The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-04
A NEGRO CONFERENCE
A Meeting to Mark Progress and
Improve Present Conditions.
The Long-Suffering COlOred Men of tb,
Black Belt in Fair Way to Work
Out Their Own Salvation.


clared that they wished 10 make this con-
ference a gauge of progress OF the naon,a
in the black belt from year 10 wear and
presented several resolutions urgsns, ,ba
encouragement Of education i'm every Y.ossi-
bic way, the training Of leaders IN tba
schools and colleges, the purchase OF land
instead of the mortgaging of unplanted
crops for rent and the cultivation OF good
moral habits and friendship and good win
TO the whites among whom they live. Ths
third resolution reads:
while in morals and religion We ara
far from what we ought 10 be. we Vet
note, each year, real Improvement. To
help us in this direction we urge a better
preparation for the Christian ministry: the
settlement of more Of our differences ont
side of the courts; that we draw sharp
lines between the virtuous and the i'm
moral; that we refuse 20 tolerate yvronp-
doing in our leaders, especially in our min
listers and teachers; that we treat our
women with more respect and urge unon
them the Importance of giving moro time
TO their home life, and less TO the streets
and public places"
In conclusion they say: 1.-THE facts GATH
cred from these three conferences warrant
us in saying that each year. education a
increasing, more and more property is be-
ing acquired, and, gradually. religion is be-
coming less a thing of the emotions and
more matter of upright living. We are
glad to note a growing interest, on the part
of the best white people Of the South. i'm
our progress"
The discussion. as given in the New York
Independent, proceeded. after the first two
speeches, along the line OF the report. nara
graDh bV nara arauh nd ara 90 ,7oos,7oa
terest as showing the degree Of intelligence
and advancement reached by people OF
whom really little is actually known TO
Northern residents, SO varied are the sto-
rieS concerning them. one farmer, who
cannot write and can read but little, told
the story of his successful struggle for
property. He began with nothing but a de-
termination 10 work and save. He had gene
out at night, and, in place of the mule,
dragged the plow, with a boy behind 10
hold it.
i've been just determined to have some
thing If had to work all day and half the
night Watch the man that's handling YOU.
and If he does you wrong. go back from
him. Watch yourself. and when you're
wrong, so back yourself. Save up, save up;
don't go in debt. A mortgage is a thing
that don't sleep. It's a-layin' awake and
a-growin' when you don't think about it.
By and by it'll step into yo' house. You
say What you goin TO do here, Mr.. Mort
gage" An he say, I'm agOin' to sweep
you OUT an he do it. When you have
some money you can go TO a man for land.
He'll know you got money bout as soon
as you do. If de world watch aft every
thing as 1t do aft money, why the world
When dat man know you got cash. he
come down with his figures. But II you
amt got muffin but yo' SET, he goin' with
dat price right up 10 de top OF de tree"
UNLETTERED WISDOM.
Another speaker remarked: IF nan
error on his way and find out that error,
it's no bad reason for him to git out Of dat
error. That's me. / don't own a foot OF
land. but I'm 'termined TO get me home.
Aft Emancipation l got married and had
great stream OF chillen. Dey was very
small and strung along an i was like a fish
thrown on the bank foppin' and strugglin'.
But I'm goin on now. We've all taken
wrong step on n Ortgages; but now let's all
go 10 work and get home. I'm on mort
gage myself, but Pm tryin' TO get out"
HeZekiah Short is paying for his land at
the rate OF SD per month. There's six
hands OF us, me and my wife and chillen.
sides side pay every i"O"'" anu iun 'Op O
How you do dat?" came from every side.
I'VE make a little butter we sell some
milk, we pull load wood in town, we get
eggs and greens and sell; my wife does
washins; we make il every way. AT nrst.
Quainted with 'em; now I'm fraid OF. EN-
AS to the schools, the report from most
Of the counties was that the public school
term reached only three or three ana a
half months. The State makes no provision
furnish
country districts. "All over our county
we've no schoolhouses, at least none mt 70
keep even 2 good horse IN through the
winter" we got pretty fair school,
house, a los cabin, ceiled up. no glass win
dows, put up by colored man. Last year
our people got up spirit TO build, and
we've put up three houses our school,
houses list a little smoky shed, or little log
huts, dats all" Thus ran the reports.
AS TO teachers, 'sOme OF EN- used TO come
right Off de pillow, but it's better now" We
want good teachers, well practtced upon the
BUSINESS, to cast 1t right forward When
a man goin' TO teach school Tor
what kind of man we're like to get
We're right poor and we got as good
can afford" NO trouble 10 raise pay for
a teacher If the teachers right But you
caynt raise good pay for bad teachers"
The examiners have licensed almost any
body to teach for the sake OF getting the
license fee" Most of our county people
say they are not able 10 support a first
class preacher, so they want a second or
third-class. cause they can raise enough
The same feeling was rife about securing
colored physicians for the country districts.
There was a strong and general desire for
them, but the assurances OF support were
vague One stalwart speaker brought down
the house with his reply 70 a direct queS-
ton about adequate support: We'll, sab;
lemme give you de truf 50 far as | Kin. l
believe dey would support him II they he'd
de money"
A colored physician closed this part OF
the discussion DN GeClafLE- On the pam
tations the choice and pay OF the doctor is
completely in the hands or the man You
rent from advance with he pays the
bill, if he chooses. And he VIII send what
man he pleases. Blood is thicker than
water, and he viii most always Send you
a white man. because he wants white
man 10 get the job.
ASPIRING TO BETTER THINGS
There was an eager desire to get out OF
the one-room cabin and some encouraging
progress in that direction. The great diff
Guilty was the arrearage Of debt compelling
mortgages on the next years crop tx this
years food. shelter and clothing. Every
one 7 know OF mortgages. Hes got 10
mortgage now what he expects 70 make.
If he won't do dat, dey say, Why YOU
get out O. we're; you cdyht -
nv broad an meat" If you strike one
house that amt mortgaeed- it hfteen miles
befo' you'll strike anudder IN 10 Cv LII.
Nv we're irwin hard 10 get two rooms. Du.
it's allus been one room, an a so.IS , Oi-e a.
that. For myself. 1 starts99 IN a Ho ,s,t -;
am I been workin all my lie 10 SET out OF
IL. an I'm now on a house with Tour tVonLs,
tbat's cot chiraneys: and most OF en-
around Is eettfn' two rooms now Ne
nohod,, hut my wife. We 40 I'VE III sle
room house: but my wife, she.s Neig Ia ~.
Some one called out 10 80 80 -
house," The reply came Nlln d Is. h,uss',
serve IVES in possession OF ia at.. 49,
This vas followed with rOars OF !a1shtsI-
ssT',-o travelled 4" said the presiding eiuetl
ssa,i oVar eight counties. and - Per cent =.
10 ,oiored l1eople live in one-roOm caplns;
- a hat orr heat" said one, You can Many
snd n o1e-room cabin. Since these con-
ferences they have all been gong iVi wv