The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-02-15
SOUTHERN EXILES.
THE CONVENTION AT THE GRAND
OPERA HOUSE.
An Immense Throng Assemblies to Listen
to Addresses on the Wrongs of Southern
Republicans A Strong Me riaI
Adopted.

4
evening was preceded by caucus held at the
same place in the afternoon, at which time
the temporary organization was arranged and
tne memorial TO be adopted by the convention
was agreed upon.
AT an early hour in the evening the opera
mouse was thrOnged, every seat in the parquet,
urosS circle and gallery being filed and all the
private boxes occupied. There had been no
attempt at decorating the stage or auditorium,
Out II was evident that nothing of this kind
was needed to add to the enthusiasm
OF Doth delegates and visitors. The stage was
occupied by the delegates themselves, who
were representative men from Topeka, Leav-
enWorth, AtchisOn, Wichita and other Kansas
cities.
Promptly at O'Clock the temporary chair
man, Hon. w. A. Price of ChautauQua, called
eral remarks, Rev. Turner of Topeka offered
prayer.
THE CHAIRMAN'5 ADDRESS.
Chairman Price next addressed the
convention at some length upon the
Importance OF the occasion, which he said was
or grave import to the American people
This is strong language" said he, shut the
events OF the past fifty years W our national
life, the condition of affairs, and the parties
known to the average citizen" Speaking Of
the race problem, Mr. Price said that not
| WlthstandinR the Intense race prejudice, were
1 the strong arm Of the law used, these men
(the southerners), would gladly let every negro
vote and count his vote as he wanted It
| The object Of the cry against the negro, Mr..
Price said was to induce the coming admins
tration to adopt vacillating policy like that
existing from 1875 to 1880. The carpet-bag-
gers were alluded to, and the speaker said
that in their palmiest days they never produced
a Vincent, Polk, Tate, or depleted state
or county treasury. "All the charges made
| by the southern democrats were as grOundless
as the charges made against the national re-
| r,hlican nartv- 1t is not the nfnrn that
| those.r fellows SO hate, it is the party
| 10 which the negro belongs, and to
which he gives his life. Today delega-
| tons Of these men are visiting the president
elect they are seeking to demonstrate some
thing that does not exist. They say there is
| new south and draw fancy pictures Of Atlanta
and Birmingham as examples Of the modern
| Acadia. Why do they not give as companion
pictures Little Rock, Wahalak, Iberia or Free
town? 1t is urged that the southern appoint
| mentS should be given to moderate democrats.
There are no moderate democrats In the south.
There Is only one class, and every southern
republican In this hall knows that none Of Mr..
Hayes appOintees from the democratic party
ever became true republicans" It was plain
to the speaker that az southern republicans
the meeting ought to protest against any SEN
timentality In dealing with the southern prob
lem. "Put mono but loyal republicans in
position, until the men who violate every
principle of justice and good government are
thoroughly reconstructed"
The speaker asserted that the race question
Is greatly magnifed. The object of the con-
ventiOn should be to embody the facts In a
suitable memorial and present them to the
president-elect and through him to the Amerl-
can people, and II possible awaken them to
sense ofthe danger that imperils the union.
THE LAMENTRD CLAYTON.
'The death Of the lamented Clayton" con-
tinued the speaker "has not brought forth
the proper comment. He was not murdered
because he was q black or g white man, nor
because he was organizing the negroes. 1t
came out of that spirit that Is hostile to the
government, that hates the party that saved
the union and also teach their children that
they mnst gain back what was lost by the
sword through political maneuver, and that
any method Is justlfAbIe which removes
an obstacle which stands In the way
and pretend to do it on a race issue, hoping
thus to have the north pass lightly over their
crime. Ten thousand lives, each as valuable
to its possessor as that Of the lamented Clay
ton; ten thousand souls as pure as his, have
been sacrificed to the political faith that you
and hold. Until lately they have removed
only the lesser lights-the colored people, but
their success has emboldened them and reck-
less Of consequences they have proceeded TO
remove a luminary whose absence attracts the
nations attention"
After some further remarks, the speaker
closed by saying: II think all these facts
hould occupy your attention and a suitable
memorial, presenting the true situation as we
know IT, shall be published in order that
lOrthern sentiment may be formed with a
I'LL understanding OF the situation, and that
Il republican party may not be led into a
L al m hat hA
M aud laws may be enforced and a citizen
tississippi may be as free as citizen In
Sas."
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
-he report of o-d the COMMITTEES tie:
men made as follows: for president,
Hon. W. H. Dlnkgraves; for secretary, 5. w.
VIM; vice presidents-W. d. Matthews, Of
Leavenworth county; Rev. G. c. Jones, Of
Bourbon; c. Patterson, Of Wyandotte; c. &,
James, of Douglass; j. d. Bush, OF Ford; j.
H Turner, of Franklin; P. F. Oliver, Of Ssdg-
wick James Beck, of Wabaunsee; Rev. D.
Wilson, of Harvey, and Rev T. Minter, OF
Iackson
3he original report contained the name Of
" A. Price, as president, and the substitu-
ti0n caused considerable confusion and dis
satisfaction.
Colonel Brown Of Topeka in very impas-
stoned address urged the name OF Judge
MnkgraFe to be permanent chairman. He
said that from the beginning Judge Dink- |
grave had taken a very prominent part In cali
lag the mass convention; that he had the in |
terests OF every southern man at heart who |
had, In any way, suffered abuses from the |
fact OF his political views. Mr. Dinkgrave |
Was q man who was well acquainted with this |
question OF such great import; he was one Of |
the many honorable white men who was an |
rSexile from home for the simple reason that |
he voted and talked the way his |
conscience dictated; he was a man /
who had witnessed the assassination OF /
TWO members of his family while /
they were simply exercising the right OF free
born American citizens The speaker stated |
in very emphatic terms that the convention /
was . mass convention OF southern repubIl- /
cans ami that the color line was not 10 b i
drawn in the manner proposed. for IL il was, /
Il would result disastrously 10 the movement. /
r Q speaker further said that there was not /
white man on committee nor was there :
white man In the list OF officers presented: /
- are white republicans from the south /
save grievances as heavy a. any eolored L
= who have been compelled 10 fly from /
--4amilies and sacrifice their property or