davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
THE ANACONDA EXCURSION.
About One.Yhird Of Our People Went

About one hundred and sixty Helena
colored citizens, OF whom one hundred
and ten we're ladies and children, at.
tended the free excursion to Ana.
conda last Monday. At Butte one
hundred and seventy more were added.
1t was expected that quite large
number from Great Falls, Missoula,
Bozeman, Billings, Livingston and
several other cities would attend, but
only about four materialized from
these places. The day was very en-.
jcyably spent at Anaconda, whose cit.
izens extended every courtesy to their
guests. Nothing was too good for
them and the keys of the city were
for the time turned over to the ex.
cursiOnists. Nothing occurred to mar
the pleasure of the trip, and every.
one voted the affair a grand success.
The trip was enlivened with excellent
music by Prof. Coles band of sixteen
pieces. The excursionists arrived
home Tuesday morning, tired, It's
true, but well repaid for their trip.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
WE ASK FOR JUSTICE.

Would it not be more generous and
Christianlike of our fellow citizens to
size US up and estimate us on the basis
of our many good qualities and char
acteristics rather than by the rule
that seems to prevailp Why should
the disposition exist to rate us in toto
no higher than those among us who
do not even enjoy our own respect and
fellowship. Our citizens must COM
mence to think more concerning this
matter, which is of suce vital i'm
portance to the better and more pro-
gressive element of our people. We
enter no plea for social equality.
That is foreign to the matter in con-
troversy. What we complain of Is
the predisposition to class every one
of us no higher than those of us whom
we ourselves ostracize and refuse to
associate with. We do not ask access
to your social circles. We have our
own, and 1t, too, Is barred against
those who are not acceptable from
our standpoint, and this prerequisite
is not based on color, either. Our
plea Is for fair and impartial treat
ment in place of public accommoda-
tion, resort and the like. When we
are barred and no other defense can
be set up than that we are colored
Americans, 1t is high time that pub
lie sentiment should receive purg-
ing and the body polite be rid of the
surplus bile. Race prejudice against
us-who are more thoroughly Amer
lean than the vast unassimilated por-
tion of our population who enjoy every
right and privilege unstinted-must
down, and very soon at that. We ask
for justice and fair play and our de-
mands cannot be ignored. Then let
our people rise to the urgency and
gravity of the occasion and free
themselves from the lurking color
prejudice that enslaves their man.
hood and dwarfs their nobility of
character,
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
LET US STAND FIRM.

We hope our people throughout the
state will jealously guard and preserve
the reputation they have SO deservedly
earned of taking and adopting the
practical, sensible and right side of
public issues. We are satisfied that
every sensible colored man in the
state will concede without argument
that as between Helena and Ana
conda for the permanent capital the
latter town isn't ''in It," That being
the only natural decision, we sincerely
hope that every colored man will
spurn with indignation, and even force
of arms If need be, any effort that
may be made to change or bias his
opinion or warp his judgment by the
promise or offer of Doodle. Let not
the charge of our enemies be verified
that we are purchasable. Take a
stand for the right and let not the de-
basing and corrupting influences of
our insiduous enemy swerve you from
the right. Our manhood should ever
be precious to US, and what we have
gained let us not now lose. But to the
contrary let us be true men whose
reputation shall ever remain above
suspicion.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
LACK OF ENTERPRISE.
Helena Needs a Live Daily Paper.

The citizens of Helena were sadlv
disappointed last Thursday when they
searched our dailies in vain for fni,
and detailed report of the eloouent
and admirable speeches delivered AZ
the auditorium last Wednesday nlgbt
by the several distinguished speakers
of that evening. 1t is generally con.
ceded that their efforts embodied
many points, facts and figures that
should be known by the people
throughout the state, and many A
listener on that memorable night had
firmly resolved to send several COMES
of the speeches to friends in the state
One of the meanest things our enc.
mics can truthfully say of us is that
our daily papers are poor excuses for
the live and metropolitan city that
we claim to be. In this respect We
are decidedly in the rear of the pro.
cession, and should we lose the capI
tai we shall have Just cause to attrib
ute our defeat to the lack of enter.
prise of our daily papers.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
"WHATS IN A NAMEw
Hal. \. COrbett for Congress.

