Huntsville gazette., 1891-02-14
THE COLORED CONFER
ENCE?
A White Democratic View.

and approve or condemn lor 'hoin
selves in whole or in parts, the tol-
lowing editorial from the Sheffield
Daily Enterprise of Thursday last on
the recent Montgomery Conference.
There is an evident spirit OF kind
illness and fairness underlying the al.
ticle, although the writer is so Tar
wrong on the all-important matter
of the state appropriation ct school
funds and passes over the serious
matter of the convict question with
two sentences. Should he witness
the horrors and inhumanities OF the
convict pens he would first turn his
attention to their abolition and al
tgrward consider the cause which
produce the convicts.
The distribution o. the school fund
on any other than an equal ratio
among the children of the state, lr>
respective Of race or condition,
would in our judgement be not only
unwise and productive Of evil results
but unchristian and do not think the
good judgement and the christian
sentiment of the people of Alabama
will ever permit such measure to
become a law.
However as we set out to say, here
| is the editoria itself, entire as it is
good that we "See ourselves as 9th
ers see us"
1.-The Montgomery convention OF
negroes have at present, and for the
future. some grave questions for con :
sideration. Here they are briefly
presaged by ono within the inner cir
Gle:
1.-The necessity for better accom-
modaiion on railroad and other pub
.ic conveyances.
2-Education facilities and well
fare Of race.
3-The trcatmenc Of convicts and
the convict system of the state.
| 1.-The question of race recogni-
ton at the Worlds Columbian Expo
sition.
| 5-To petition the Legislature Of
Alabama to redress certain wrongs
herein referred to, by Legislative en-
actments.
The negroes do not I ct tickets for
less than do the whites, but they get
service without comforts and if the
viii people propose to protect, this
is one of the evils they should cor
rect. Ifthe white people were forced
to pay first-cIass for fifthrate accom-
modations there would be remedy
and there should be remedy for the
negroes.
The second cause is one that should
rest entirely with the negro race
Those who want an education should
have an opportunity to get it, but
that the school fund should be dis
tributed in equal ratio among the
children of both racos. is an injustice
to the white children, for the whites
pay about nine tenths of the taxes.
| 1t is about the time that the negro
race was beginning to think of edu
eating its own children, and the soon
er that question is put into operation
the better it will be for the children
of both races.
The discussion Of the convict gu s
should interest the negro, for large
majority Of the convicts are negroes.
If the race would devote more time
to crops and less time te craps, there
would be fewer convicts.
The question of race recognition
anywhere must depend upon the
merits of the race and not, by any
means, upon Legislative enactmentss.
For quarter Of a century theRepub-
lican party has assiduosly devoted
itself to forcing recognition of the
negro in the South and the negro is
not as he would have been if such
laws had never been passed. The
only recognition the negro will ever
get, is the genuine recognition given
merit. If any negro has an inven
ton. machine or product to dis
play at the Columbian Exposition,
there will surely be more attention
paid such than would be if the same
was presented by white man, for