Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-25

AN ELABORATE REVIEW OF THE PRESENT con-
| DrrIoN OF THE EMANcIPATED PORTION OF OUR
| PARLIAMENTARY THE NEGRO DOES NOT EXPECT
| AND WHAT he HAS A RIGHT TO DEMAND.
Hon. John NJ. Langston, delivered an ora
ton last night at the John Wesley A. NJ E.
Church on Connecticut avenue northwest on
the subject: THE Demands Of the Colored
American" His was the main feature of an
entertainment. devised to swell the fund Of the
church and drew o large crowd to the building.
Rev. DIR. Rankin opened the exercises with
prayer. Vocal music was well furnished by
Miss Anita Joy and Mrs. Lulu Joy Brooks Mr..
! Geo. W. Stewart presided.
! Mr.. Langston began by calling attention to
the efforts OF various persons to speak for
the colored man. The time has come. he as
serted for him to speak for himself. Various
phases of the colored question have been pre-
scented for popular attention under many
titles. such as The New South, The Negro
Problem" The Race Question, Negro
Exodus" COLONIZATION" Deportation" etc.
For three years past the public prints have
| been burdened with discussions on these lines
and so much has been said that it was import
ant, said the speaker. to advise folks hrst what
the colored man does not ask before going on
| to show what ne does ask.
| soME POPULAR FALLACIEs.
| He referred in doing SO to certain popular
fallacies First. the negro does not concern him
self with the question of superiority. He is sim
ply anxious to be able to do his duty an Ameri-
can citizen in the full measure of his strength
! and opportunity. Second, there is no justitca-
ton in any act of the race or in past history of
| the fear OF negro supremacy. The negro ID
always loyal and docile. content to follow i'll
| the footsteps of Washington Jackson, Lincoln,
Grant and sherman. Third, the negro leaves
| to the Divine Power the question OF whether
4 the two races will eventually commingle.
| Fourth, colonization and kindred topics do not
| concern the negro as having any practical sig
/ nitcation. Finding himself here, at home In
| the only country of which as a citizen. he has
| knowledge, he has no inclination to go abroad,
and does not think 1t to be in the hearts OF
/ his countrymen to force him to emigrate.
Fifth, the negro has no demand to make con-
| corning the matter of so-called social equality.
WHAT THE CoLoRED MAN DOES EXPECT.
Then the speaker went on to talk about what
| the colored American does ask and expect. He
said: Our status in politics and law has been
well defined, settled and fixed. We are not
political nondescrlpts. nor Is our condition
wanting in legal definition and limits. Twenty
eight years only have elapsed since the negro
was set free. 1t may be said of him. however,
that whether his conduct slave or a free
man be considered he has won the confidence
| and respect OF all Loyal citizens ot the govern
ment. and, unlike the Indian and Monaghan,
| he has been Incorporated with his posterity to
the latest generation into our body polite,
made citizen and equal a. the law. This is
| the theory of American law so far as the colored
| American is concerned. Why should it not be
the fact as well in his case? His demand and
his necessity have this extent and no more.
| He demands in all sincerity and earnestness
| that that which is written in the law be applied
and enforced in protection and defense of his
rights. He needs and has good right to ask
and expect to get, certainly Ill his own coun-
| try, citizen as he is and voter full protection
| in all his legal rights of life. liberty and the
| pursuit of happiness. as well entire protec-
tion in the possession and exercise especially
of all his political powers. The ballot should
be his shield of defense"
LOYALTY OF THE coLoRED MAY.
From this line of thought the lecturer passed
on to talk about the 'loyalty and vote of the
| colored American" He said: 1T is not to be
denied that the loyal colored vote OF the coun-
| try is of special importance and influence
Located as il is, concentrated i'll certain lead
| ing states of the south on one part and certain
other foremost states of the north on the other,
| when freely cast and fairly counted and re-
| turned. it settles the triumph of one OF our
national parties and the defeat of the other"
Then followed some statistics showing the col
| ored population in the southern states in 1880
was about $500 900 with a voting force of
| 1000. 900. while the whites number 5000, 900.
The force and violence necessary to
crush the negro votes In these
| states is very great and apparent us the facts
| show, and any methods of fraud, intimidation
| and manipulation calculated to defeat it, when
cast, must be well planned and executed with
general unaninity Of purpose and vigor by
| those in authority and those who support them.
HOW TO MEET THE PRESENT CONDITION.
Several ways suggest themselves to meet this
condition. The perpetrators of crime and
II
and vigorous enforcement Of the law. If need
| be- let great national fund be raised upon in
| dividual. voluntary contribution, committed to
responsible and reliable parties, TO be cautiously
| and judiciously expended in the institution of
| causes against such offenders Where addi-
| tional legislation of federal character is
needed let it be enacted. At this time we are
' in need of two national enactments, one pro-
viding safeguards against the violation Of a free
] ballot and the other for our safety and pro-
| lection anywhere, within any state even which
| fails to furnish such protection against per-
| sonal violence, az certainly belongs. under any
| circumstances, to an American citizen.
| APPEAL TO THE COURTS.
| "Henceforth our appeal should be made to the
courts, and while should tax ourselves to
institute and maintain our causes there, we
may count on the moral support and material
| aid of all loyal and liberal minded citizens OF
| the country in such regard
| Next to proceedings in the courts, the edu-
cation of all classes of the people Of the south
is important and indispensable a means of
| enlightening the public mind, changing old
| and hateful feelings between the races and
establishing good understanding and kindly
j feeling among them
| LASTLY and of first importance is the practi-
| cal and cordial recognition Of our character
/ and claims American citizens. The fact Of
our citizenship, its cordial recognition by our
/ countrymen, is the first, the most important
means Of our permanent elevation in the
country and our peaceful, useful and happy
life among the people.
/ ASK ONLY WHAT IS JUST AND RIGH-.
| Mr.. Langston's closing remarks were about
as follows: And now, finally. resting our cause
upon its intrinsic justice, sustained as it is by
every consideration Of exalted humanity, by
every fact and principle Of lawaccepted by the
leading scholars, jurists and statesmen of our
own country and the world, and protesting that
| we entertain no feeling of hatred or hostility
| toward any class Of our countrymen, not even
| toward those who were formerly our owners
and who are largely responsible for the out
| RACES and atrocities that have been perpetrated
| against us in the south since our emancipation
| we ask only, American citizens to be per-
| mitted to hive in peace and good neighborhood
with our fellow citizens of every class and con-
i dition, under the constitution and the laws in
| the country where We were born, where it may
/ be said that our ancestors sieep in the graves