The democratic party of this state
has met, nominated a ticket and
adjourned. The balance will be re-
corded later on. The proceedings
were apparently harmonious and as
enthusiastic as could be expected
under the prevailing condition of af-
fairs. A succession of defeats and
adversities has educated them to hollo
loudest when most scared. And that's
about the way things stand IN the
democratic camp. Were 1t not for
the miserable failure the national
democratic party makes when in
power and the desire to down 1t ard
get rid of 1t, it occurs to US that little
difference would be made who repre-
sents Montana in our nationtl legisla-
ture. Smith, Hartman and Corbett
are all good names. Corbett might
enjoy some prestige or notoriety for
time, but he would soon be lost and
lOlSOLtCu III Tue SIOWu' Oultu nik 1t
be wined and dined for time by his
populist friends, but he. too, would
soon be absorbed and relegated to the
commissary department. Hartman
has gained some notoriety on account
of his personality, but whether like a
rocket he has flashed to be seen or
heard of no more is unknown, and
perhaps never will be. After all 1t s
a howl, yell and scramble for the
emoluments, pleasure and political
prestige attached to the position and
whoever gets there will do all he gan
to bamboozle the dear people, make a
showing to the world and lay the pipes
for reelection. So let the people
lose no sleep, nor yell themselves
hoarse trying to send farvorite to
congress, for there good men get in
different-indinerent ones get bad,
and bad ones get worse. So hurrah
for the fellow who can pull the wool
over the most eyes.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
XdB PUBLIC BAROMETER.

I'VE have an abiding faith In the
good sense and sound judgment of the
public, especially when an emergency
arises that calls for the assertion
thereof. Hence we feel that the sys-
tematic and aggressive plans SO
adroitly laid and skillfully manipu-
lated to debauch by bribery and 9th
erwise large number of the electors
of this state will prove abortive.
Many men there are in this state
whose impecunious condition has rem
dered them easy prey to the wiles and
craft of the Anaconda emissaries.
These men are to be pitied, for they
are forced victims of debauchery. Yet
we do not lose our faith even in these
cases. Unless constitutionally wrong
their manhood will yet assert itself
and the yoke of corruption will be
dumped at the earliest opportunity.
Public opinion will and must be re-
spected. The people seldom 60, or al
low themselves to be led very far from
the pathway of rectitude and duty,
and thereby lies the hope of the ulti-
innate survival and supremacy of the
right. The majority of the people of
this state neither approve, counte.
nance nor tolerate the campaign of
bribery that is being waged by the op-
ponents of Helena in the capital con-
test. Hence we may soon look for a
rise In the public barometer, which
shall voice the sentiment of the best
elements of our body polite, and
which will in turn have its effect on
those who have strayed or feel in
clined to roam from the pathway of
rectitude and true citizenship, Yes,
sound public opinion will always purge
itself and cleanse its stomach when
overdosed.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
THERE SHOULD BIZ NO COLOR Line.

Todraw the color line now is not fash.
ionable, neither is 1t American. To
argue that unless you draw the color
line your business will suffer, is frail
and weak excuse that is unworthy to
be advanced by any decent American
citizen. 1t is the duty of those who
call themselves men, American citi.
seus or vitalized automatons to use
united effort to- break down all kinds
of prejudice, regardless of whether a
nickel 10 lost or made. 1t is worth
something to be manly and to be self
conscious of doing the right thing.
The writer hereof has been In profess
sional business for years and never in
a single instance has he drawn the
color line, and he thinks he shall
always preserve sufficient manhood to
pursue the same course. Whether or
not he has lost thereby cuts no figure
alongside of his consciousness of hav-
ing done ILLS duty to his fellow man.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
DANGEROUS OBJECT LESSONS.

The scandal and corruption attend.
ant on the senatorial contest of '93
is a stencil In the nostrils of the
people of the whole country. At
home the seeds of a pernicious prac-
tice were planted. Steadily have
they terminated, until their fruit is
now apparent. Encouraged by the
success attained In the past, the man
agement of the Anaconda company
have made up their minds to win over
the majority vote of the state, If a
considerable percentage thereof have
to be purchased for a consideration
to accomplish the end. This practice
once In vogue, 1t is difficult to surmise
where and when 1t will end, and who
will escape the communicating influ-
ence thereof. The children of to-day
will imbibe the surroundings. Can it
be hoped that they will escape the
general public Generalization preva-
lentp Can 1t be expected that they
will be strong enough to repel the
evil encompassing themp No; they
necessarily will succumb and fall vic
tins to the debauched state of affairs.
Then 1t devolves upon good citizens to
place the stamp of condemnation
upon the vicious and debauching
practice that the Anaconda company
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
A SEVERE CASE OF COLIC.

