The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-11
PENSIONS FOR EX=SLAVES.
Meeting of Ex-SIaves Held in Topeka
Last Night.
SOME ROUSING NEGRO ORATORY

They Want Dem Pensions to Come
a-ROIIin' Down. Bress de Lord,
Honey.
In an old store building at 1920 Quincy
street, which is used as church by the
colored people, about fifty of the race
met last night for the purpose of making
a formal demand on the Uuited States
treasury for pensions for the ex-slaves of
the United States. OF this number not
more than two thirds were ex-slaves,
some of whom had felt the lash, and
about fifteen of them were women.
The lame and the halt and the blind
were there happy in the belief that all
they will have to do is to write to con-
gress to get national relief for their dis
tress,
The idea originated in Topeka with an
old colored man named G. w. Charles,
who presided at the meeting last night.
Last nights meeting was the third and
the association now claims a member
ship in Topeka of $50. though there are
possibly !, 800 ex-slaves here
The demands of the association-if
such it can be called-are to take the
form of a petition that will be addressed
to congress signed by all, if possible, of
the ex-slaves in the United States asking
pensions in the following schedule:
All over 20 years old to get 500 in
cash aud SIS per month thereafter. All
over 60, 5000 cash and $12 per month.
All who were over five years old at the
time of the emancipation, $500 aud 80
month. Altover one year old at the time
of the emancipation 500 and 81 month
On motion it was voted that a club of
the ex-slaves be organized, but, though
every body in the room voted for it, no.
body went up to register and George
Charles fixed it all right. He said:
III \ - 81 for oil
We want the names of the ex-slaves that
we may have pensions for our old fathers
and mothers with one foot in the grave
and the other one following who have
been brow beaten down by slavery"
This struck W. NJ. Jeltz. editor of
the Peoples Friend, as about right. and
he arose to express his appreciation of
the noble cause. He said:
81 just happened over in this part of
town on some legal business and at the
request of my old friend Charles l
dropped in here, and l tell you these
words that have been said mere tonight
on this monumentuous question aroused
my enthusiastics. They are for our
earnest and consideration"
There wasn't anything else to do just
then and a collection was taken up.
John Robinson, who announced in adj
vance that he was flat foot Baptist
preacher" and he was able to prove ii,
was called on for 4 speech and said:
SAT this junction l feel more than glad
to SEQ go many here. 1t reminds me of
the time when Moses called the children
of Israel out of the hands of their enc
mics of Pharoah. This meeting is called
to ask of congress and the president and
treasurer and the supreme court pensions
for those who have served in slavery in
this country for the last 246 years.
There is a demandment for this ques-
j
but in humble spirit, SO that she will
look over the back walls of the past "a
years and send us the money.
sit is one of the grandest questions
ever asked by the colored people. [Ap-
plause].
son the other hand you are little
backward about coming forward and
signing this constitution. Abe Lincoln
issued this proclamation. Loud ap-
pIause[. It is time we got some pay for
the time we served our old masters.
Everybody else gets pensions. They
pay the old soldier. That's all right
He fought to the bitter end. But if the
white soldier hadn't asked for his pen
sion the colored soldier wouldn't have
got his. Applause and voices that's
rightl
"One man stole you and the other man
bought you [Cries of that's right and
we know it. I One man stole you from
Africa and brought you over here to be
whipped in the stocks till the blood run.
[Everlasting true and God was with
nim when he said that
"I've seen my old father stretched on
the ground and whipped till the blood
run like you had cut the throat of a hog
and laughed. 1t was better for me to
laugh than to frown. ['You know it,
I'VE may be fought in this, but 1 say,
Fight it to the DEATH 1t is one of the
greatest questions that has ever come be-
fore this country. The colored ex-slaves
come up out of the valley of sorrow to
the top of the mountain and cry
Here stand
With empty handi
'Before Grover Cleveling steps down
and out want him to look down on this
bill. And l want the next president
don't care if he is a Republican man or a
Democrat man or a Populist man.
want him to have trouble with this bill
when he gets into that golden chair. 1t
don't take no edycated man nor no grady
ated language to see what we want If
anyone here tonight hasn't had his name
encrouched on this list let him come
forward. We don't entrust this
in the hands of Mr.. Curtis, though he's
a friend of mine We don't entrust it to
Mr.. Blue. If necessary we will send three
of them to Washington and keep two of
them here and send men there to sub
stain them applause We think the
time has come nigh when our pensions
should come rolling down from the ma
tional bank treasury.
MANY time we have laid in the
woods asleep with one eye open lesten-
ing to feel the lash of the overseer.
[ Loud applausel."
At the suggestion of George Charles it
was voted that the president name ten
rla of in f,r