Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-19
FUTURE OF COLORED PEOPLE.
Meeting Of the Central Bureau Of Relief
Last Evening.

Last Evening.
THE COMING NATIONAL coLoRED CONVENTION
AN APPEAL TO WHITE MES-MR. MOSS TIRED
OF LOOKING TO THE wHITEs-HE ADVISES THE
coLoREp PEOPLE TO GO WEST.
A meeting Of the members of the Central bu-
reau OF relief was held at p H. Carson's. No
S26 Pennsylvania avenue northwest, last even
ing. The bureau is organized for the assist
ance Of colored men. and among its members
are some prominent citizens of thatrace. Those
present took an active interest in the prelimi-
nary arrangements for the national convention
OF coiored people to be held here on the first
Monday IN February next, when it is expected
that more than 800 delegates will be PRESENT
OBJECTS OF THE CONVENTION.
The call says: The objects TO be obtained
by the convention are: First To organize a
national association of colored American citi-
zens, by which a united and continuous effort
shall be made to relieve them from the per-
sonal outrages inflicted upon them in the south
ern states, and to obtain all the rights of Amer
lean citizens now denied them Ia parts Of this
country. Second. To ascertain the opposing
influences that retard the growth of their edu-
catlonal moral and material interests. Third.
10 invoke Congress to pass such legislation as
VIII enable the colored Americans to exercise
the right of franchise in the southern states
without fear of molestation; to pass the
Blair educational bill, and also 10 pass the bill to
pay the depositors of the Freedmen's bank in
full OF their deposits"
AN APPEAL TO ALL JUST AND HUMANE CITIZENS.
The bureau of relief has issued a circular
addressed to the Earnest advocates of the
equal exercise of political and civil rights for
the colored American citizens" The circular
says: This organization is formed for the pur-
pose OF cooperating with the various organ
izations in this country having for their pur-
pose the obtaining OF "a free and equal exercise
OF the political and civil rights and privileges
for the colored American citizens in the United
States, as arc guaranteed them by the Constitu-
ton and laws OF this government. In parts of this
country-especially in the southern states-the
colored citizen is prevented, by force and fraud,
from exercising the rights of an American that
are guaranteed to them and other citizens by
the Constitution and laws of our common coun-
try. They are IN those states subjected by sys-
tematlc lawlessness to personal outrages, by
intimidation, whippings, burnings and lynch
ings-muI dered even i'll the court house, while
under the care of the court officers their prop-
erty wantonly destroyed, and they are made
powerless to defend or protect the sanctity of
their families. This disgraceful and barbarous
condition OF affairs Is assented to, il not en-
couRged, by the local governments of those
states; and the general government has for
nineteen years, failed TO apply any redress or
remedy against these inhuman outrages upon
its colored citizens"
They say they ''have issued this circular let
ter as an earnest appeal to all Just and humane
citizens, without regard to Sex, race creed or
political faith, to assist their effort to remove
this foul blot upon American civilization We
ask them to denounce it throughout this land
with voice and pen, through pulpit and press
and by petitions to state legislatures and to the
Congress of the United States for such state
and national legislation as will remedy these
wrongs, and to continue their efforts until this
vile remnant of slavery is exterminated from
the land and the disgrace of il removed from
the American nation. And, finally. we ask the
ministers of every church in this country to
offer on Thanksgiving day special prayers
against these outrages"
SPEECHES WERE MADE
in behalf of the objects of the meeting and
reference was also made to the convention to
be held in Nashville.
Prof. Langston Endorsed the objects of the
bureau, but he favored the holding of a con-
vention in Nashville.
LAWYER MOSS SAYS go WEST"
Lawyer Moss created some surprise when he
arose and addressed the meeting He told his
hearers that he was tired of this thing of al
ways asking for assistance from the white people
and the time, he thought had come when the
colored people must take some action them
selves. This thing" he said, ''of colored
people staying in the city, shooting crap, going
to parior socials and waiting at hotels should
stop. There are thousands Of acres Of land in
the west; good, fertile soil, where they
can go and raise corn, potatoes and
wheat. That is what they had better do
instead of holding Thanksgiving day
prayer meetings and conventions. The
colored people have grand churches all over
the country, which is a good thing, but instead
of spending SO much money in that direction
they had better follow the line of march west
and erect work shops and factories, and show
the white people that they can be free and in
dependent"
After other speeches had been made the
meeting adjourned until Thursday.