The Anaconda Standard of Septem-
Der 23d contains an article headed
"Chinese have the call. A colored
man stands no show to get job in
Helena" and signed "A Colored Voter
and Taxpayer" of Helena. This
writer knows that he is giving pub
licity to bare-faced falsehood. The
fact that colored men have almost a
monopoly In this city of the jobs this
colicy scribe says they stand no show
to get Is retutation of his false al.
Legations that any man can verify.
1t Is true that no firm or family here
Will retain a colored man simply be-
cause he is colored man IL he is in
competent, don't faithfully attend to
his business or swills too much whisky,
as this voter has probably done. 1t
has come to pass that every time
some colored man matches up a griev-
ance or wants a stake he writes a let
ter to the Standard. These letters
command price, and hence we are
not surprised at their frequency. 1t
Is a matter of rumor that the bows
here are working the game for all ii
is worth, and that in the procession
these self-same men will do the loud
est hurrahing for Helena for the cap
ital.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
The PRIZE OBTAlNABLE.
But Lots OF Hard Work Ncedei.

The citizens of Helena have been
deluding themselves, or perhaps have
allowed themselves to be deluded. Be
this as 1t may, there must be some
speedy unfolding of hands, pulling off
coats and getting down to square busi-
ness If 1t is seriously intended to sue
cessfully compete for the permanent
capital. The capital committee is
doing most effective work, but 1t is al
ready overtaxed and cannot single
handed, without the aid and co-ope-
ration of our citizens, cope with the
innumerable details requiring careful
attention. We must shake off our
lethargy, revitalize ourselves and
each and every one of us assist in win
ming the pending battle. Our fight
must be one of argument, facts and
figures. Our case must be decided by
the good citizens of the state. We
shall not try to buy anyone. The
gravity of the situation demands that
our good citizens make a fight to
the finish as to whether a majority of
the voters of this state are true and
good citizens whose votes shall be cast
according to the best interests of the
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
A ROUSING MEETING.
Over 5000 Enthusiastic Citizens Assemble
The Capital Committees Effective Work
Endorsed.

When the citizens of Helena get
aroused they are a force. Until re-
Gently. IT must have occurred to
large majority of our citizens tha'
the people of the state were going 70
thrust the permanent seat of govern
ment upon Helena whether or not
This idea is now dispelled and they
have now made up their minds thatH
will be necessary to do some rustllng
to gain the prize. Hence the large
enthusiastic and earnest assemblaes
of citizens that crowded every aVaif
able foot of space of the auditorium
last Wednesday night. The meeting
was presided over by Ex-Gov. D J.
Hauser. Pointed, earnest and lnspL'
ing speeches were made by Mayor D.
ID. Weed, Ex-senator W. F. Sanders
Hon. N. W. Mcconnell, Hon. Marlln
McGinnis, E. A. Carleton, w. L. Our
len, Col. Sam. Word and Hon. L. d.
Carter. The meeting Throughout was
thoroughly enthusiastic one, ana :.
suited in inspiring every one VIII
new energy.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
UNEMPLOYED JAWSMITHS.

The state is overrun with horde of
hungry, cadaverous and unscrupulous
tramps with superabundance of jaw
and a lack of brains. These men
make themselves conspicuous by their
unceasing and persistent offers of
something to sell. Their goods gen.
orally consist of imaginary influence
that they profess to have oyer this
thing or that person. They some
times have facts and figures that
they think valuable and that they in
sist should be purchased of them. The
public is wary, these times, and hap
PLY for good citizens, they are slow
to encourage the sinister design of
men preying around seeking whom
they may devour. Men of this class
should be Stunned and abhorred.
Yea, they should be dealt with in a
most summary manner and taught an
object lesson that should require some
time TO recover from.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
As A BRIDE At THE ALTAR
Stands Helena, the Queen Of the RO'I les
Th. People Only Waiting to Impress Inc
Hiss Of Approval

