Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-02
R ACE PROGRESS.
Some Plain Truths as Uttered by
Mrs. John A. Logan.
A LARGELY ATTENDED MEETING
Under the Auspices Of the CoIored
Y. M. G. A.
THE SECRET OF sue CESS.

A large audience greeted Mrs. John A.
Logan AMI Rev. Hugh Johnston, pastor of
the Metropolitan NJ. z. Church, at the Ham,
line Church last evening. The occasion was
meeting under the auspices of the COL
ored Y. NJ. C. A, Mrs. Logan and Rev.
Johnston having accepted invitations TO
speak upon 1.-The Colored American in In
dTstrial Pursuits"
On the platform with the speakers sat
Mrs. La Fetra of the w. C. T. L.. and Miss
Bailey, president of the ladies' auxiliary
committee of the colored Y. NJ. c. A, who
introduced the speakers.
Mr. Meriweather, president OF the colored
Y. NJ c. A, opened the meeting by giving
brief history of the ass ociation and tell
Ing what good had been accomplished. He
was followed by Rev. DIR. Johnston, who
said that he was rot SO well acquainted
with the colored people were others who
might address them, bur he advised that
they should become skilled mechanics; that
they should forget that they were colored
and by honest endeavor they would soon
find places throughout the land where they
would not only be welcomed, but where
they would become an hoior to society
and be among the leading citizens. Already
many of them, he said. are engaged IN in
dustrial pursuits and professions and he
matter of their well being without any ref
erence to their color or previous condition.
He told them that they could not all be
doctors, lawyers and preachers, but that
they must find places in the mechanical
world.
Mrs. LOgan's Address.
Mrs. Logan was then introduced by Mrs.
La Fetra and her appearance was greeted
with an outburst of applause. She said:
Il come not before you expecting to add
anything to what has been so well said TO-
night and many times here tofore but as an
expression OF my interest in the welfare of
all mankind, and "a memory of one who
was the friend of all humanity without
distinction of race or color. 1t is not a
question OF race or conditions which has
led these worthy men and women to try to
extermnate evil and to inaugurate right
doing. They are actuated by the highest
motives, while their opponents have had
the most sorpid desires for gain to them
selves through an unholy traffic. As / I'M
derstand it this whole effort is to establish
sobriety in the place of debauchery Re-
fining influences and amusements in the
place of degenerating, Bacchanalism, ri
baldry and rowdyism. 1t is said to the
shame of both races that white and black
furnished participants in the past wicked
ness in this section of the city, though the
majority. ii is claimed, were colored 1t is
therefore for your race that the work is to
be continued despite the sings and shots
IF you will think for one moment of the
real situation, you must admit that YOU
ought to be able to carry on this or any
other enterprise for yourselves Few of you
can claim helplesSness, because of long
servitude as bondsmen and women. large
majority of the slaves and slave holders
have passed away and will be known no
more In this world. You of the District of
Columbia were the first TO receive your
freedom. The government from that hour
has been your protector and your friend
The ablest men in the nation have made
your interest their interest, and have
thrown about you impregnable Notifications
of law. and have manned these fortifca-
tons with officials. who have executed them
to the letter In your behalf. Every avenue
for the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness
has been opened wide for every single one
of you. Exceptions have oftmes been made
in your favor. Official positions have been
assigned your representative men from mar
shall of the District to letter carrier. from
minister in the diplomatic service to mes
sengers in the departments. National and
District recognition has been given you all
along the line. Financial aid for the freed
mems bureau, universities and hospitals
have been most generously bestowed upon
you as a race. So much for what you have
received, and now what have Sou done as
the recipients?
Il think for the most part you have done
well, as is attested by the long list Of
business and professional colored men and
women which compose your directory, in
GLIDING all the professions Every branch
of business, from a banking house to a
stall I'm the market. In all the trades col
ored men and women are found. Teachers
OF music and in all departments of educa-
ton are numerous, to which may be added
many positions of trust. But you can do
even better. Some of you have a most
mistaken idea of life and it's duties of
liberty and it's benefits. When man was
condemned to earn his bread by the sweat
of his brow all were included i'm the SEN |
tence. hence the injustice of slavery, that
his labor.
The True Road to Fortune.
But now that you are free you are
not absolved from earning your own
living by your labor, but are enabled to |
have all you earn. Your freedom does not |
mean idleness, but chance to be men
among men and to enjoy all the blessings
of life and the products of the labor of
your minds and hands. How did the sue |
cessful white man and black man of this |
great city acquire their fortunes and ia
vors? In no other way than by work of
some kind. You have no right to complain
CT opportunity; the mistake many of you
make is that you forget that you are al |
ready, by amendments to the Constitution, |
citizens of this republic, and in accepting
this responsibility you have taken upon
yourselves all the duties and obligations !
that rest upon all good citizens: that 1t |
is in your power to make for yourselves
the place you are to occupy. If you will
for time lose sight Of your color and the
supposed prejudice now existing against
your race and resolve upon right living, |
industrious frugal habits and untiring ef-
fort to improve your minds and learn all
that you can you will be surprised at the
respect you will command. While the an
cesters of a majority of you bore all the
sorrows and hardships of slavery, they
were at the same time with civilized peo-
pie and have had the credit of producing
most of the wealth of the south and OF
being skilled in all kinds of labor. The
sequel has shown they imbbed and, in
many cases, inherited the nobest instincts
of nature. They were borne day by day
from ancestral savagery, until when the
day Of emancipation dawned thousands
were fitted for the responsibilities OF free
dom. In addition, you have had all the
fostering care of the government all the
announcement and assistance of philan-
thropy and the advancement of educa ton
and christianity, and you are not bound
to remain in any locality where all this
is not vouchsafed to you.
Then why have you not an equal chance
in the industrial and educational pursuits
Your ambitions should lead you to a desire
to be the best mechanics, inventors, and
workmen in the world, as well as the best
in all professions. You cannot all be law
yers, physicians, ministers, bishops and
professors in colleges any more than all
white men can be, therefore, do not all
strive for the unattainable but to occupy
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