St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-16
AIMS OF AFRO-AMERIOANS.
They Propose to Fight Fire With
Fire in Future


Chicago, Jan. l5.-The national con-
yention of Afro American leagues was
called to order this morning by T.
Thomas Fortune, editor of the Age. of
New York. Delegates were present
from twcnty-one states and the District
of Columbia, hut the delegates from the
state of Illinois more than Outnumbered
all the rest. Altogether there were 200
cOlored persons in the theaier when the
proceedings commenced. L. T. Fortune
was chosen temporary chairman. and
l.. F. Barnet, editor of the Conservator,
OF Chicago, and Harry G. Smith, of the
Gazette. of Cleveland, were made secre-
tarieS. The remainder of the session
was given TO the appointment of stand
ing committees. In the afternoon Mr..
Fortune was called upon to address the
meeting. He began; I'VE are met
here to-day. representatives of S.U00.00
free men, who know our rights and
have the courage to defend them. We
are met here to-day to emphasize the
fact that the past condition of depend
ence and helpleSSneSS upon men who
have used us for
SELFISH AND UNHOI.Y PURPOSES,
who have murdered and robbed and
outraged us. must he rever: ed.' Con-
tinuing he said: I'VE have been robbed
of the honest wages of our toll: we have
been robbed of the substance of our
citizenship by murder and Intimida-
ton; we have been outraged by our
enemies e,IlI !, and deserted by our
to call halt. 1t is time to
begin to fight fire with fire."
Proceeding, he said: II speak as an
Afro-American first, last and all the
time, ready to stab to death any politi
cal party which rohs me of my conf
dence and vote, and straightway asks
me what am going to do about it," In
conclusion he urged the convention TO
leave each local league free to pursue
such political course in it's Immediate
community ~ the best interests of the
race seem to dictate. In national affairs
the league should not commit itself,
officially, to any party. 1--WE propose"
he declared, Ito accomplish our pur-
poses by the peaceful methods of agita-
ton, through the ballot and the courts.
but If others use the wea 1ons of vio-
lence to combat our peaceful argu.
ments, 1t is not for us to run away.
What is worth having is worth fighting
for" Fortune was frequently inter-
rupted by loud and long continued APP
plause. At its close he received the
congratulations of half the people pres
ent. A committee of permanent Off
GERS was appointed, and an adjourn
III ent until tomorrow waa taken. This
evening the
DELEGATES WERE BANQUETED
IN the First regiment armory arranged
by the local committees.
G. FL. j. TAYLOR, ex-minister to Ii
IBERIA. who came to Chicago to report
the convention in detail tor the Atlanta
Constitution, New Orleans Times-Dem-
ocrat, Nashville American, and num-
Der of other papers in the South, left
the city by all early evening tram. In
an interview he declared the proceed
ings were deprived of any practical
force by the absence of delegates from
the South. where the colOred people
were most vitality interested In the race
question. In addition the leaders in
whom the colored population of the
country had confidence, and whose
names are familiar to the public were
absent almost to man. Mr.. Taylor
said he had nothing 10 say of the work
of the convention, as the occasion did
not demand it.