Fair and beautiful, pure and sp.t'
less as the driven snow, bedecked VIII,
Jewels becoming and honestly ac-
ouired, unsurpassed in comeliness ana
grace, serene and angelic. winsome
and affable, hospitable and nopie
stands Helena, the Queen OF the
Rockies. With eyes beaming with
confidence and gladness, coniding In
the uprightness, purity and manllnesS
of the electors of this state TO 10
their duty, reposing the utmost con-
fidence in the integrity of its citizens
implicitly relying upon the true ana
tried manhood of its broad minded,
unhinchable and patriotic citizens
in the hour of stern duty, she patient
ly and confidently awaits the ides OF
November when she shall be clothed
with the habiliments of permanent
capitalhood by large and unmistak-
able majority of the citizens of this
glorious commonwealth. Then VIII
the people of this state with joyous
acclaim imprint the kiss of approval
on the ruddy and pouting lips of Hell
ena the fair, and ever shall she be
loved, honored and revered by all who
hold dear, virtue, fairness and true
won anhuod. Then shall the union
between Helena the beautiful and the
commonwealth of Montana receive
the unanimous sanction of all good,
honest, pure and true-hearted citi-
zens, and each and all shall ever vie
In the future to make the well chosen
alliance one of happiness. content
ment, pleasure and profit, and may
the result of the league be common
wealth wreathed in a perpetual broad
smile of prosperity, plenty and hap
piness.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
WHO KNOWS P. BARTELL!

Mr.. P. Bartell had a hard time
while In Helena. He couldn't get his
boots blacked and he couldn't get any
whisky. That's what he told the pub
licin letter written to the Standard.
Mr.. Bartell certainly deserved better
treatment. and the fact that he was
known and spotted as an Anaconda
striker probably accounts for the lack
of hospitality shown this distinguished
visiting statesman in this particular
case. Mr.. Bartell does not say that
he rendered the boot. blacks extra
compensation for the treatment of
the unusual territorial dimensions of
his pedals, so we have to infer In the
absense thereof that 1t was a strike
for higher fees rather than case of
color line. If Mr.. T. J. Cronin, or any
other saloon keeper, refused Mr.. Bar
tell drink of whisky they should be
very severely handled by the public,
for whenever an out of town man once
tastes the high grade liquors such as
are dispensed only by Helena men,
they who taste thereof never rest un-
ril they become residents of our city.
We assure Mr.. Bartell that on his
next trip to Helena that he shall
have his shoes shined, and we will see
that Mr.. T. ]. Cronin sets 'em up with
his own hand.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
lord, Is 1T ~

Our citizens pride themselves that
there Is no color line dra wn In Helena.
There should not be allowed a SEM
blance or vestige of this malady to
exist here. Our citizens are too pro-
gressive and liberal to tolerate for a
moment the germ, even, of a pestil-
ence so foul and un-American. Yet,
now and then we can hear whispers
that this or that one draws the color
line, yet 1t is hard to draw the matter
toa satisfactory focus when the truth
or falsity thereof is sought. We APP
peal to our citizens to look we'll into
this matter that we may place our
selves abreast of the most liberal and
progressive cities of our state. Color
phobia surely does not exist in the
larger and more progressive cities of
the state, and 1t must not exist here,
for Helena, If anything, is always in
the van of the procession of progress
and reform.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
THE NEXT LEGISLATURE.

Every effort should be made and no
stone left unturned to elect solid re-
publican legislative delegation from
this county. 1t is matter of ma
tional Importance compared with
which all else pales. 1t may be re-
corded with certainty of fulfillment
that If the republicans of this county
fail to elect their eight nominees for
the lower house that their is great
danger of the loss of the Legislature
on joint ballot. Therefor there should
be unity of action among the several
aspirants for senatorial honors, who
shall be, until the caucus picks out a
favorite, expectant benefciaries.
The fact that the said half dozen ex-
pectants are all men of astute politi-
cal acumen-adroit and skilled party
leaders-men of vast fertility of re-
sources-men Of unfinching political
nerve and endurance, it follows that
If they all pull right and pull together
that success will be assured. Unless
there be complete unity of action in
word and deed the result will be de-
feat and consequent loss of the prize.
No better plan could be formulated
than for these half dozen gentlemen
to get together and agree upon a plan
of action In conducting the legisla-
tive campaign, which should be d.
vorced az nearly as possible from the
scramble for county Offices. This part
of the campaign should be conducted
with all the earnestness and dignity
that should surround and confront
matters of national Importance We
therefore aPpealito the leaders to
givs-s-snhjss<sHve thought and
act with celebrity and ssgscity In the
premises that every detail may be
closely attended to with view of con-
centrating the whole party vote upon
each and every nominee. This done,
victory will be ours and the next two
senators from Montana will be repub.
licans.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
WEED OUT The DRONES.
Answer TO the aOll Call and Don't A0d..

