New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-28
AN OPEN LETTER TO MRS LAURA ORAil9lON
CHANT. FROM THE WOMAN'S ERA Cl' -
OF BOSTON

CHANT FROM THE WOMAN's ERA CLUB
OF BOSTON.
Dear Mrs. Ormiston Chant: one year ago TINS
month the members OF the Womans Era 'iup' %
Boston. Mass. were privileged to have you au'leS'
them as a body. The occasion was the first puo"c
meeting OF the club and besides yourself MIS- Lucy
Stone Mrs Cheney Mrs Diaz ard Mrs. Spauidihs
spoke. Il Is safe to say that OF all these ho"'e
women and fine speakers. no one ga more WAN
yourself In strengthening the impulse to goou WORKS
in giving fresh Inspiration toward r1ght living
Your name and that speech have been TO us re-
freshlng memory: think then the shock 1t mas &C.
clsionel us to hear that. through your eHortS,
resolution at the National Conference Of the mi
tartan Church denounclng lynching was detea'ed'
We feel assured. and do truly believe that you
opposed the resolution from a high moral stand
point. but We also feel assured that your position
on this subject is the result OF influence entirely
one-sidc1 and that you VIII at least be ihte'eS'''
to hear the other side"
We members Of the Womans Era Club believe
we speak for tho colored women OF America we
have organized. rs have our women everywhere u
help IN the worlds work. not only by endeavorinB 10
upIf ourselves and our race. but by giving "A hep-
ing hand and an encouraging word wherever they
may be called for. As coored women. we nave
suffered AMI do suffer too much to be blind to the
s,,fre;lngs of Others but naturally we are more
kecny alive own sufferinSs IMAM 10 ytig' =
and We fa-l that would be false 70 ourselves W
orr ouc1rtunitcs and to our race, ShOu.d we hfSp
silence In a case Ike this. We have endurel iiuC,
and. believe. with patience; we nav, stem ~
old people broken down and wanderers theI YY1 H.
and strength spent IN bondage We ourselves are aly
hndcrcd ana oppressed In the race oil me- W. mo"
that every opportunity for Advancement. for pta'.
ana for happiness VIII be denied rs. we know mn
In most sections Christian men ana women W. ~,
absolutely refuse only 20 live beside US 70 en.
with but also TO open iheir cnuI,h uCoIJ b 21
TENDERNESS thcv may De reared. are considered le-
Sinn o Py anr Time thrust into foul and filthy
snoking-cars. no matter what Their straits, De re-
n g,13 l9Sa am v9c rc oi The ' aS r,
mites for The culture brought 10y tnr biplic n
,s the concert AMI ectur, halls when ar" every
where denlel us at the South. We view these
things with anazemeni. but realizing that preludlCi
PROGRESS we have trrd 70 eeSr thfse p5pe WITH
put 9pon us oy AMI }nl,y of r'i t,ristans Al
this we have borne and 10 bear with more or ,cs'
r. The interest Of Justice. for the good name 81 our
country we solcmnly raise our voice as'lnSt ~
hnrrib. crimes Of lynch law "a practistd IN IN.
| the same or be branded "A symrath'zrrS win 'h'
| Ne here solcmnly deny that the black men are
the foul ncnds they ar" pictur"d we demand th 1
until at least one crime IS proved upon thein jung
W." We know positively Of case after case where
| Innocent men have died horrible deaths; we km2"
| positively OF cases that have been made mp
| We know positively OF cases where pacK mn Nm
! have been lynched for white men $ crlm"s W.
! know positively 81 black men murdered Tor IN
significant offences. All that We ask for - lust'e
is not too much FOR ioval citizens Of a free country
! 10 demand. We do not pretend To say thetr are
M black villains Rnseness IS not confined 10 race
Is. read with horror 81 two different colored girl
who have recently been horribly assaulted by WINE
| men I'm tho South We should regret any lynchng.
| of the offenders hy black men. but We shal no.
have occasion. should thes" Offenders an, 2
! punishment n will be marvel We 10 not hrah'
| The white race because OF these many atrocities
committed hy white mon, but because Rncn law
| ia moi Visited upon this class OF offenders we re-
pudate the claim that lynching "a the natural am
commendahe outbnrst Of nlgnspritel, pGoP 9cel a.
deoulv as We We know 81 good and high-min le,
| Iron made fathericss ~ mob ~ unbrLed moi
and boys looking Tor FUN. In tneir names W.
| inter our solemn protest. For their sakes W
call upon workers Of humanity everywhere. ]
| they can do nothing for ma. In mercys name not u
! raise their voices against ne. - -.
| FLORIDA RTFFIN RIDLEY,
Corresponding Secretary, Womans Era club
No.