San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-04-29
CoLORED MEN. TO GO WEST.
\ Convention Being Held in Rich
mond for the Purpose ofForm-
ing a Company to Pro-

ing Company PRO
vide Homes.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHM OND, April pa very inn
portant gathering of colOred men met
in this city on the 10Th, and remained
in session for three days. While a meet
ing of freedmen in the South is
ways attended with more or less Of
interest, the object and results of this
gathering are of very great impor-
lance. The chief purpose of the con-
vention is to establish land COM
pany for the purpose of providing
homes in the West for such ne
groes as desire to settle in that
part of the country. 1t does
not take the aspect of a movement to
induce emigration from the Old Do
mlnion, but simply to create some
permanent organization competent to
provide homes for those of the young
men who desire to go West without
being subjected to sharpers or unjust
eXactions; in other words, to intelli-
gently look after such cOlOred people
as have the means and the desire to
make homes tor themselves where
lands are cheap and the conditions
of society such that they can better
themselves.
The most important and interesting
feature of this movement is the report
of Mr.. John G. Wilson, who is pres.
iding over it. In the early part of
the present decade he was the candi-
date for Lieutenant-GOvernOr of the
Republican ticket, and is n man of
ability and position. He has given
the condition of his race the most
careful study, and presents some
statistics in relation to its progress
since the war. and makes some still
more remarkable recommendation
as to its future. He declares in his
report that the negroes of Virginia
have, since they were made free, or
within twenty-five years, spent over
So 900, 600 in the purchase. and cree.
ton of church property. This ne
declares to be entirely out of proper
ton with what they have
done in the way of material
development and in providing good
schOolhOuses for the education of the
young. This astounding statement,
that out Of something like 50, 000, 900
accumulated by the negroes of this
| State, one-third of it iainvested in
churches, is naturally causing a great
| deal Of comment here, as it will else.
| where. No man, however we'll posted
| on the cOlOred race in Virginia, has
even imagined that any such sum
had been expended. Yet Mr.. Will
son produces facts and figures in
support Of his statements that seem
to be incOntestable. He recommends
that instead OF building so many
churches far out of proportion to their
means, they erect more schOOlhOuses
for the education of their children,
which he declares to be sadly want
ing, and entirely inadequate to the
| needs of the growing generation. He
| also calls attention to the necessity
of a more careful attention to their
homes, and the necessity of providing
| place for the family before cOntri-
| huting so largely to the erection of
| churches.
For several years past it has been
well understood that the negroes
were building and main tanning more
churches than they could afford to,
but that So 600, 900 Of such property is
already owned by them brings the
| leaders of that race to inquire what
can be done for material advancement.
Any one who has lived with the ne
gro will understand that he is an
emotional character and will give for
religion what he would not give for
| anything else. To that fact is I'M
| dOubtedly due the remarkable ac.
emulation of church property 10y the
colOred people of this State.
While education for the children
is also something of a hobby with
them, schoolhOuses have been neg
lected that the Church might thrive.
There is q general feeling here that
the showing made in the reports to
the convention will be of great value
in calling the attention of the colored
people to a condition that has grown
upon them almost without their
knowledge.
WORSTEDS ARE not WOODEN.
Verdict in an Important Test Case
Against the Government,
From the New York Sun.
The trial of the test case of joseph