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

rison and the Fifty first congress had
been indicted into power and had
mad chance to formulate policy;
then, if that policy was in any way
detrimental to the camse of justice to
the Negro. would be the time to make
ourselves heard. Then we had the
best of reasons for believing that the
callers of the meeting We're actuated
purely by selfish motives, and our
fears in that regard, have been fully
realized by the convention and it's
acts. After hearing so many pro-
testations of honesty and good faith
on the part of the chief spirits in the
matter, and aware of the ever exist
ing doubt in clrcumstancial evidence,
and not wishing to do any one iniUs-
tice, or to cast a stumbling block in
the way of anything which might
recound to the interests of the Ne
gro, we decided to give them the
benefit of the doubt and await the
action Of the convention before show
ing up what We thought ali along,
was the motive power and CONTROL
ing desire of its originatores. And
for this line of policy, we feel that
we owe an apology to the visiting
delegates. For had we fearlessly
discharged our duty as journalists,
and warn them of the true state of
affairs they might have been spared
the insults, indignities and rebukes
which was so disgracefully admins
tered to them by packed audience
of intelligent but misled people. We
say misled, for had the people of
Topeka and Shawnee county, fully
understood the true anlmus of the
whole affair, they would never have
been party to those proceedings
which brought lasting disgrace upon
the city and county. Herein again,
we through the mistaken desire to
restore and preserve harmony, failed
to expose the thing and inform the
people, and thus left them to be hood
winked into doing that which they
never would have done, had they
been fully informed. Then gentle
men, lay not this treatment to. thell
charge, for they knew not what they
did. The CITIZEN had, for the sake
, of peace and harmony, failed to dc
| its duty in the matter. Therefore
, you pardon good people, and we vii
! try not do SO again. We have in
timated that selfish motives and self
, ish ends and aims were at the bottom
, Of this whole affair, and it is the old
! old story of the white mans uslnj
| the Negro through the aid of othe
Negroes to accomplish his selhs
purpose. There can be no doubt
r this. A white man publicly state
;, in a speech at the court house here
: in the first public meeting held
; connection with this unfortunate a
y fair. that another white man ha
q mapped out and planned the who
. affair, after which he had called
r for consultation certain colored me
i whom he named in his speech. Thes
% men after said consultations and III
der the instructions thereat recelve'
; set out to work up the matter anon
If the colored people of The city, count
II and state. This white gentlema
h who planned and directed the affai
$ was then and is now prominel
ut candidate for federal appointme
"a at the south under Mr.. Harrison
he administration.
r. This convention, then, was to a
;" complish two purposes. First.
recommend this gentlemen 10 NJ
~ Harrison, by showing his consul
ee mate ability and skill as politics
sh and manipulation Of the Negro in al
&C. out of conventions, at the North
r. we'll as at the South. Second, I
.