Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-09-21
Meeting at tae Tabernacle.

The meeting held at the Tabernacle
Monday presented the largest audience
which it has been the pleasure of Miss
Wells to address in this city. 1t was
composed of all classes of thinking peo-
Pile Laboring men, business men and
professional men were present and
and gave their undivided attention to
the address.
Secretary of State Mcfarland was
chosen as chairman of the meeting and
introduced the speaker of the evening
in well chosen and appropriate words.
Miss Wells then proceeded with her
address, which was replete with incl
dents and facts concerning the barbar-
Gus treatment received by American
citizens of color who reside in the
southern states. The evidence was
strong and convincing, and the most
skeptical went away feeling sadder
but wiser. Extracts were read from
papers published in the south, which
papers no desire to misrepresent the
condition of affairs in any part of the
south. Miss Wells has addressed an
audience in the Y. NJ. C. A. auditor
ium, meeting in the court house and
congregation of the West Side Baptist
church Sunday evening, but it re-
manned for her to address the largest
and most important meeting in the
Tabernacle Monday evening, present
ing new facts ard Lew evidence of the
condition of the country in regard to
mob violence perpetrated on colored
American citizens. 1t was a grand eff
fort and hig hly appreciated.
Rev. j. F. CASTOR wanted all minis
tiers present to take seats upon the
platform Many of them availed them
of the opportunity. The ministerial
association of the city adopted resolu-
tons and presented them at this meet
ing, and they were endorsed without a
dissenting votes. The resolutions:
ResolUed. That this meeting having under
consideration the alarming growth of
lynch law in different parts OF our common
country, whereby human beings are hang
ed, shot and burned alive by Iawless mobs,
unhesltatingly condemns such practices as
subversive of law and order, and stand
ing disgrace to civilization.
We condemn ali forms of lawlessness
whether by individuals or communities,
and invoke the strong arm of the law in
punishment of the same.
We commend the law-abiding citizens
aud officials of Memphis and Tennessee for
their prompt and vigorous action in the
recent horror which has added further dis
grace to the county of Shelby and the state
of Tennessee. Such lynching was a crime
against humanity, deserving the severest
penalty the law can infiict. and Memphis
viii become the byword and reproach of
nations should Justice miscarry in this
instance We bespeak the approval of the
civilized world and pledge the moral sup.
port of Des Moines for the people of Shelby
county, Tennessee, in melting out punish
ment to the murderers of those six helpless
Negroes.
The resolutions We're presented to
the meeting by Rev. H. 0. Breeder Of
the Christian church.
The colored people of Des Moines
Moines should be proud of the recep-
ton of Miss Ida b. Wells and the cause
she represents by the people of Des
Moines. Rev. j. f. CASTOR of the Bap.
fist church and his congregation de-
serve great credit in securing the serv-
ices of this accomplished young lady.