After a ticket has been nominal,
there will always be found some rSs
who are willing, yea, even anyion
that the sinews of war shall hs t'
nished and the hard work of nrr,a
and conducting the campaign sbaIlI
performed by some other feno,1
This class of men will skulk in .r
coax room when the roll is CALI
they will play hide and seek and sm
ploy every known subterfuge to dodr.
and evade duty; they can't be founs
when needed; they are ever willing -
accept, but give they never, Tbs.s
noble patriots will stand supinelv r.,
and see their fellow nominees hs,,
the heat and burden of the dav ana
when the battle is won, then COM
these gallant home guards, w,,h
sword in hand and with lusty yell ,totba
van. None will be louder in thai.
hurrahs; none will be more blat,r,
and self-laudatory; none will be mors
anxious to tell how his mighty force.
were increasingly employed to bring
about the happy result. This class of
men should be held up at the start
and made to perform their dutv
Bring them to taw or leave them AZ
home.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
HE GOT HIS TIP-HE WROTE HIS LETTER.

And now comes another one-he
calls himself "A Colored Citizen
and his letter Is In the Standard, as
usual. Amount received therefor not
known. He says: "There Is not a
first class eating house or hotel in the
town (Helena) where a negro can get
accommodation" This Is a frilled
falsehood, and the writer knowsi 1t. The
CITIZEN made the rounds of this city,
few days ago, and asked the pro-
prietors and managers of our leading
hotels and eating houses this question:
do you make any discrimination on
account of color in conducting your
business" in every instance he was
answered in substance that they never
have and do not do so now. These are
facts, and 1t is true that no gentle
manly colored man will be refused
accommodation at our first class eat
ing houses or hotels, or in fact any
other place of public resort in this
city. The places referred to do not
accommodate tramps, vagabonds or
disreputable characters no matter
what may be their color. The fact of
being a negro will not of itself entitle
the ''Colored Citizen" who wrote the
above referred to letter to decent
treatment in any first class place in
Helena If Lie comes under the class
of tramp, vagabond or disreputabIe
character, either or all of which will
probably cover his case.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01

is endeavoring to engraft into the
politics of the state, by casting their
votes against the methods and prac-
tices employed by said company. The
crucial test is at hand and no honest
and self-respecting man can falter.
The sanctity and purity of the ballot
is in jeopardy. The welfare and fu-
ture reputation of our state are at
stake. The attempted effort to pur-
chase portion of the voters of this
state to secure the location of the
permanent seat of government at
Anaconda must be frustrated, and let
the fat go forth that the men of this
state cannot be debauched and
swerved from duty by the filthy lucre
thrust forth by the polluted hand of
the Anaconda company.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01

state, or whether a corrupt corpora
tion shall be able to bribe, debauch
and purchase majority of the elect
ors and freemen and put us on record
as a cesspool of corruption. The
question that presents itself is grave
one and calls for the earnest and
united efforts of all good citizens to
demonstrate whether we are not, or
are a commonwealth that is for sale
to the highest bidder.
The Colored citizen., 1894-10-01
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CONVENTION.
A StrOng Ticket in Spots.
Lack Of Enthusiasm Except for PayOrites

The democratic party of Lewis and
Clarke county assembled in conven-
tion last Monday and nominated
ticket especially strong in spots.
There was a lack of warmth and en-
thusiasm, and attendance from the
outlying precincts that was striking
ly manifest. The proceedings, how
ever, were harmonious, and the work
of the convention was expeditiously
rushed through to completion. 1t was
apparent that many of those who, in
the good old days of the party had
filed the air with their overaowing
lung power and party yell, had be-
taken themselves to new fields where
their ardent spirits could find where
of to feast. We do not predict the
slaughter of the whole ticket, but
the chances are that very large
portion thereof will be gently laid
away for future use.