St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-05
WILL HONOR JOHN BROWN.
Mrs. Il. III. LyIes Prominent in a Now
AssGciatiOn.

Mrs I. II. Lyles, who went to At
lanta, Ga, last week in the capacity
OF chief commissioner for the state Of
Minnesota, to attend the congress of
Afro-American women, held in that
city IN connection with the cotton
states exposition, returned to ST. Paul
yesterday highly pleased with her visit
and particularly enthusiastic over the
work accomplished by the congress in
the interest of the cOlOred race in this
country. About three weeks ago Mrs
Lyles received notice of ler appoint
ment to the congress fro 4 the COM
mission for the District &C Columbia
colored exhibit at the octton states
exposition, under whose : spices the
congress was originated d conduct
ed. In her appointment Mrs Lyles
was also delegated to name four dep
uty commissioners to assist in the rep
resentation of Minnesota, and though
they were duly appointed, it was i'm
possible for any of the deputy COM
missioners to attend the congress, thus
leaving Mrs. Lyles Minnesota's only
representative. The congress was held
In the Bethel church, the largest col
ored church in Atlanta, jan q and %
during which time papers were read
and addresses made upon the various
questions appertaining to the welfare
of the colored race. Mrs. Lyles spoke
upon the subject Should Afro-Ameri-
cans Honor John Brown" and as a
result of the manner in which the ques-
ton was presented, at it's conclusion
the congress voted to indorse the
speakers position, and the following
day organized national John Brown
Monument association, for which Mrs
Lyles was elected national lecturer
While the organization Is termed the
John Brown Monument Association"
Z NV tha
tering the movement. to erect a col
ored orphan asylum somewhere in the
South, instead of monument.
In speaking of her visit Mrs. LyIes
said: I'm my opinion 1t would be next
to impossible to estimate the good &C
complished by the colored women's
congress. Women Of prominence
among the colored people were present
from twenty-eignt states, and for two
days considered the problems our peo-
pie have been trying to solve for years.
The general opinion was that the col
ored population was making rapid
strides toward success and prosperity,
and that, with the educational advan-
tages now at their disposal every
where, they will eventually demon
strate their ability to rank with the
white population in all matters of state
and civil privileges For my part, I
was surprised at the treatment ac-
corded our people in the South. It was
my first visit to the Southern states,
and 1 am convinced that many state
ments regarding inconsiderate treat
ment of the colored citizens are entire
ly erroneous. 1 was equally surprised
to find the colored population in such
seeming prosperous condition. Many
of them own their homes, and In some
instances own and rent stores and
houses to the whites. OF course, there
are poor colored people in Atlanta, just
the same as there are poor white peo-
pie, and again there are some of our
people who are idle, and consequently
In poor financial conditions but, then,
this fact also applies In an equal pro-
portion to the white citizens. On the
whole. I think our people have every
reason to feel encouraged over their
condition, We are assuming places in
the ranks Of literature the professions
and in commercial life, which we feel
are the best assurances OF our progress