New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-15
CALL TO THE NEGROES OF GEORGIA.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. PLEDGER CoUNSELS PA
THENCE AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION
OF WRONGS.

Atlanta Sept. IA (speciaD.-Captain William A.
Pledgcr has issued his call chairman Of the
Colored National Executive Committee, which was
created in 1883. He begins by thanking God that
the negro holds the balance Of power in Indiana,
illinois, Ohio NewYork and Connecticut and suggests
that colored people too often draw upon God for
what He has already given them, viz, strength to
do for themselves He suggests that they rely less
on any particular party, but stand independent.
After a review OF the relations of the races he goes
on TO say:
There million Of negroes
in Georgia, and you arc power for good or bad.
Let that power be for good. While fools parade tho
streets because they have lost Government Jobs and
insult the Chief of the Nation by vile conduct murder
negroes because Cleveland defeated for President.
has been the case in Ebert. oglethorpe, Fulton,
Lowndes Wilkes, and other counties in this state
and whip innocent negroes, In the suburbs OF this
great city Of the Empire Statewith the police present
observing closed carriages going from the city for
other possible reason than that Of aiding and
abetlng in the work of the whipping; and drive
teachers from their places Of work, because they
teaching negro children, and burn the homes and
churches Of people throughout the State and drive
them from their farms after preparing crops for the
harvest. without giving them dollar; beat mmerci-
fully ministers of the Gospel yet fellow citizens,
if you do not the spur of the moment, defend
your homes and families against the immediate
trespass OF these violations OF law, wait
the sober judgment Of the authorities that
be and the sentiment you shall create by
intelligent discussion OF these matters in
ton assembled The negro problem is upon the
Nation and like Banquo's ghost will not down, though
demagogues, for the sake Of controlling the delegates
to gubernatOrial convention from few baokwoods
counties, would suffer every negro the State to bo
killed.
You must present your case to the world and
appoint committee TO wait on the President and
Congress of the United States, and tell them to scale
the representation In Congress for Georgia from
ten members to five or SIX Tell them
you for years willing 10 do
without voting, but insist that men who are not en-
titled to that representation given you shall not
1t. Expect nothing from any political party except
from that which does most for you. Urge our
brethren in the North TO study the question here and
vote accordingly. As to leaving the South let all
mankind know that you Americans, born here,
reared here, and expect in way TO solve the
problem here and here expect to die and sleep by
tho side OF your fathers, where you had Agitate
and continue to do TIL you get every right you are
Now to the end that you may do something for
the material interests the moral betterment and pc,
ltcal benefits Of the negro Georgia especially and
the black OF the Nation generally, hereby call
upon the coloed citizens Of Georgia to assemble at
the county seats OF their respective counties select
delegates TO the number equal TO twice many
counties shall have In the Lower House Of
tho General Assembly, to meet In the city of
reason this convention called Tor that day because
the Piedmont Exposition Will open on the 9TH of
October and close November 10, aud under the In
huence Of tie present excitement, with An influx
Of persons unfrendly you during that time cOlOed
mans life would not be safe IN the city of Atlanta
and Il would be the height OF folly to invite him
here 10 be insuted and massacTcd. 1t only few
days ago the cOlOred Odd Fellows Of this place in
vted their brethren from abroad 10 take part In
their anniversary exercises, and while the evening
rcpabt was going white men patrOed the streets
with Winchester rifles, without Interference from the
city authorities menaced and committed assault and
battery upon a number Of our people"
COLORED BAPTISTS AND SOUTHERN MURDERERS.
Indianapolis, sept. II epeciaD-The southern dele
gates 10 the coored Baptist Convention. which has
dared freely TO express Indignation the recent
outrsges upon negroes, now afraid to return to
their homes. In the convention to-day they stated
that they feared the action had been iDdscreet al
though It could be denied that the resolutions and
individual uterances fully warranted by tho
ourages from which Southern negroes had suffered
Tho Mississippi delegates said that they would be
killed when they went home unless resolutions dis
approving the fiery and incendiary speeches should be
adopted, and the Rev. Mr.. Brown, OF that State.
offered some. Mr. Booth. OF Alabama. was also afraid
that tho recent carnage at selma would be repeated
when the reports tho addresses should be read In
HIS state. The Rev. Dr. Love, the moderator OF inc
convention. who was of the delegates attacked