Telegram-herald., 1890-01-17
THE NEGROES.
o. the Afro- American
Convention at Chicago
JUSTICE TO TEE RACE DEXDDEa
ahelr Grievances r s. ess.~retee A. Speeches
Ana ketasales s0EsSstsa As
FlsaEsr. - S~srsias N&As
FFest&enf.

POS EQUAL RloHrs-
CHscAGo. Jau. lC-Ths meeting -
org41l1s 8 Astionsl Afro-Anerloan
League opened yesterday morning ln
tto Madison Street. Ibe4tel. wlth dale
gates from twenty-one states Eua Tie
District 81 columbia presenL tee dele
e-tes from Illinois outnemoering ttose
If sll the o.her states together De
morning session was largely devoted 10
purely business matters, And the resl
uork ~ the assent tly b=gan al TIE after
AEON session in Quinn chapel on fourtA
avenue.
SIR 4 Thomas FoRune, editor - the
Sew York hge. called tie meeting 30
order, and LIS ahle address in the after
noon voiced the opinions Of the other
delegates lie made al eloquent plea
for lie : 600 coo freed men IN The United
States defending their character. eKtoll-
ing their purposes and integrity, and
pointing out the disab bilities under which
they laborod The black man. IN his
opinion. Was loyal 20 the Government
and in plicitly obedient 20 the law. and
yet his conduct was taken IS badge -
servilty rather than the emblem
Of nobility His ignorance was cast
in his face He was robbed 81
the substance OF citizenship Po-
lltical parties used MIN as : tool mere
~ 20 accomplish their ends Wrongs
had systematically been practiced upon
him. and yet withal be had borne his
disabilities with . patience that ceased
20 be a virtue The timo had come for
revolt and II was FOR the purpose % Sc
curing their share Of rights and liber-
ties that the Afro American League was
designed
Mr. Fortune named as reasons Justify
ing the Afro-AmericanLeague the almost
universal suppression 81 the colored
ballot in the South, the universal and
lamentable reign Of lynch and mot law,
Of which colored men are the victims,
In the South; the unequal distribution
o. the school funds: the Odious and de-
moralizing chain-gsng penitentiary sys-
tenn OF the South; the almost universal
tyranny OF the common carriers IN the
south, which viii not permit colored
snd white people 70 ride in the same
,ars. and the discrimination practiced
by those who conduct places Of public
accommodation and amusement
To do away With these wrongs be sDg-
gested that the league should establish
an Afro-Americzn bank With branches
all over the country; establish bureau
Of immigration for the purpose Of scat
tering colored people more generally
over the country; establish a committee
on legislation 70 watch Federal and
State legislation and prevent the pas
sage OF laws harmful 70 the colored peo-
pie; to establish a bureau OF technical
indstrial education 70 train the colOred
men TO become artisans. farmers and
laborers, and 20 establish a bureau o.
cooperative industry which would slim
ulate the business instinct OF the oolored
citizen. In conclusion ne said.
Il speak as an Afro-Amer rioAn first. last Snd
al the time ready 70 stab 20 death any party
which rebs me oi nny confidence and vote snd
strsightway asks me what ! sra going
10 DO about it As for the Repuo-
licau party, the Prohibition party. the
Democratic party, 7 speak with the wis
dom a. experience when 1 declare that none
OF them cares a hg for The Afro American
further than IL csa use him. T. We SHALL serve
the party and the men. a. Afro Americans,
VINO serve Us GeSl IN lht present posture o. Cli
citizenship we shall follow The dictates "
the highest wisdom and the most approved
philosophy II viii De SOUND pOicy on
the part u the league here assembled
10 leave each local league free 20 pur-
sue such political course ~ as immediate com
munity az the best interests of The race seem
20 dictate in National Affairs II does moi seem
wise FOR the league 20 commit itself oiEo.a.ly 20
any party We have served parties long
enough without benefit 70 the race i IS now
time for parties 20 serve Us. Il they desire cur
support.
"Wednesday evening tho delegates were
given banquet in the First Regime d
armory by the colored people of Chi
cago
CHICAGO. Jan. l6. - Tho morning ses-
sion Of the Afro American convention ~
the Madison Street Theater found
200 delegates present. There was
. good deal oi noise. consider
able confusion and sny number
Of conflicting motions and points oi
order, and vet there was almost perfect
unanimity. This was proven by tho
election Of the permanent convention
officers recommended by The committee
on nominations by vote % III 70 .,
many mem bers not voting ". A.
Pledger. % Georgia. vas elected pres!-
dent. and J II. Pelham. ~ Missouri.
SECRETARY A long list % vice presi'
dents Was also chosen
President Plc5ger read n sdsress n
which he said shat tbe I'd n ssiou hy the
whites ~ the south that there p.as a
racc problem SHOWED chat tbe Jaws
and constitution of TO Taisrd