San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-23
Address of the Waco Convention

The convention of colored representatives
for the state of Texas in session at Waco,
adopted the following address which they vii
publish throughout the state:
1--WE, the representatives of the negroes of
Texas in convention assembled in the city or
waco, rejoice in the fact that through the
press, the swift winged messenger, we can al
,iress the people of the state, presenting our
grievances before the bar OF pubic opinion,
which is the highest; reviewing our progress,
endeavOring to correct our MISTAKES ana
resolving to make greater eAOrts III tne
Circumstances over which we nave had no
control have made US citizens OF the
United States and of the state OF Texas ana
we have earnestly striYen TO show ourselves
worthy of the great boon. But while many OF
our white fellOw-cltiZenS seem willing 10 &C
cord to the negro all the rights OF citlZenshlp'
our people are still compelled TO suHer many
wrongs In some counties we are denied the
free exercise of the elective franchise, wnlch
is the dearest of all human rights we peueVe
that the whites are responsible TOT our eIecc
ton troubles, because they are the result Oh
bOssism and race antagonlsm. AS general
thing in thu counties where election troubles
have occurred certain rings and chquGs nave
established sort Of local monarchy ana
against which we appeal to the state authOri-
ties for protection. We advise our people in
local elections to vote for the best men In
| their communities. We cannot AFFORD TO prac-
| t ce yenalty. The man who barriers and sells
| "In many counties of the state, colored men
are denied the right of serving on the Juries,
| though possessing the legal quallncatlons TOT
| jurors. This is manifestly unjust, because
the laws give to every citizen the right OF trial
| by a Jury of his peers. We are also unJustly
| discrimina ted against by some at the railroad
| companies and other public carriers OF the
| state. The bugbear of social equality Is nc
| excuse for such treatment because there is
| no social equality in persons riding together
| in the same cars; and why is 1t that negroes
| in the capacity OF servants are not oplec
| tonable in first class cars ana STEAMBOAT
| cabins? Is a mental entitled TO 'nort
| respect than a gentleman or lady VINO
| has paid first class fare surely oul
| white fellow citizens, with all thei
wealth and intelligence can afford tc
| give us an equal chance with them IN the race
| of life. We do not ask for any special leglsia
| ton, but we do insist upon being accorded tht
| equal benefits and protect on OF the laws.
| I'VE condemn mob violence in all its form:
and we remind our white fellow citizens tina
there is a point at which Iorbearancs ceases
to be a virtue; and while we do not advise
retaliation, we feel that the continuation o
lynch law Will eventually lead TO TINS
Tn. negroes of Texas have made commend
able progress since emancipation. twenty
four years ago we we're turned lo0s'
without money, property or education
and we now own about l,OOO,OO acre
of land and we pay taxes on S2O,OOQ'VV
worth o. property: we have ZV 0G ch ps
lent: associations, 10 high schools, = 5OO com
mon schools, 5000 teachers, l25,OOO pupils at
tending schools, 90 doctors, p lawyers. 10
merchants, 5000 mechanics, ID newspapers
hundreds of farmers and stockmen and seN
era inventors. We are very grateful TO tn
r state for the liberal appropriation of fund
: for the founding and support of Prairie Nie'
| State normal schools. We also thank tn
cities of Galveston, Houston, San Antonio
, | Austin, Waco, Brennan, COrscana, Fol-
: Worth, Dallas, Sherman, DenisOn, Marin
Paris, and others for the liberal appropri'
tions they have made for the founding an
= support of our city public schools.
"To US the future of Texas is hopeful
| grand and glorious, and we are resolved I
do our full part in the development of tn
), magnificent empire state We urge our pc
i pie to shun the vices and initiate the virtue
of the whites by earnestly striving to be int
Iigent. moral, religious, industrious, ecOnOr
q ical and good citizens. American slavery we
+ tried before the bar of public opinion
the civilized world, was condemned and hi
l. to die, and similar fate awaits race pref
dice.
Committee on address s. H. Smothe
Chairmanl l. B. Scott J. n Gil EFT, c.
Queen. J. Fl Jackson, w. H. Irvine J. G. Cal
2 W. H. Blount, X. c. EdmOndsOn