Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-10
A RACE QUESTION
Different Views About the Negro
and the Atlanta Exposition.
OPINIONS OF C0L0RED MINISTER'S
Some Enthusiastically in Favor Of
Sending an Exhibit.
THE MONEY PROBLEM

The colored people Of the District are be-
coming daily more interested in knowing
what part they are to take In the coming
cotton states and international exposition
! at Atlanta. The colored comm 'ssioners who
have been appointed for the District are
attempting to interest all classes Of their
people in the proposed exhibit. and to that
end the cooperation of the pastors Of the
several churches and others of influence
is being sought. Objections have been
made to the colored people Of the District
| taking any part In the exhibit on account
of the discrimination which, 1t ia claimed
will exist at the exposition. While there
Is opposition existing to the negro exhibit
the leading pastors Of influence In the Dis
trict seem inclined to encourage their peo-
pie to make a creditable show at the expo
sit'on.
The colored commissioners are depending
In part upon the good offices Of the pastors
of the churches here to secure funds neces-
sary TO defray the expenses of the proposed
exhibit. A representative of The Star visit
ed several clergymen today. and their
opinions as to the part that the negroes
should take in the coming show were
learned.
DIR. Jennifer's Views.
DIR. ]. T. Jennifer, who has just been as
signed by the Baltimore conference to the
pastorate of the Metropolitan A. M E.
Church for this conference year, said: Il
think that the colored people ought to
encourage the proposed negro exhibit by
sending their exhibits to Atlanta. l intro
duced a resolution in the Baltimore con-
ference, which was adopted, urging the
colored people throughout the country to
send to the exposition visible evidences OF
their genius and achievements. l think
that such an exhibit would rebound to the
credit of the coIored people throughout the
country. I was an early advocate OF such
exhibit at the Chicago worlds fair.
but we did not secure such an exhibit
there. I am in favor Of the Atlanta ex-
hibit. Some object to the exposition on ac-
count of the railroad accommodations for
the colored people. But 1 believe that the
exposition will be one of the means of
breaking down the Jim Crow car arrange
ments in the south. I deprecate the hui
initiation to which the colored people may
owes it to itself to show now her willing
ness to keep in the march Of enlfghten-
ment by stopping its Determinations
against the negro. But I do not think
that the negro should debar himself from
such a splendid opportunity to show his
material progress on account Of its tendency
to discriminate against him at the EXPOSE
ton. l think that the proposed exhibit
of the negro race Is somewhat of a fra
ternal proffer, or the olive branch of peace
being extended by the south to the negro.
and don't think that the negro ought
to slight the opportunity. Philosophical
men should come to the rescue of the COM
missioners and give them aid to make a
creditable exhibit. Genius Is always poor,
so it becomes the duty Of the leading col
ored men to cooperate with the commits
sionerS in order to present crsditaole eX-
hibit of the genius of the colored race at
the cotton states and international cXposi-
tion.''
Dr. Alex Crummell said: st hope that
the exposition will be respectfully satisfac-
tory to it's promoters. l would not discour
age 1t, but so far as the negro exhibit Is
concerned I fear such things are too early
for people only a generation old"
DIR. johnson Favors 1t.
Dr. W. Bishop johnson of the Second
Baptist Church. and the editor of the Ma
tional Baptist Magazine, said: I'm the
offer of the cotton states and International
exposition to the Afro-American to show
by separate exhibit his material progress
we have the opportunity of a lifetime. A
quarter of a century has many revelations
to make of our industrial developments as
well Intellectual attachments, and We
should see to it that every section of the
country Is represented in the most thor
ough manner. We have no time to split
hairs and indulge in vain chickering's about
social lines and social prejudice; we can
not afford it. Only a short time ago we
contended for separate exhibit at the
worlds fair and were refused. Now the
south-the home of the negro-opens its
doors and bids US enter and give material
evidence of what we have accomplished
since emancipation. The south knows the
negro better than any part of the country.
She is aware of his interest in all that
builds up that section and of what he has
contributed to make her as prosperous as
she is. The north will find a greater inter-
est in the exposition when she looks at
what the negro has already done asa skilled
artisan, as an honest tiller Of the soil and
as lover Of the arts. The proposed negro
IL tie, iny, Np N
as people; 1t Is a concession that progress
has been made of eminent character
that 1t Is worthy of the observation Of the
civilized world. Shall we stand back with
folded arms and tacitly let this privilege
pass? Everybody should help make the
negro exhibit a success. Let us awake,
arise or be forever fallen"
Dr. Grimlxe Set Enthusiastic.
Dr. Francis J. Grimke, pastor of the
Fifteenth Street Presby terian Church, ex-
pressed himself as follows: II haven't
taken any interest tn the exposition. I
don't see how the negro part of 1t is to be
done. The negro exhibit would be good
thing II the Commissioners had the money
to carry it out successfully. If the men
who are at the head of 1t were to put their
hands in their pockets and defray the ex-
penses incident to making the exhibit, It
would be all right But they can never
make any exhibit by appealing to the char
tty of the people. The colored people
haven't the money to keep up their
churches and other institutions in which
they are Immediately Interested, and
know that they won't contribute to the sue
CESS of the exposition. Such an exhibition
would be educative and would open the
eyes of the south But the south Is so hide
bound that it lacks all common sense when
it comes to It's treatment of the oolored
people. The negro exhibit would not have
the least tendency to lessen the prejudice
of the south against the negro, so I have
paid very little attention to the matter.
And whether or not would appeal to my
people in behalf of assisting the negroes Of
the District In making an exhibit would
have to be well considered by me-"
The Petsoao8s Cigarette.
From TIN, National Underwater.
One of the largest life insurance COM
panies refuses to take risks upon the lives
Of PERSONS who have been hatdtual smokers