Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-08-16


Entsrsd at tie Postoce at alexandria, Virginia, as
| Secondclass matter.
COE0zsED MEN EN- POLITICS.
a dispatch to tho New York World from
Raleigh, n. c., says
The A. NJ. Il. Church in this ncighborhood
| has been much disturbed by question
| which savors more of politics than of reli.
| gion. At the Conference which was in ses-
| sion last November, when the death of Vice
| Observation-Disclosures was announced the Rev.
Andrew ]. Chambers offered resolutions of
respect to the dead mans memory, which
brought storm Of reproaches about his
head In spite of the fact that he was
charged with being q democrat, however,
| the church al Wilmington, to which he was
appointed, received him with open arms,
although its members are republicans. Be-
| fore Mr.. Chambers received this appoint
ment it had been decided to hold the next
| Conference in Wilmington, but as soon as
| the appointment was announced circular
was published declaring that the Conference
would not meet Chambers. His church
members, however, stuck to their pastor,
and, as a compromise, the Conference will
meet in New Berne.
| The special session at which this decision
| was arrived at was called by Bishop Turner,
of Atlanta, in the following circular:
You are hereby notified that for several
ieasons-too numerous to mention at pre-
sent, yet extraordinary in their character
| and hearing-I have resolved to assemble
the North Carolina Conference for two days
| in Raleigh, n. c., Aug. A. at O'Clock. p. m.
You are directed to he present at The time
above designated, and should you know Of
| any other member who msy not receive s.
| like notice, you are authorized to order him
| to be present. / shall then and there pre-
sent the reasons for calling this extra scs
sion. This is only an extra session, rcmem-
ber. and not the regular session which meets s
| in November.
The meeting was we'll attended and the
excitement was great. a number ofspeeches
were made against Chambers to which he
replied as follows:
II did not surrender my manhood when
joined the Church, nor did abure an in.
| terest in my coGntry's affairs when | as
sumed the obligations of minister | have
never been politician in the pulpit, neither
have obtruded my views upon unwilling
Fauditors. And whether have or have not
is not the question. This Conference must
decide whether or net have infringed the
Decaogue or contrayened the Discipline OF
/
| bar; i'll have not touch me at your peril.
offered resolutions of respect to the memory
Of Vice President Hendricks last November
There were no eulogistic sentences therein.
| He was referred to as the nation s dead: and
yet the personal integrity cf the man would
have warranted favorable mention. Had
| Gen. Logan been in Nice-President Hen
| drcks's place and death should have claim
ed him, l would have offered similar resolu-
tions, for recognize and honor that feature
of our democracy that conducts Government
tsl affairs by party agency. do no think
a citizen either q villain or an outlaw be-
cause his conception of pubice duty is op
pos;e to mine. Furthermore, there is not
State or Federal official in this land that ! do
not homer. If the worthy Chief Executive
of this nation should pass away, or should
the Governor of North Carolina, no unen-
viable legatee of an intolerant age should
stand between their honored dust and my
sense of duty.
II fear we are too often misled. Brethren
have been induced to regard tho men in au-
thority as enemies because they were Of OPP
| posite politics, and that the law is partial in
| party mems hands; that it is not the same
law unto all the inhabitants of the same
land, but is rather an instrument Of party
to crush lis antagonists. When the truth
| il, the law is the same and its purpose the
same 1t is the same guardian of virtue
and Nemesis of vice, whoever may apply it.
There was some little excuse for colored
mans dread of democratic ascendancy pre-
vious to the Inauguration of our present
President; but since that auspicious event
every excuse has gone. Life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness are as sacred to-.
day-nay more sacred-they have tirmer
/ Il fba hon of
any previous period in our history; because
public sentiment, the only recognized law
of mankind, sustains the right, while force
| of every form vanishes away.
| II will not turn an envenoIned tongue on
the white men of the South, nor do think
the real friends of my race would sanction
such policy. Had we striven half as hard
to win the good will of our neighbors, albeit
thew were ex.slave-owners, as we did to win
the good will of strangers, the whole phase
of affairs among US would be brighter than
it is: and in spite of all mistakes there is no
section of our land in which We are so well
come. In no place are we more trusted than
in Southern homes. Every industrial station
is the legitimate prize of ambition. Tax
levies for learning filter through Southern
fingers like crystal dew drops. In want The
same fingers feed us. In time of trouble
they befriend US. In sickness they minister
unto us. In old age they comfort US, and
in death they bury lis. Oh! that justice
may be done by Christian ministers to a
mercilessly maligned people.
Every race has its roughs. We have
complained because the misdeeds of one
colored man was charged to the whole race.
How unjust Yet we hold millions answer
able for he crimes of the few. Some men
sav shall not preach because of nv poli-
tics. hope they will allow me to live on
the earth and breathe the air of heaven. /
assert here, now and forever the proud pre-
rogative of an American. Othelo's occupa-
tion of whipper.iu is gone. tell the color