Huntsville gazette., 1893-11-04
SATURDAY, NOV. A. 1898
Congress adj turned yesterday
evening.
IN DEFENSE.
A Plea for Bishop Turner's
Proposed Convention.
What is Best for the NeRrO!-
A Reply to "West"
(By 81. j. Jordan.)
IN DEFEN Sc.

Maysville, Ala, Ost., 3lst 1893.
Editor Gazette.
There appeared in your valuable pa
per of recent date letter under this
very loud caption" Bishop Turner's
proposed Natio 1al Convention. The
letter was very remarkable for more
causes than one but among others it
was remarkable in that it appeared in
the GAZETTE,
There is much in the letter that we
heartily approve but there is also that,
the wisdom OF which We question.
Whatever We may say and however
widely we may differ from friend
"Nest" we shall not speak in anger if
in sorrow, bearing in mind that differ
ence of opinions is cause whose effect
is all humans advancement.
Mr.. Editor: In approaching the SUBJ
iect on which West nas seen tit to play
the parts of critic and advisor respecs
lively we clothe our thoughts in extreme
meekness less the desire to say much
lead us from the field OF usefulness. We
view with surprise the gentlemans
alarm over the approaching
Turner's Convention" to consider the
condition of the Afro American ana 70
advise a course of action Ior him, Ihst
tho Naore has suffered manifold injus-
.Ice there can be no question.
That he still suffers and injustly is
equally as certain.
Now the only question that can arise
touching the advlsa bility of the Turner
Convention" or some other movement
to effect the same end, ID as to whether
the Afro American shall use all lawful
and honorable means TO expose and
suppress this injustice or whether he
shall think himself man with less
than man has right TO demand. In
justice fears two things only
Firstly: exposure-Secondly retribu>
ton. Agitation produces the former
and revolution the latter. Where is
there man who has seen or read of any
reformation that was not the fruit of
agitation.
While we despise the person who
tries to stir up sectional animosity; we
ask the gentleman in the languarge of a
departed statesman "Shall we gain
strength by inaction?" 1t is better to
Anow the truth and to speak it than to
practice all the gilded deceptions that
hypocrisy has ever invented. In
country like ours where every man
tvoter) is in part sovereign; injustice to
one is treason against the whole and by
1o means impatriotic is he who relates
the happenings Of the day in words of
/ urest truth. Why sir Ex-senator In
9alls the gentleman who has won to
himself such Questio nable reputation as
Negro hather says that the fact that
tie Negro has borne his affliction in
silence gives rise to the belief that he
has not suffered unjustly.
If that is true, what sharp rebuke it
must be to one who opposes agitation
because he fears that some hot headed
Negro may make an insinuating speech.
We think it will be the place of all
others. where the hot head may have
it's temperature lowered by course of
cool, sober reason. Just how the gen.
tleman get it into his head that the
'"Turner's Convention" is to conside,
no cases of lynching save those behind
which there stands the charge of rape
we cannot understand. We take il.
that Bishop Turner's deep learning and
wire experience, with the cooperate
of the master minds that his influence
will attract is sufficient guarantee against
"Urscrupulous and Rash minds" on the
one hand and vain and superficial &C
ton on the other. Quoting from West
We have the following
'sNow it is difficult to see how the
discussion OF such subject as rape ca n
bett,r the condition OF our people,.
Mr. Editor: The purchase clause of the
so-called Sherman law, together with
other things have produced wide spread
suffering in this country.
Now, does West argue that the politi
clan should leave the stump and our
representatives their desks in the coun.
sci halls of the nation because the suf.
fering is great? Is it not the part of
wisdom to expose the errors of the past,
to guide the uncertain foot steps of the
present and to prepare the way for a !
glorious future?
The greater the suffering OF the peo-
pie the greater the cause for the leaders
10 beetir themselves. Sir: no sane man