Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-12-14
IDA B. Wells ENDORSED
A Prominent Citizen Of Ma
haska County Speaks
to the Point.
He Expresses the Opinion of Ma
jority of the People All
Over the Country.
Miss Wells Has Accomplished More Than
All the Afro American Leagues
or Associations.

EDrroR OF THE BYsTANDER: Moral
reformers are the worlds redeemers.
In the progress of civilization God has
chosen some one person to lead human
ity one step nearer the goal of individ-
ual and governmental perfection, to-
ward which the world is slowly but
surely tending. True, some, may try
to cruelty these champions of right,
but they will not die; they thrive on
persecution and are enthroned by cru
cifxion.
A few centuries ago Jesus, in posses
sion of an idea, came into the world as
great reformer His enemies lashed
his back. assailed his good name, and
as crowning mockery nailed him to
the cross on Calvary. But he yet lives
the Light of the World. " What OF
his work? Then prejudice blinded the
people to the results that would natu-
rally follow, but in this day they are as
clear as the MONDAY sun. Behold the
progress in civilization, in art aid in
science: behold how the idea of the
fatherhood of God and brotherhood of
ludu Is SIOWluS III CNSAJ AdhNt' A1iSfoN
results are the crowning success of an
idea brought into the world by that
humble reformer, the Christ.
A few centuries ago the idea of Chris
tian liberty sprang up in a few Ger
man hearts. 1t grew brighter and
| brighter. until its rays Illuminated all
of Europe, and cut path across the
dark ocean, so that pilgrims might find
| , .,l,,a &c
A little over two decades ago the i'm
mortal Charles Sumner stood in the
United States senate the champion OF
| the idea of ..equal rights" to all. For
| this idea he fought until a blow from a
bludgeon in the hand of traitor laid
him in his grave But his work lives
very truly lives-and speaks in no un-
certain tone to this n ttion to-day.
In the wear of '94 God calls from OBJ
scurity another great light Miss Ida
b. Wells, and bids her lead America
from darkness to light. Like the
| Apostle Paul, this young woman has
! but zone idea;'' like him her motto Is
sThis one thing do,'' tell the story OF
a wronged and prosecuted people, with
the hope that God in his divine provi
dence will stop the wholesale butchery
| Of American citizens in this so-calleC
| Christian land
Like the great apostle, she has trav
! eled far and near. by land and sea
/ pleading for the down-trodden Ameri
can Negro with simplicity,ye witt
4 such power that the world has beer
awakened as never before to the bar
| barity of American civilization.
Some one asks; s'What has she ac
colnplished?" 1 answer, she has ac
complished what none of the Afro
American leagues, or associations
| brought into existence for the protec
ton of the homes, lives and rights o.
the Negro have ever accomplished.
| She has aroused kingdom ant
/ awakened a nation in our behalf
forced sleepy governors to rub thei1
eyes and look around them: forced leg
islatures to at last discuss the question
of human rights; turned the search
/ light of truth on to the south, enabling
the world. for the first time, to behold
its true condition.
The innocence of these butcheret
Negroes in the south is beyond rea
sonable doubt, because the spirit o
American law is, s'every man is lnno
cent until proven guilty. Which
means that all persons charged with
crime are entitled to fair trial, befoc
an honest judge, and by an homes
Jury. No section of the country is ex
empt from this part of our law, there
fore my prayer is that God may spar
this brave woman until every Negro
north, south, east and west has hi
rights, and evysy murderer his jus
dues. whatever his color.
SCorr B JONES,
Pastor African M. E. Church.
Il OSlxa]ooSa Iowa