San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-01
HE BRENNAN CONVENTION.

.
departure among the eOlored people,
not only of this state, but ofthe nation,
| looking as it does towards a national
/ convention in which the wrongs and
disabilities OF the cOloreu race will be
fully presented, and such remedies
sought as the wisdom of that national
representative body may devise. This
approaching convention at Brenham Is
significant in the objects 1t presents. 1t
| is a convention OF the colOred people OF
Texas, by their representatives, to de-
wise measures for the advancement OF
their race morally, industrially and In
telleotually. This movement means
that the cOlored people, wearied OF
looking for help and finding none, have
determined to help themselves. 1t
means that they propose to consult to-
gether as to what is best for them, and
then devise ways and means for accom-
| plishing what they have decided upon
AS best. That the colOred people Of
Texas have made marked progress these
|
was removed, is patent to every one
who looks fairly at the situation
Ms presented to-day. The uni
versal testimony Of colored school work,
a unit on this point. The LIGHT does
not assume to advise, but distinctly de-
claring its desire for the advancement
and improvement OF the cOlOred citizens
of this state, and heartily in sympathy
with every effort put forth by hem for
their improvement industrIally, in
telIeCtually and morally, would urge
upon their attention In order to make
their work at BRENNAN efiectual a few
facts, among which are these:
Whatever is done for the ColOred peo-
pie of the south from this time forth,
they must In very large measure accom-
plsh for themselves. The defeat of the
Blair bill In the national congress was
direct blow at the educational work Of
the south. in those sections where illite-
racy is greatest, among the colOred peo-
pie. No class of our citizens has shown
Il more earnest desire for the benefits Of
education and a keen appreciation of
the privileges Of the public schools than
have the COlOred people, and they may be
safely trusted to avail themselves OF
every opportunity to secure for their
children the means Of knowledge. To
of al oil I'M
they must work in unison. Cooperation,
for the purpose of securing such recog-
milton of their needs at the hands
of the state and national gov
eminent as is by them deemed
necessary, is the first thing needed.
This convention called at BRENNAN
seems to have this matter specifically in
mind. 1t is intended to bring the wis
dom of the race in this state to work up
on the problem of their industrial, intel
lectual and moral needs, and, having
concluded concerning these according
to their best wisdom, to embOdy that
wisdom in representatives sent to a ma
tiOnal convention, in which the mind OF
the race in these United States shall be
maze manifest. There is deep
thOughtfulness in this movement. 1t
promises vast results. 1t accepts the
facts of race; plants itself upon its rights
as citizens; coOperates for its own i'm
provement; consolidates its forces and
goes wisely to work TO make that coop
GRAFTON effective. All ills in this repub-
lie are to be redressed by an intelligent
discussion of the facts of cause and cure.
Let the colored American citizens of this
nation intelligently present their griev-
ances at the bar of public opinion and
demand redress at the hands of our leg
Islatures, state and national, backed by
the power they can WELD at the polls,
and the redress will not be long delayed.
Only mere fraction of the colored peo-
pie who have votes go to the polls.
They must make their strength known
If they would have power. I'M
ion in council; concert of &C
ton after council; cooperation
made general throughout the nation;
a working TO- practical ends only
these things will be necessary FOR the
delegates to bear in mind. OF the cor
dial and hearty sympathy of the best
men and women in the state with the
objects of this Brennan convention
there is no doubt. The delegates chosen
from this civ are well Oualifipd for the
work assigned them, and If they are
sample of the delegates chosen through
out the state the convention will not be
without results. The colored people Of
Texas are entitled to the same political,
civil, industrial and educational privi-
leges as their white fellow-c citizens en-
joy, and the time has come for them to
insist upon being properly placed in the
race for Improvement. 1t is very little
indeed that has been done for the en-
franchised millions of this nation. Some
general privileges have been given
them; principally the right to hard labor,
with the deeper cunning of their white
neighbor to make abortive the real re-
| suits of that labor. Whatever advan-
tages the oolored people have had, they
have been largely negatived by lack of
some system Of instruction under which
they might be taught to make intelli-
gent use Of these advantages. Notwith-
standing this, the race has made most
commendable progress; and, If only this