The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-08
RESENTED I'll INSULT
COl0red People Meet to Take Ac.
ton on the Stewart Case.
Resolutions Condemning the Hotel Man.
agement-Large Numbers Attend
Speeches by the Ministers.

Charles H. Stewart. the coIored editor.
who was elected from the Denison House
elevator last week, will to-day file a suit
for damages against the hotel management
His intention to take the matter into the
courts was made known last night In a
lengthy resolution passed at the indigna-
tion meeting Of colored citizens held at the
Second Baptist Church. The meeting was
called for the purpose of denouncing the
action of the hotel management and Of
taking steps toward resenting the act of
Clerk Dillon. The church was crowded and
the sentiment of the gathering was unani-
nous. Gabriel Jones was chosen chairman
and David Shelton called to the secretary'a
chair. Nearly every member of the colored
clergy was present and took an active part
In the meeting.
Rev. J, N. Henderson, in a lengthy ad-
| dress upon the merits of the trouble, said:
Mr.. Stewart acted differently from what
some men would have done under like cir
cumstances. He suffered himself to be led
from the elevator by the collar. Had it
been a certain other man / know OF there
would have been no case in the Police
Court the next morning, but there would
have been an urgent call for an under.
the APPRECIATION OF the meeting, and pro-
longed applause followed his retirement
Rev. ]. W. Carr. pastor of the Second
Baptist Church, contended that the insult
offered Stewart, has grown TO be the cause
where. He said that the colored man
wanted the worth of his money and his
r-ights-rights that are due him as a legal
| American citizen. Concluding, he remarked.
I'VE are not In Kentucky, or Tennessee, or
Mississippi. but in Indiana where men ara
men, and we are not afraid 10 assert our
rights. We are here TO say that in order
TO obtain Justice we must act and by this
that the negro is entitled to some rights.
We Will! go TO the highest court In America
IL II is necessary"
said that when the clerk OF the Denlsol
Hotel placed his hand upon the person OF
Stewart he placed 1t upon every negro man
and woman in the State Of Indiana. He
thought that this instance was the best
thing that ever happened to the colored
race In l~ndianapolis because It would sur
some years ago q young colored man was
prevented from enjoying the Christian priv
believed that II there had been an uprising
OF the colored people at that time the re-
cent insult offered Stewart would not have
ly responsible for Stewards grievance be-
cause they had not asserted themselves.
He did not believe this matter ought TO be-
saddled upon any political party, but
thought that IL was one of the simple re-
suits growing out of slavery.
E<ullO 0Wcculc cit ludl the HlccllI8
ought TO devote some time to the arraign-
ment of the hated treatment of certain In
dianapolis dealers in real estate. who think
that a negro should not be per-
house. He knew of an Instance
where a colored man had been refused an
apartment by an agent. who turned about
and let the rooms to a brazen woman be-
fore the echoing footsteps of the negro had
the large dry-goods stores and manufactur-
Ing establishments of indianapolis the ne
gro is only found in the capacity OF a
sweeper or a %spittoon cleaner. All Of these
things led the speaker TO believe that the
negro was better of in the South than in
Indianapolis. Other speeches were made by
| Rev. Z. B.. Martin, l.. E. Christie, editor OF
the World, Ben Thornton and attorney Bag
by. Lengthy and able resolutions We're pre-
DR.. W. il. Ballard, William Wilson and lie.
roy Read; The epitome Of these resolutions
is embodied below:
tiles of the Denison House for this In.
famous outrage upon an unofending and
respectable citizen, and demand the prose-
their inexcusable and violent violation or
the law.
aid Charles Stewart in the prosecution OF
his asSailantS with our money and by ev-
and to this end we authorize the chairman
to appoint a committee VINO shall have
the power in connection with the committee
to the prosecution OF the case.
Resolved, That we do not hesitate 10 de-
clare that the continuance of RepubIlcSn
headquarters at the Dsnison Hotel viii lie
taken as an Endorsement or the Hotefs
discrimination against colored peopie. and
will undoubtedly prove disastrous TO the
interests OF the party, as such continuance
would shut out self~-respecting colored peo-
Gals.
Resolved, That we appeal TO the law
abiding and llberty-loving people Of this
party. 10 aid as in recovering those common
rights Of citizenship which the law glaran-
with humiliation and discouragement which
no noble race can afford TO suffer or inf1ict.
We are identified with every interest OF
misfortunes afhict US. We are bound to-
gether by all the ties Of home and long
Threatened the sons of cur
race freely offered their lives
In defense OF y4ur homes a ana g your mS 5at
ready TO make for the commonweal OF all.
We ask no special protection as a race; no
special favors as a class; no privilege 20 In
trude upon the private associations OF life
or to infringe upon the rights OF others;
o oa m sne d slrlpiS wtrssout dighonor and NO one
can suffer without disgrace. All we ask,
and we cannot expect less from the gensr-
laws know neither race color nor condl-
ton. Is an equal chance In the struggle for
me- ResoIved. That the thanks OF the COL
ored people are due attorney X. Il. Bagby
/ for the able ana fearless manner IN Wnlcn
he has conducted the prosecution IN this
case.
"Resolved. That we are law-abiding clti-
zens and desire by no act or word to lessen
the respect which our people have for the
constitutional authorities. for the law and
for the tribune of justice. Nevertheless.
all Of these facts warrant US I'm denouncing
the decision Of Judge Stubs in the action
for assault and battery against John Dill
lon as being based upon an Ignorance or
law, which is inexcusable In a judge. OF
upon a desire TO shield a lawbreaker. which
totally units him for the honorable position
of Judge"