St. Paul daily globe., 1889-12-24
COLoRED MEMS CONVENTION

A prominent cOlOred citizen OF this
city furnishes the GLOB L with a circu
lar calling national convention of col
ored men, to be held IN Washington the
first Monday in February, and asks us
to give the movement word of indorSe-
ment. The GLOBE cheeTfuily gives
space to the call, bnt when it comes to
adding an Endorsement of the objects of
the convention it becomes an entirely
different matter. The objects to be at
tanned by this convention, as set forth
in the circular, are:
First-TO organize national association
of colored American citizens by which
united ana continuous effort shall be made
to relieve them from the personal outrages
inflicted upon them in the southern states,
and to obtain all the rights Of American cit
liens now denied them in parts of this coun-
try.
Second-To ascertain the opposing inilu-
ences that retard the growth of their educa-
tional, moral and material interests.
Third-To invoke congress to pass such
legislation as viii enable the colored Ameri-
cans to exercise the right of franchise in the
Southern states without fear OF molestatiOn:
to pass the BLAIR educational bill, and also to
pass bill to pay the depositors of the Freed
mans bank in full for their deposits.
The GLOBE wishes TO speak candidly
on this subject, as it does on all others,
and at the same time TO speak in the
interest of the colored people. Candor
cOmpels us to say that in our opinion it
will be an unlucky day for the eOlOred
people when they gather themselves to-
4haal. irstf u distinct MI
They can hardly afford to do it. They
must adapt themselves to the theory of
our laws and to the spirit of our censti-
tuition, which recognize no race diStlnc-
tiOnS or determinations except as they
relate to the Indians and to the Chinese.
We do not deny or attempt TO conceal
from view the melancholy plight
of African civil rights, not only
in the Southern states, but IN
the Northern states as we'll; but our col
ored friends must be content to await
the evolution of time, which will surely
perfect that great picture of freedorA
the canvas for which was stretched
upon the pillars of the world by the
hands of the angels at creations dawn.
A good deal of the race trouble in the
South has been due to the disposition
manifested by the colcred people to
band themselves together under the
leadership of reckless adventures. a
condition of affairs that has forced the
whites in that section to pursue a simi-
lar course in protection of their inter-
estS. And our belief is that if the col
Ored people form such an organization
as is proposed in the call referred to. it
will be the signal for counter organi-
ZatiOn of white men. Nor will it be
confined to the Southern states. and will
eventually drive the negroes to the wall.
The two races must work ont their des-
tiny side by side, and this can be most
successfully done when they work in
harmony. and not in antagonism.
The BLAIR educational bill has more
opponents in the Nurth than in the
South, and when the colOred people ar
ray themselves in solid phalanx in sup
port OF that measure and attempt to
force it through congress they will
surely incur the hostility of Northern
men who have heretofore been their
champions. To force the BLAIR bill
through congress is understood to be
the real object of this organization of
col0red men, while the Southern out
rage feature is a mere incident. It is
our opinion that when the colored man
has fully qualified himself for the duties
of citizenship he will find no trouble in
exercising the privilege. We can, there
fore, subscribe heartily to the second
plank in the platform. which seeks to
ascertain the opposing influences
that retard the growth of their moral,
material and educational interests. and
to remove them. But we do not believe
that this object can be accomplished in
the manner contemplated by the pro-
mOters of this movement.
Tyrannical prescription does stalk
abroad in some of the Southern states,
and will as long as the ignorant classes
assert their right to control the property
interests of that section. But the spec
tacle of civil rights drinking the hem
lock of race prejudice is witnessed as
frequently here in the Northern states
as it is in the South. The white men
are going to rule this country just as
long as the race question is made an
issue. The wisest thing, then, for the
negroes to do is to aid in eliminating
race prejudice by removing the causes
for it. 1t cannot be done by force.
They must wait the healing processes
of time, and the interval Of waiting may
be prOftably employed in better qnali-
flying themselves for the high position
to which they were so suddenly ele-
waited, and without due preparation.
One decided movement in that direction
would be the assertion of their inde-
pendenee in politics. When they learn
to divide on national questions, as their
white brethren do, they will then give
forcible evidence of their ability to ex-
ercise the duties of citizenship.