The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-08-15

ferring to old leaders who now SLEEP
beneath the sod, he spoke at some
length OF Thaddeus Stevens, recalling
many stirring and pleasant remin'
iscences in the life of that grand old
apostle of freedom. stevens" said
he, had the courage of his convictions
and was wholly Indifferent as to where
4 they might lead him, and was no com
promiser where principle was involved.
His refusal to accept y deed Tor lot IN
a cemetery because it contained a
clause limiting the right of a sepulcher
to the white race was characteristic Oh
him. Truly such man was a great
man, and was forced to interrupt him
for a moment to exclaim, ''Ohl for a
/ few Thaddeus Stevens in this day"
The delegation of colored bishops
who called upon the director-general OF
the Worlds exposition had little
thought of the future of the race when
they urged that there should be a
separate department for the display of
Afro-Americans. 1t has been said, re-
ferring to the Afro American church,
that the pew has out-grown the pull
pit" and if this movement on the part
of negro ministers is criterion, the as
sertion is both applicable and true.
The church, that is its ministers, should
| lead, but if under their leadership the
race must take such retrogressive steps
as thus contemplated, better by far that
the people lead and the church follow.
We want no separate department.
l
| Senator Arthur P. Germans political
lieutenants are just now busy organic
| ing colored democratic clubs through
out Maryland.
Of course the senator is not supposed
to be aware of such plans However
| his fine Italian hand can Sbe traced in
this new piece of sculpturing. Senator
| German is an avowed and earnest can
didate for the nomination of president
at the hands of his party, and as the
colored vote of Maryland is dangerously
independent, at present, man of less
political sagacity than Senator German
would see the advantage of humoring
them. We might just add that indie
pendence in politics generally means
disposition to leave the old and try the
new. There is no middle ground in
politics, and while we do not propose
to advise to which party one should
ally himself, we would impress upon
all that in claiming you stand on mid
die ground, you are but hugging a de-
lusive phantom. We must be one or
the other, and to use a grotesque, yet
somewhat applicable expression, you
must be either monkey or q long-tail
rat" Choose for yourself.
Whatever might have been said re-
garding Henry Ward Beecher's later
opinions respecting biblical meanings
and foundations, one fact stands out in
bold relief-he was a tried and true
friend of our race when we needed a
friend Recently at Brooklyn statue
of this famous pulpit orator, theologian
and abolitionist was unveiled In COM
memoration of his services to our race,
in our emancipation, figure Of coll
Ored girl, in coarse slave costume, is on
the left of the statue She is resting one
knee on the pedestal, and in her uplifted
hand she holds branch of palm, sig
nifying the gratitude of the race. 1t is
deserving compliment to the race, ex-
pressed and perpetuated in marble.
Long live the memory of Henry Ward
Beecher; let ages sing his praise.
Bishop Henry NJ Turner, of the A.
M. e. church, has always contended
that the African population of the
United States will eventually drift
back to Africa He has a trip planned
for himself, to be undertaken in a short
time. During his absence In Darkest
Africa" he will write a series of articles
for Frank Leslie's illustrated Newspa-
per. There is bare possibility that
the bishop is right in his predictions,
but we are very much of the opinion
that the Afro American population of 4
this country is a fixture
A short time ago large assortment
of Afro-American talent was gotten to.
gether by William Foote To illustrate
the three periods of development of the
race in this country for the purpose of
instructing and delighting the fun
lovers of Europe. He exhibits the race
in the savage and slave character, ia
the character of a soldier and as a citi-
IN uniqueHess the 400 of Ward
and in humorous and
the comedy of Riley and
the 400" Madam Marie Selika il the
star of the com bination. From letter
from him we learn that he is doing
Germany with great success, and we
infer IS raking in the cold hard cash.
MIR. Foote is no novice at the business.
having been manager of several large
minstrel troups in the past.
After doing Europe he proposes to
descend upon Chicago in 1892 and rival
the Columbian fair as a drawing card
1t has been rumored that Recorder II.
Bruce inspired the charges which re-
suited in the late investigation of the
business methods of Prof Gregory. az
he school trustee board The evidence
against him proved 10 be not SO damag-
ng as first supposed
Some interesting DEVELOPMENTS vviI1
probably follow the final disposition ~
his highly sensational case. pure and