Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-10-11

THE NEGRO AT ATLANTA.

| DECATUR, Ia, October O. Editor of
THE BYsTANDER: Permit me through
| the columns of your paper to speak
briefly of the international Exposition
now in session at Atlanta, Georgia.
Should the Negro join in the procession
Of marching through Georgia, or should
| he sullx and say / won't? He surely
will be present, but in what capacity?
| AS a laborer only, or as AN exhibitor
and therefore guest?
| am sure our enemies will dread an
exhibit which would do us credit, and
our friends hope and have a right to
expect us to do our best.
| On Wednesday,, the 18th of last
month, President Cleveland, sitting in
his home, pressed the button that sent
the electric current over the wires
which set in motion the ponderous
wheels of the machines and set to
breeze the flags Of nations, in the same
city, on ground traversed by rife pits,
over which Sherman threw the first
she'll 81 years ago.
| The colored people would have been
grossly lnsulted if they had not been
invited to participate. But the south
erner, astute as he is, has asked us, and
if we do not show up, he has only to
say to the foreigner, northerner or any
of our weli-wishers, s'Look at the
Negro exhibit. These fine buildings
and exhibitions are of the Caucasian
skill and generosity" OF course we
must be found there, or at least our
best work with proof of our right to
recognition.
| Our lecturers and orators grow
/ IL lc sf,fs Nor rry-(,
| Advancement in a Quarter of
| Century, but eloquence is only words;
/ it is not even argument, much less
| proof. An exhibit will be both argu-
ment and proof.
| 1t is true our colored orators will be
1 sure to be there. We must see that
1 our mechanics are represented, our
| inventions, whether patented or not;
/ our newspapers, and as complete
| library OF colorcd writers as it is pos
/ sible to collect, our painters, sculptors,
| musicians, singers, school exhibits, a
| galaxy of large photographs OF fine
residences, shops. stores, manufac-
tories, schools, churches, banks, and
whatever else will show the diversity
of the trend of thought and achieve
ments. These exhibits will not only
1 reflect credit ON us, but will make our
friends glad and encourage them
Think of one seventh of the entire
population of the United States not
being represented by exhibits! | tell
you we must be, if there were no
1 higher motive than self-defense. No
matter what our prejudices are against
the section in which it is held, the
honor of the American Negro is at
stake, whether he lives north or south
4 We have a special invitation, and
should exhibit for those higher reasons
1 which actuate the Caucasians-that is,
to stimulate industry and desire to
excel on the part of the populace.
The question is have you, my read
ers, aud Afro-Americans of Iowa, any
thing of yonr own production to offer
4 to the world? If so, send it to Atlanta
and compete with other exhibits |
see that some of our young colored
| ladies entered work in competition at
our last state fair and took several first
premiums aud a number of seconds.
Why not send those and others to
Atlanta? Then send our work to the
Negro building, which is fourth in size
on the exposition grounds. 1t is 276
feet long by IL feet vide, 70 feet high.
| covering 10000 square feet, costing
nearly 50, ,65l; built by Messrs. King, of
Georgia, and Smith, OF North Carolina.
Here are some of the many things
there now: OF the 200 inventions to
our credit in the patent office, 25 are
working models, showing that our
inventions are in practical use and
benefit to our country. The District of
/ Columbia has an elaborate exhibit of
artistic work, especially by the ladies.
| w. II. Grant, Of Lynchburg, Va, has
4 constructed a boat that will occupy 60
! feet of space Liberia, Congo Free
States, Cuba, Brazil, and other foreign
countries, besides the Is cotton states,
are there. A few dates that will be
interesting for the colored people:
1 November 10, AfroAmerican Press
Day: November 1914, Religious Con-
gress: November 1920, Temperance
Day; December 26-37, Educators of
Colored Youths: December IS, Colored
Women's Congress; December 80, Col
ored Teachers Day; December 81,
Colored Authors. l will say that there
will be no discrimination on the
grounds or in the buildings, or any
Jim Crow car business there uselng
the words of Prof. /. Garland Penn,
(Chief of Negro Department., in a
letter to me, '.Colored people can ride
/
American Protective League should
see that the best production OF Iowa
/ is represented there.
/ j. Il. THOMPSON
at ST. Paul's A. M. e. church. corner
of Center and Second. I. Reeves, pas
tor. Sunday School at p. IN. Class
meeting at 12 m. Preaching morning
and evening. Subject of sermon at
| 1O:30 a. m. "In divine morality, man
has the true criterion of his moral con-
duct" Subject of sermon at 7:30 p. M,
"a thought on the value of a soul .
/ All are invited.
Miss Katie Owens went to Ottumwa
Tuesday morning after spending few
days in the city, the guest of Mr.. and
Mrs. Palmer From the above city she
will go to her home in Keokuk Pres
ent appearances indicate that there will
be a young ssociety gentleman who
viii find it convenient to visit Keokuk
| :. .. ~ x,a,,,y ,,ftnp