Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-07-12

the moss fecund blood of Europe are
passing by our doors in platoons of
10000 deep going to the fertile lands OF
the west to build them homes. They
are creating the New Jerusalem, but
the New Jerusalem never comes
for the Negro We loiter around in
the large cities, living. on the
offals of the wealthy and wait
until some large city springs up in the
midst and the trains are loaded with
the commerce OF the new land, then
we go out there with the broom and
white jacket, when we should have
gone with the hoe and plow. This is
the age of material progress. The
engineer has surplanted the scholar;
the mathematician no longer puz-
zles his brain over the problems Of
Euclid, but is wrestling to get corner
or option on change. The Greek
grammarian has been displaced by
machinist Steam engines, big forms,
railroads, steam cars, electric cars,
bic cars and telegraphs are the text
hooks Of to-day, and if we do not study
and understand, get hold and control,
we are bound to be left in the vigor of
life, "bound in shadows and miseries. y
Let us put our money together as we
do our votes and see if the results don't
bring us more houses, lands and offices
for the enjoyment OF our race. Fnan-
cial unity is the strongest bonds that
will bring social and business harmony
Our oath bound organizations may bea
strong tie, but an organization bound
together by dollars. weighed together
by business, girded together by houses
is the strongest tie for Americans.
/ will speak few minutes Of our
race progress notwithstanding those
disadvantages against us, then | shall
mention the so-called race problem.
No race has made such rapid advance
ment in so short time amid much
discouragement and under such great
disadvantages as has the colored race
Of America within 30 years.
1t took fendal Europe 500 years to
change to GENERALIZATION. The
Chinese have plodded along their narrow
way for over 1000 years. Within 400
years Rome was hardly known out side
of our own provinces.
Our race within only 80 years, by
their thrift industry and energy has
commanded the respect of the civilized
world We have $40 colleges, universi-
ties, academies and higher schools of
learning, with 1,775 teachers. OF which
646 are colored 81, ,443 students enrolled;
23,s66 colored teachers in our common
public schools with 1,4bO,44 children
attending. We raised $150,u00,O ,O0)
worth of cereals every year. Nearly
| 1900. 900 pounds of cotton. We have 206
journals, 4 magazines and few daily
| 3rl l,1y.
| $50 black lawyers have a practice
| ranging from $4,000 to $50, 900 per year
| so says prominent southern white
| newspaper The wealth of the colored
| people in Iowa is estimated at over ST.,
900, 900: Alabama 1000, 900: New York.
| ST, ,OOO. 900: Texas SIS, 900, 900; Louisiana,
SIS, 100000. The andaggregate total
I rr.-a a1 ~. by colored people is estimated,
Go with me into the black belt of
Alabama where once the slave pen and
whipping post made music. There
we see the famous Tuskegee Normal
college. located with he 514 students
with that bright, polished and eloquent
Brooker t. Washington, as principal
Then view Fisk and Central Univers-
ties, right in the heart of Tennessee's
capitol. Those institutions stand as
colossal intellectual monuments for
Negro advancement. Then view with
an astonished eye the private residences
of our race. Great hero on Anlcosta
heights, the lot comprises twenty acres
with three-story brick of twenty-one
rooms. l speak of Hon. Fredreck
Douglas home, recently deceased, that
great and distinguished American that
pre-eminent apostle of liberty that
stood in the arena of debate for over
forty years vanquishing his enemies and
encouraging his friends by his elo-
quence. Considering all things he
lowered above all other Americans and
registered his name under the vaulted
skies Of approving heaven as one of the
very few great men. Self ernancipated,
self educated and marched from poor
unlettered slave boy, to an editor,
orator, statesman and diplomat What
wonderful striking object lesson of
marvellous human possibilities for the
young to-day.
Fellow citizens, there is no race
problem, nor has there been. There is
simply race prejudice, caused by our
once inferiority. condition and color.
In vain | have searched ancient and
modern, sacred and profane history for
similar existence of prejudice as is here,
but no place on the civilized gle be has
this calling of race prejudice existed.
Here he is subject to many social
inequalities, snubbed and spat upon,
mobbed and Knocked, put like servant
outside the gates of American society;
and yet never for a moment has he
deserted this Union; and yet you have
failed to give him equal justice in the
dispensation of the laws.
QUESTIONS NOW PENDING.
Fellow citizens, l ask for justice for
my race. / am not pleading for his
social equality / do ask that he be
freed from his present oppression,
which, in many places, virtually
enslaves him. / do not argue for his
political rights as an American citizen.
nor for the protection of his ballot or
cabin | do not ask that the recent
laws discriminating against him on
account of color be repealed, which
yon all know are wrong, grievously
wrong. l only ask justice for him as a
man; that when accused he be given a
fair trial by his fellows, and that if i
innocent he be protected by the strong
arm of the law. plead for justice to
him as a human being; that he be not
shot or hung, butchered or burned
without trial.
Lynching is a crime 1t is a crime
against the accused, against society
against the government against God
1t is a greater crime than one criminal
can commit; it substitutes mob violence
for legal process: it brings prejudice
instead of evidence; it demands an exc
cution without defense; it demoralizes