The southern argus. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kan.) 1891-1???, 1891-08-20

l met Rev. J. NJ. Gilmere, presiding
elder OF the Ohio conference, A. NJ. E.
church. the other day, and knowing
| that the elder is an extensive traveller
engaged him in conversation upon the
| condition of the Afro-Americans in
places he had recently visited. Rev.
UlImere is young man, being not over
thlrty-hve years OF age. He is a bright
minister, hard student and close OBJ
server of things in general, and about
his only failing, if failing it can be
called, is his too aggressiveness. That
is he Is one of those fire eaters" as is
the term usually applied to men who
are never for compromise, but always
IN favor OF force. Like many Metho-
DIST ministers, he has a soft side for
politics, although he has never taken
any active participation in politics to
the extent of holding or seeking office.
WELL elder, what do you know?" was
the question we piled him with. Re-
moving his hat and wiping the perspira-
ton from his brow (all Methodist min
listers perspire) he said, 81 know a
thing or two guess and one of those
is | have just finished trip through
large portion of Ohio, and l noticed
that the colored voters were generally
considerably exercisedr' 'Well, elder"
said |, you know as a general
thing, colored voters are consider
ably exercised before an election,
but invariably become reconciled
by the time election day rolls around"
agree with you, agree with YOU" was
his quick response, but my friend.
the Australian ballot system adopted
in Ohio is going to afford a protection
to them now" Anticipating his mean
ing, we said, Il suppose you mean they
can vote as they please now and need
not fear of being detected and marked
for party isolation?" "Just so, just
So" said he, land you will find that the
colored voters of Ohio will be as uncer-
tain and mysterious a quantity as the /
farmer vote" Our greatest desire was
to learn something regarding the /
Negroes financial condition, and know
ing that when the elder fell to discussing
the political situation he continues at
an indefinite length of time, we inter
rupted him by asking him how he found
the Negro progressing financially Rev.
Gllmere has peculiar style of repeat
ing his opening sentences, and in keeping
with this style or manner, he answered:
''Oh blooming, Oh blooming, why its
what strides he is making in
hat direction, and don't lose sight of
he fact that / never miss an oppor-
unity to impress upon, and instil into
hem ideas of frugality. Our race has
natural tendency to improvidence.
'aused of course by slavery: every evil
hat we are heir to is traced to that
lccursed institution, and when YOU see
hem practicing frugality it's an evil
ence of progress sure. In my travels
have watched particularly to see if
ny race was prospecting from a finan-
ial standpoint, and l have been agree
bly, surprised to notice the general
endency to lay up for rainy day.
Mark my word for it. young man,
fro Americans will within the next {
fly years produce a Gould and a Rock
Teller" {
Elder Gilmore is quite frugal himself, t
nd is laying aside for himself for flu. t
nre days He is possessed of some fine
roperty in and out of Columbus, and if c
e fails to become a Gould, his heir in a
nticipation, may emulate this great
loney king. G