The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-24
He Tells Them to a Kansas City
ColOred Audience.
The People Hiss the Mention OF
the Administration.
CONDEMNS CATHOLICS.
Waller Says They Were the
Cause Of His Persecution.
Makes a Pitiful Tale and Ex-
cites GrOans Of Sympathy.

Kansas city. MO, June 24--Prelim-
mary to a debate by four coiored men
at the Second Baptist church on the
subject Ought the Negroes Of Amer
lea to emigrate to Africa or stay here,
John l. Waller told Of his troubles
with the French in Madagascar
When he told about how the French
sDat upon him and tried to kill him
with abuse. all because he was an
American Negro and a Protestant, the
audience grOaned In sympathy ~ neu
he denounced the present adminlstra-
tion for having allowed an American
citizen to be trampled on by a foreign
nation the audience Missed The names
of Attorney General Olney and Mr..
Eustfs. the ambassador to France,
were Kissed again and again, and when
Mr. Waller said that James g. Blaine,
the Negroes' friend, would have sent
the whole America navy to rescue
him, the audience applauded- Mr. Wal
Ter has a hollow cough, which he con-
tracted Ia French prisons, and that
cough VIII be a strong political argu-
ment in the coming campaign for Mr.
Waller VIII take it on the stump with
him
8Ir. Waller told first why he was sent
TO Madagascar as the American con-
sui and how, when he got there, the
French crowded around ana demanded
to know what his instructions were
from the American government He
told them politely it was none OF their
i've got those instructions here in
Kansas City" said MA Waller. and
thank God was able to preserve
them. for they are my Vlnd1cat1on 1t
was because / followed those lnstruc-
lions that I was cast in prison and al
most killed"
The audience became intensely ex-
cited when MT, Waller said in a plain
tive tone. These glasses II wear are in
my way. I don't like them, but I must
wear them a little longer because am
glasses tin I was put in that French
dungeon Not a piece of furniture in
the cell. I slept on the bare floor, and
ate or the floor like q dog The walls
dripped with dampness, and just one
ray of light came through a narrow
window. BY straining my eyes I could
read little When. after five months
fin there, came out the light of day
blinded me. and now my wife has to
read TO me but the doctor says 4 VIII
zone of the ridiculous things about
my case was this statement of Olney
to the American public. waller was
not mistreated on the French steam
ship that carried him to France or he
would have said So. Now let me tell
you ~ hen / was tried In Madagascar
by a french court there SAT- the Rus
sian. English and other cOnsuls except
the American consul That man. who
complained so much because the civil
war took 100 slaves from his father
that son of southern slave holder
who was appointed to succeed me-he
was not there. but 7 could look out of
the window and see the American nag
waving while Il an American citizen,
am ex-consular officer of this govern
ment was being tried and I could in
woke the aid of that flag in vain
LAS was led down through the town
TO the ship. I was covered with spittle.
The American flag was still waving,
i've blocks away. and that ex-slave-
IT, But I was alone"
The audience groaned and murmured
eXCiteuly.
ION the ship i was chained on my
back to the floor for seven days.
fought for my life. I had not a drop of
water or q mOrsel to eat for two days
and nights When we got to France
was cast in the dungeon. / was not
allowed to read American newspapers
OF to write the truth or to receive let
tiers OF sympathy. And yet OIney says
If Waller was mistreated he would
say so.
MY Negro brethren. this govern
ment has sealed my mouth They have
said must not talk but am going to
talk"
The audience cried Eyes. yes, tell 1t
all"
The startling part of Mr.. walters
speech came near its close. He told
about the hundreds of thousands of
acres of rice and the millions of head
OF cattle owned by Negroes in NADIA
gascar and of a fine Negro princess,
unmarried. who could write her check
for million dollars and then he said.
Madagascar are Professionals, the other
tenth are Catholics; but the Catholics
are trying to make all the others Cath
ollcs- j challenge any man to deny
that in 1884 when the war broke out,
France sent 10000 Catholic soldiers
there and when they went i'm battle
they crossed themselves and priests
followed after 20 bless the dead. And
ia Tamatave, where I was, and In 9th
err cities. these Catholic soldiers made
barracks of the Protestant churches
and schools. The Catholic churches
and schools ran on every day unmO-
1ested.'t
Mr.. Waller raised his forefnger to
emphasize every word and said DELHI
erately.
n call on God to witness that went
To prison because refused to say that
this Catholic aggression was all right
Waller is to be the guest of honor at
the picnic to be given ait Chelsea park
Thursday by the colored knights of
Pvthias Waller VIII preside and al
though he has not promised to speak
he may be sufficiently inspired to talk
hy the enthusiasm, for the c01ored folks
are going to have a lively day.