Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-16
THE RICHMOND DTspATCH-slJNDAY DECEMBER IS 1883

tuCihotiNt,s Luo BtSat INV VI ~
carnation was the great reason for the
elevation OF the. black man, who was
still in Gods image. Weare OF lone blood,
and VIC go to one heavenly home.
The second paper was read by the
Rev. Alexander Crummell, ID. d., rector
OF 81. Luke's church, Washington. DR..
Crummell is as black as possible. He IS
finely educated. having been sent. in
day when no American college would re-
ceive him, TO the Universityof Cambridge,
where he became a member OF Queens
College. He bears the degree OF ID. ID.
from that ancient university. He paid
particular attention to the question OF
amalgamation, treating il historically and
practically. There was every reason 10
believe that the African and Caucasian
races would always live side by side
without amalgamstion. Neither race
wanted it. The present number OF half
castles had sprung up without the true
consent of the black woman, who bore
children to her white master. ii the
friction between the races could be re-
moved there was no reason why perfect
smity and right could not be preserved
to either side. The race problem was a
moral one. he considered the moral
qualities OF the colored man superior.
The history Of the past was full OF en-
couragement. Moral sentiment gained
at last everything demanded. Our ma
tional safety was imperilled by any one
weak point
DR.. Crummell was followed by the
Rev. DR.. Floyd W. Tomkins, Jr., OF
Christ church. Hartford, long known
for his work among the Chinese on the
east side OF New York. He was out and
out in favor OF amalgamation, and de-
nounced the position of our country
toward the Chinese as undemocratic and
unchristian. AS the class-parish was
failure, the one-race nation would prove
70 be n failure. MIXTURES are going on
all the time. The American is COM
posite people. Our national digestion
is strong and can digest almost any
thing. The Indian should be granted
citizenship.
The Rev. Charles r. Baker, Of Brook
lyn, who was the first speaker, agreed
with those who had gone before in the
beauty OF their principles, hut held that
public safety, and regard for the moral
status of the community now gathered
here compelled lis to siit our immigrants
into the desirable and the undesirable.
The Chinese are indigestible by the
BODY polite. As a race we do not want
them. They might come in sufficient
30 ba riarfya C1r country IL
was a case Of light and darkness. He IL
Illustrated by the history OF undesirable
immigration in North Carolina how per-
sistent was the influence for degradation
OF one low type.
Mr.. Robert I. Harrison, OF New
York, appeared as a representative Of
old Bourbon ideas. lie believed all
other races were distinctly inferior to
the white. The Chinese are rightly ex-
cluded on account of their vices. The
Indian falls before the white man. The
negro if left to himself, ms in Liberia,
goes backward rapidly into savagery.
We must, therefore. from orr higher
plane reach down a helping hand. The
speaker did not appear TO think that the
helping hand would ever bring the black
races up TO our level, and the inference
was that he hardly cared 70 have 1t come
to that, but rs he did not finish perhaps
this is an unfair suggestion.
Mr.. Harrison was followed by Profess
sor kinloch Nelson, OF the Virginia
Seminary, who took Bishop Johnsons
place. He declared that the subject Was
not q practical one with the people pres.
cnt, but il was of imminent importance
to the southern people. DIR. Crummell
no more represented the level OF his race
than Socrates the level of the Greeks.
He did not want to have colored men a
possible majority in the convention.
IN Virginia all black votes are
counted. Virginia passed the first anti
slavery act in the world. Slavery had
been introduced into the colony against
the will of the people. He insisted that
negroes are an inferior race tending 10
relapse into barbarism, and was more
emphatic as 10 what he didn't like than
rs to reasons and practices He SAID
that much money was annually spent for
the education OF tho negroes. The sum
stated seemed small, but it meant great
deal, and the whites paid nearly all of It.
DR.. Nelson's speech WAS quite charac-
teristic and exciting. And matters be-
came even more interesting when the
hev. Dr. Van Bokkelan, formerly OF
Maryland. arose and said few words in
reply, culoeizing the colored race as
having good hearts, good manners, and
only lacking a good chance to make
themselves something. There might be
a true pre-eminence conceded TO DR..
Crummell. but il other colored men hed
only fair chance there would be more
Frederick Douglases and Alexander
Crummells. Dr. Van Bookseller had
lived among them and knew them. aud
showed how much better chance Mary
land gave them than Virginia. II Nir-
ginia passed all these acts why didn't
she keep on doing it: