Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-01
coLoRED PEOPLE INDIGNANT.
Speeches Showing the Extent of the Gu
RACES Committed on Their Race.

Speeches Showing the Extent of the Out
RACES Committed on Their Race.
meeting in continuation of the observance
Of the day of prayer by the colored people was
held last evening in the Metropolitan A. NJ. e
Church. The religious exercises Of this occasion
were followed by speeches which touched upon
the wrongs endured by the race and aroused
the indignation of the audience. Mr.. J. W.
Cromwell presided, and after singing and
prayer Mr.. W. H. II. Hart made an earnes,
speech, in which he referred to the prejudice
against the colored people and said that it was
due to their opposition to the law which gave the
colored man political equality with the white
man. This equality was not due to the efforts Of
the colored man, but was in the nature of a
compact between the nation and the colored
race. The colored man had kept his part OF
the compact and they asked that the laws be en-
forced. 1t was evident that the laws were being
evaded and the outrages perpetrated upon
the colored race were occurring constantly and
were serious in character and tendency. He
was of the opinion that the government should
see that the laws are enforced and that the
rights of the colored people are respected.
SEVENTY VICTIMS OF LYNCH Law.
The next speaker, Rev. W. H. Brooks, made
a vehement speech in which he referred to the
statement made by colored southern preacher
that he had buried seventy victims of the lynch
law. He declared that the vengeance of God
would fall upon these violators of law, and de-
nounced those who were intrusted with the ex-
ecution of the law as derelict in their duty.
He said that he did not believe in violence, but
be was praying that an army would be raised,
as was the case in 1861, to right these wrongs.
The audience showed their sympathy with
the speaker by their fervent explanations and
applause. The next speaker, Rev. MIR. Bowen,
was of the opinion that armed force would be
necessary to compel Justice on the part Of the
white people toward the colored race. An old
soldier in the audience was induced by these
war-like sentiments to make a speech, in which
he commended the services of the colored
troops during the war and praised their valor.
Mr. WHITE CAUSES TROUBLE.
The only white speaker of the evening was
Rev. W. J. White of Atlanta, Ga, who is the
editor Of a religious newspaper published in
Georgia. He took the opportunity to speak Of
his paper as friend to the colored people.
Then he went on to express his doubt about the
story of seventy negroes being lynched in Geor-
gia. An old lady in the audience, however,
arose and with considerable warmth declared
that the story was true. This rather nettled
the speaker and he made a somewhat
caustic reply, and the audience taking
part in the controversy expressed their
opinion by Kisses and calls, which made it i'm
possible for the speaker to be heard. He, how
ever, managed to say that it was perfectly safe
at this distance for people to brandish their
fists in the air and shout out charges, but per-
haps they would not do it at shorter range
The audience showed their disapproval by more
misses. then the woman who had spoken before
gained the floor and made an excitable speech,
which added to the growing excitement and
confusion.
REV. MR.. GRIMKE GAINS THE MEETING.
Rev. Mr.. Grimke however, Gained the meet
ing down by suggesting that they had come to-
gether to pray and not to express indignation.
A motion to adjourn was made and carried and
the audience dispersed, discussing the matter as
they went to their homes with more or less
fervor.
Resolutions expressing disapproval of the
Of the colored race were adopted.