.. Henderson an
Mr.. Cornish.