Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-23
C0I6RED PEOPLE CONVENE
.fNDEPENDSN0E IN POiIricsL
AUIlOH.
The Prnposed E.tabiisimeDt or q
Free Rendsng Room far coiored
People kepresen, aiten at the New
Orleans Exposition

Ia response to call issued by the
Wilmington Clerical Association seversl
hundred oolored people assembled in X.
ZION M. Z Church last evening week.
After devotional exercises the Rev. J..
W. Beckett Of Bethel A. NJ. Z. Church.
Who acted as president, said "We meet
not as politicians, but 81 men and women
10 speak on three important topics which
greatly interest us. We are pleased 70
know that we are living in lay
Of improvement, In q day when
public schools open to MS. While we
have access to them and to our Sunday
school libraries we are aware that there
is literature being circulated around our
streets and put under our doors for our
children to read. It is in the form OF
immoral papers and should be destroyedA
80 soon as it comes into our homes.
1t is something which keeps ,s
il great excitement all the time
and ends with continued in
oar next We should be careful OF
what our children read and where they
60 at night. A lady has donated to as
room for a free library. We have come
here to speak of that and the Worlds
Industrial and Cotton Centennial Rxpo-
sition at New Orleans and to DISCUSS the ]
question whether 1t is right that indi,
viduals should pay our poll tax and de-
msnd of US for whom we are 10 IN
The following officers were elsAH and
invited TO OCCUPY seats inside H. altar
railing Vice President, Villa #ina-
toD, ]. T. Bass, Jonsthal hippsy,
William Caldwell, B. T. %6rbiAnson,
William Z Grinnsge, William H. Clayton,
Edward Bostio and James McPhersou
Secretary, j. W. Hall.
Ten minute speeches on the questions
for the consideration Of which the mees-
ing was called were next in order.
Referring to the proposed establishment
Of 8 free reading room the Rev. Il. A.
Monroe said the clerical association Ia
taking hold Of an enterprise which
proved failure In the hands of white
citizens. He believed, however, thaS
there is enough sentiment In the youn0
people Of his race to take hold Of a work
Of that character and make II q succeas.
Speaking Of the exposition to be held In
New Orleans he said there the
colored people not only Of Wil-a
mington but of the nation will
be on trial. In that great
enterprise, where the products Of all
nations will be put side by side for oom-
paSisop, his people, he thanked God. will
have an opportunity of showing for
themselves what 20 years Of freedom have
done for them. sit ia not reasonable. ),
he continued, 'sthst we shall rival or
compete with other nations, but than We
will have an opportunity to show that we
intend to claim place among the nations
of the earth" He believed that by an
earnest effort his people could creditably
represent themselves at the exposition and
hoped they would do all they could 10 a.
sist Daniel P. Hamilton, Delawsre's
colored commissioner. The practice Of
allowing others TO pay their taxes, which
is sanctioned by many Of his people, he
pronounced as unjust. He was ashamed
that the insinuation could be brought
against his RAGS that their ballots ooslId
be bought on election day. In conclusion
he advised his brethren to pay their own
taxes even is they had to make sscrihce
to do so, and to go to the polls as honest
voters.
Daniel p Hamilton stated that he was
% years old before he learned the alpha
bet. He said he is not much Of . literary
man but he will do all he can to insure
Success to the reading room. SPEAKING
Of elections he said Robert p. jonas cf
this city is the first oolorsd man who
voted in Delaware. The speaker said
that he always paid his tag and he
thought other people should do likewise.
He urged his brethern to do ali they can
to creditably represent their race at the
exposition, and in conclusion spoke Of the
rapid progress made by his people since
the emancipation and asserted thar the
colored men of Delaware will find il yery
hard to compete with their brethren In
| the south.
William s. Lewis said he favored the
reading room movement and will do ali
he can to push 1t forward and make Il .
success.
William &. Grinnage stated that he
too endorsed the movement. He hoped
it will prove success and he will do all
he can towards establishing the library.
He pronounced as unjust the law which
likes colorsd mans tax at OIL. so and q
and white Inau's at 81 cents and urged
all colofed voters to pay their taxes and
vote Tor The purpose of having that law
repealed He concluded his remarks by
saying Ut every colored man goes TO
the polls next November this State will
go RepGblioan and that law will be wiped
ont"
The Rev. T. II. Chippey said hs be-
lieved the ladies will do all thew can
tOwards representing their race at The ex-
| position and expr seed the hone that the
men will be equally interested. ,sTo
elevate us," he added, 1--WE must have
education, money and religion. Divided
We fall, united We stand. Let ma get Of
them all that we can. II we get them NO
one eau stand before u.s." Referring 70
cOlored men in New Brunswick, N. j..
who, lie ssid, will sell their votes for nom
81 to $40 each, he expressed the hope
that the men in Delaware will never eet
80 low. He closed by requesting oolored
voters to ray their taxes and 10 show
themselves men in the present campaign.
Wi itsm Winston congratulated the
clerical association on its ork and hoped
it will persevere. He said reading room
will be good thing and urged his people
10 represent the race in the coming expo
bition aud TO assist Commissioner HAnlil-
ton. The church echoed with laughter
when he asserted that many oolored men
cannot raise enough money to pay their
taxes but they can raise enough to play
policy. He said his people are becoming
power 10 the country and in this city,
aud that in the First, Second, Fourth and
Eighth wards the assessed value on col-
oEed peoples property is $64, 4,707.
The following was read and unani-
mousiy adopted:
WHEREAS, Through the liberality of n yery
generous lady, the colored citizens OF VIII
mington have offered to them the use Of the
reading room and library, corner OF Sixth and
Penn streets. Therefore
J ReSotUed That we express our thankR and
appreciate the same by our regular attend
ance to the library.
WHEREAS, There is to be held in New
Orleans, Louisiana, worlds exposition. be-
glnnlng December LIST, 1884, and ending MAY
! 3lst, 1885 and
WHEREAS, Mr., D. P, Hamilton Of this CITY
has been appointed commissioner for this
State therefore
ReSoEoed, That we will promise our CO.
operation III securing exhibits for the fair.
} WHEREAS, The practice OF making the pay.
= ment OF voters taxes, by other parties the
? conoltion OF his exercising the right of suf-
trage, has become 70 common, as to exercise
/ a demorailzing influence upon our elections,
and
WHEREAS, Anything that lowers or impairs
the power Of the ballot as an expression oi
individual opinion and sentiment, is an
odense to morality and a peril to the pro-
gress OF free institutions, therefore
ReSolUed, That so far as in our power lies
We will all We can to discourage said prao
4 tiCe among the colored voters.
3 ResOloed, That the thanks of this meetine
Il be- and are hereby rendered to the trustees q
I LNAn R-aI.G -. IA.