Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-01

BLAINE.
At the Second Baptist Church, colored, Sd
between H and streets northwest, Prof. John
NJ. Langston last evening addressed fair-sized
gathering on "The Negro Problem" The
audience were compelled to wait from O'Clock
until to hear the orator of the evening, the
interval being taken up by service of song and
prayer. The pastor Of the church, the Rev. w.
Bishop johnson, explained that they had gath
cred together for the purpose of offering their
humble petitions to God in behalf Of their op-
pressed and prosecuted brethren of the south.
Such a gathering might be misinterpreted, but
only by those mean and base enough to misin-
terpret the best Of human motives. 1--WE may
not, be said, "be able to express ourselves as
we might hope to do, but God knows we mean
right alone, and He will supply our needs"
At O'Clock Prof. Langston made his ap-
pearance and, upon being introduced as the true
friend and steadfast advocate of the colored
people, was enthusiastically received.
Mr.. LANGsToS's ADDRESS.
He began by remarking that he had Just re-
turned from Nashville, Tenn, where few days
ago one Of the most brutal lynchings of col
ored man by an Infatuated mob ever known
had occurred. That crime against society and
the colored race was too horrible to describe,
but he told his hearers that they must not shut
their eyes to the facts, however horrible they
We're They coiored people were too loath to
believe such things, but he desired them to re-
member that it was their people who were
being so butchered in defiance Of law. $50, "
he said, sit is very proper for you
to pray, but for heavens sake be
sure you know just what you are praying for.
Few colored men really believe that there is a
living God. The colored man does not pray
to God. He prays about Him and around
Him. Pray with your eyes open, for that is the
only way to pray. Say ooh, Lord, save my son,
my daughter, my wife, my people. And, above
all. pray as if you had some confidence in God.
There is no color line where He dwellsl''
Before he left Nashville twenty of the most
prominent colored men of the city asked his
advice in the matter of these lynchings. His
reply was: ''Stay where you are. Do no
violence. Break no law. Do right in all
things" And that advice he repeated. He
also urged his hearers to be not only respectful,
but also be self-respecting. Never forget"
said he. ''as the colored people are too apt to
do, that the colored race is good race, law
abiding race"
Referring again to the southern lynchings, he
said that mob rule was not confined to the
south. He had years ago seen it in all its hor-
ror in Ohio. But there ii was a thing OF the
past, as he verify believed it would ere long be
in the south. He then told of the mobs he had
seen in Ohio in his boyhood. and said that there
was in the history of mob law of today one thing
to be at least thankful for and that was that to-
day the mob wreaked its vengeance upon the
single individual accused while in years gone by
ii sought the destruction of the race.
WORSE NOW THAN EVER SINCE THE WAR.
'The colored people in the south are worse
off now than they have been since the war, and
in a worse condition under this republican adj
ministration than under any other we have ever
bad. What is the matter?" The answer, he
thought, WAS with the President. He then re-
ferred to the visit made to President Harrison
few weeks ago by a delegation of colored
ministers. who asked the President for protec-
ton. He did not know what the delegation
said, but if it was as weak as the Presidents re-
ply, he thought very little of their abilities to
make known their wants. He then read
the written reply of the President, wherein
he says he feels for the race, &c. But"
said Mr.. Langston, "feeling is one
thing and doing quite another. The delegation
papers and public documents are very pretty,
especially those written by James G. Blaine;
but tell us where in single instance you have
instructed your Attorney General to enter a
single suit In behalf of the colored racer was
In favor of the denomination and election of
President Harrison until l read his reply to
the members Of this delegation
This declaration OF the speaker was received
with loud and prolonged applause, and with
cries of Good, good" THAT'S right" Snow
you're talkin'."
The speaker said that the President had not
kept faith with the colored race, and closed his
remarks by giving his hearers some excellent
advice.