Huntsville gazette., 1889-11-02
RACE ISSUES
Discussed by Colored Baptists at
Chattanooga.
Some Of the Speeches Causes
Great Excitement.

Views of'Preachers on the Treatment Of
Their Race In the South-If the Negro
Expects to stay in the Cotton Belt He
Must Organize for Protection, and Strike
Back When Necessary.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Oct. a3.-At
the meeting of the colored Baptists
here, Sunday, to discuss race issues.
over l, 600 were present. Some of the
speeches have caused great excitement.
Dr.. Scott, a prominent Methodist of
fered the following prayer
I'VE know, Lord, when we have
called upon Thee, that Thou hast been
with us. After twenty-five years God
hath seen our people, and we ask Thee
TO guide us i'll their present emergency.
Thol hast led AMI strengthened us in
times past. but now. .! God, power
rs tleading lis down. and we pray Thee
that Thou wilt raise up helpers Many
of us are even worse off than we were
before the war. Thou knowest how our
people have been murdered Oh, wilt
Thou conquer for us for Thou art the
same SatiOr that Thou Were before?
We have been too slow, and have let
this thing go until SO many of US people
have been murdered But we leave it
all in Thy hands. We are so weak, but
want strength from Thee. We pray
for our enemies and for those who op-
press us. We pray that our people may
never hereafter send any one to CON
gress who will assist to oppress us.
Lord help us,
L. S. ID. Sessions made prayer and
an address. He said, "We come to Thee
with bowed heads and sorrowful hearts
to offer prayer and supplication. Oh,
God, the clouds gather thickly and are
black with signs OF woe. From the white
cotton fields OF the south comes wall of
woe terror and despair. The hangman' s
rope, the deadly bullet and red-handed
murderer spare neither tottering age nor
maidens fears. Our people, on the
slightest pretense, often without pro-
vocation. are killed and butchered with
out mercy Every glade holds its secret,
the hills crouch with dread, the noun
tains hold up dumb lips of entreaty Oh,
God Of eternal justice, what untold
crimes are perpetrateI against weak
deTenseless people Yes. we know that
Thine eye hath seen and Thy hand will
pity. Goa works through human agen-
cies, and solIowfnl hearts to-day CRY out
to HIN.
I'VE believe that question finds an
answer in the letter of William E. Mat
thews to John M. Langston, urging him
to take steps to form league OF colored
Americans on this continent. Some of
those who have been the most devoted
to the interests of their race think the
time is ripe for such an organization.
Let us unite ourselves, that all may
have the wisdom and advice of our best
brain, that we may have the moral
power Of our best men. Such q union
would give us strength and courage. f."
Rev. u. ID. Olden, the most promi
nent negro preacher in this part Of the
south delivered a telling speech, in
which he decried anything looking to
race conflict He said: IF the col
ored man in the south is to be any thing
at all, he must make something of him
self He must cease to be parasite
and living off others, and when we do it
we will eXtort from our enemies preju
diced lips the highest praise. If the
black man, ne added, had less to do
with politics and more to do with edu
cation and money, he would be an inde-
pendent race and as good as any one
else