The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-02-22

delegates. The color line was thus
sprung upon the convention by those
who plead most eloquently for its
obliteration. The scene which fol-
lowed, was a most disgraeeful one.
The gentlemen who had been yield
ing point after point for the sake of
peace thought, and justly too, that
it was asking too much that in con-
vention composed of over sixty dele
gates, only two of whom were white,
one of that two should be made per-
manent chairman to preside over
their deliberations. Against the most
humiliating odds, they protested
against such an unequal and unjust
distribution of the honors. They
Justly claimed that these white gen
tlemen ought not to expect or ask
for honors in meeting composed al
most entirely of colored men, which
would not be asked or expected by
colored men in a meeting composed
almost exclusively of white men. 1t
was claimed that by having white
man to preside, it would lend dignity
| and weight to the proceedings;
and yet it is a fact that these two
gentlemen originated the plans of
| this affair and have been connected
with and directing its movements,
f ever since its inception, but with all
d their weight, dignity and power they
- have not brought to its aid or con-
a nection Herewith, a single white
man beside themselves.
f Can it be possible that these gen
4 tlemen are the only white republicans
} from the South who are exiles in
l.. Kansas? We would like to ask furth-
: er, if any one believes he could find
# two intelligent colored gentlemen
1t within the confines of our great coun-
e try who would have the supreme
d cheek and gall to go into a conven-
n ton of fifty or sixty white men and
e ask that one of them be given the
If honor of presiding over their deliber-
l. atoms? And further, could the white
J. man be found within the confines of
n Christendom with such enlargement
If of heart and expression of soul who
Z would stand before such an assembly
Or and make such demand and foI
lie such reasons? We think such would
y be difficult to find. We would ask
a still further, if these white gentlemen
ne were such warm and firm friends o.
e. the Negro, and all that pertains tt
n his interests, would they not, wher
al they saw the confusion and disorder
r not to say the disgrace, the presen-
n tation and pressing of the claim o
of one of them for the craftsmanship
a. had produced, have Immediately with
mt drawn that claim and allowed tn
to majority to select man of their owl
c. race and choice? But these gentle
a men positively refused to allow tn
he claim to be Withdrawn, but expresse
en- the determination to press it to tn
en- bitter end. Men are judged by thei
ed acts and the actions of these men a
ow the way through have certainly nc
IN been characterized by what sensibl
he and selfrespecting people would ca
lee friendship for the Negro. 1t wa
OF surely a strange and humiliatin
le- sight to see an audience of colore
ed people yelling themselves hoarse ia
Tas a white man whose claim had pre-
sly duced confusion in their ranks, e,
air tending his time to speak indefinite
vi ly,giving him tier most undivided a
he tention, loudly aPplauded his unju
filings and insinuations against CO
the ored men who had the manhood
ces oppose his monstrous and unju
ort claim, and then boot and ieer an
fax brutally insult colored men who arc
emit to speak in defense Of themlseves ar
tie of the claim of the race. Wou
am a white man have treated these CO