Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-07-12
CONVENTION GEMS.
A Beautiful Poem by the Afro
American Poet Laureate,
Miss Virgie Whitsett,
Of Newton, Iowa.
An Eloquent Appeal, a Concise
and Useful Statement Of
Facts and Valuable
Suggestions by Jno.
THOMPSON.

of the Afro American Protective AS
sociaticn.
we are met here to exchange thought
and congratulations on this our nation S
anniversary. A day singular in the
history Of civilization A day of reason.
A day of the clear light which makes
us a little better than flock of birds
or beast. A day which gives the inn
msnse fortifcation of fact, a fact
which was not put into operation until
after Jan /, 1863.
This day, eighty years ago, sealed
the fate Of Napoleon's military career
and the fifth coalition was forme
under the command Of Wellington won
immortal glory. On the 4th of July,
1868, the glad news heralded all over
this Union that Gen. Pemberton had
surrendered his entire army to Gen.
Grant at Vicksburg, and Gen. Lee was
defeated at Gettysburg. Again on our
nations birthday, 1926, the sad news
came that John Adams and Thomas
jefferson had died. Both had been
presidents Of the United States, both
vice-presidents; both members OF the
continental congress; both signers of
the Declaration of Independence.
A few years later on our birthday
was solemnized the death of James
Monroe, also president of the United
States. Therefore we can appropriately
call this our natal day; day for
memory, for tears, for joy.
We have met here in this beautiful
city of Des Moines, the pride OF the
Hawkeye where all business has been
suspended for at least one day and the
people meet to pay homage to the inn
! mortal heroes of the revolution, and
recount their valorous deeds, heroic
bravery and the unspeaka bic hardshlps
they endured. We, too, should recount
the valorous deeds and wonderful ex-
ploits done by the American Negro
I s,hcugh in servitude. The battle OF
buif-qr Hill where human gore
urenchec> our land, Peter Salem's
| herolc pravesy stands as a shining
| monument Tor oar race. The frs,
blood split by an American citizen upon
the altar as a sacrifice to appeas the
BRITISH wrath and cement our Union,
was from the veins of a runaway slave
Chrispus Attux. Fifty thousand of the
american bondmar,:s aud fTe Of thae tbs
fti.1,i fine.1n,ital { armT ,ri1 % and won undvinp oiory
for their loyalty to principle. Time
|
tribute to our revolutionary heroes
We, the members of the Afro
American Protective association of
peerless Iowa, the brightest star in the
galaxy of the Union, with 42.OoO,Ooo
acres of the best land the sun ever
shown on, with 10000 square miles of
rich fields from which comes diamonds.
No richer fields than this even in the
A f,.s- r
India; with her 10000 miles of railway
reaching in every town and township
with her $4,000 colored populations;
with her lowest per cent of illiteracy,
probably in the known world. Only
one per cent of her people unable to
write. While we have come from diff
terent cities. towns and localities; each
perhaps having different class of
people to deal with and by combining
their ideas and plans together we may
derive at a general solution of plan
which will enable us to succeed much
better and faster, for we all want to
succeed at whatever may be our call
ing. Success is the great aim of all
civilized beings The key to success is
industry, energy, honesty and economy.
1t is true that in our commonwealth as
in all others that odds and laws are
against our equal and free enjoyment
as other races, but here where the laws
are the most favorable to our equal
chance, let us improve them, prove
ourselves equal to any opportunities
that others are. Get education, get
wealthy and prove ourselves worthy
while in small things and positions and
the higher ones will eventually be
forced to open to us. Act well our
part and merit those higher ones with
out doubt. No race. nation, or
individual have ever ascended from the
lowest to the highest round of the lad
der without coming up degree by degree:
round by round. So let us ascend
round by round of the great ladder
until we reach the topmost round.
''As We have been faithful over a few
things. / will make thee ruler over
many things, as a biblical axiom.
We must not expect too much offered
us by the other race, for they
have too many of their own young men
and women who are too anxious to get
those positions. Let us prove our
superior qualifications. We do not
ask Social equality, but simply business
and public equality. Open your stores,
factories, shops, offices and business
enterprises free for he or she who have
the necessary qualifications or merit it
and let not the person or.color get those
positions. 1t is true, my Caucasian
brother, that you own nearly all of the
wealth and factories in the country,
but how did some of you get it? You
stole the labor of our forefathers for
more than 243 years, paying them
nothing but little piece of bacon and
lots of hell. They filed your Golfers,
enriched your land beautitied your
home, made the south land bloom and
blossom like the summer rose. They
built your temples, cities, railroads,
opened yonr mines, leveled your
forests, titled your land. In fact they
have been the true laborers of the
south, and yet you won't give them an
equal chance and justice in the dispen
sation of your laws Shame! O,
piteous spectacle! / can only say in
the language of the poet, Hope still,
and thou shall see thy Savior who is
thy Cod
Young men and women, you on
whom the future depends, let me
advise, or rather not advise, for | am
rot old enough to advise, for | rather
receive advice, but suggest to you to
get wealth, real estate property. farms,
stores, shops, factories, and become a
fixed financial Gibraltar wherever we
may be. We as a race are too much
absorbed by politics. Why people from