Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-29
Closing Proceedings Of the American
Negro Academy.
TOPICS OF The SEVERAL PAPERS READ
List of the Officers Chosen for
Ensuing Year.
DR.. ELLIS THEM

The last days session of the American
Negro Academy was called to order at 10 80
O'Clock this morning by the president Rev.
Alexander Crummell. The following pa
rers were read at the morning session:
The Obstacles in the Way of the Negro s
Progress in the United States.'' by Rev.
Matthew johnson of Philadelphia. and
THE Bearing of the New Philosophy of
History and the Theory of Christian Evo-
luton on the Destiny and Progress of the
Negro Race" by William H. Ferris of New
Haven, Conn.
Rev. Mr.. AnderSon's address was rec
| ord of the existence Of the negro in the
United States since the war. He began by
stating that before the war the African
was regarded simply as a beast. In the
same class goods or chattels, with no
| rights which a white man was bound to
respect. The whites who were most friend
| ly to the negro had the idea that he could
receive only the simplest instruction. In
the last thirty years. the speaker said, no
less than 10000 negroes had met martyrs
graves simply because they dared to exer-
else their rights as citizens.
Lynchngs in the south were dealt with
IN most exhaustive way, and the tieclara-
ton was made that between the years OF
lsS2 and 1884 counting the lynchngs which
rad been reported and those of which no
reports had been made, no less than 10000
reSroes lad met death in this manner.
Fears of Negro Domination.
1t was still feared. unreasonably. that
there would be negro dominatior,'' the
speaker said, land the last terrible charge
that which accused the negro Of despoil-
ing the home, was truClped up. This was
the awful accusation brought, ard the
world stood aShaSt at the terrible thing
re charge that the negro was striving
Tor domination was too liimsy. 1t was we'll
Known that he would much prefer work.
ing with his fellowman to putting him
self over him.
The people of the Eorth after the war
were too anxious to engage in bridging tn
bloody chasm and establishing the pIa, @
on which should stand the greatest nation
IN the world, to take much account of the
recently enancipated negro. He was for
gotten for time, and ii was only when
the great powers of the world were startled
at the treatment of the brother in black
that this nation was aroused and trcops
We're sent to the south.
Inc GeEarring OF the negro the
speaker continued from the more Iucra-
tive trades is far greater in the north. In
the south white and black skilled workmen
can be found engaged hand in hand. Some
OF the finest buildings in Atlanta, Ga he
was told, were constructed by negro work
men. In the north the foreigner who has
not even the right of franchise is given the
preference.
Il repeat that the north is doing far more
to impede the progress of the negro than
the south, notwithstanding the fact that so
many lynchings have taken place. These
have been intermittent, sporadic, while the
influences working against the negro in the
north have been continuous and powerful"
This alleged discrimination against the
negro was dwelt on at some length.
while this country is an asylum for peo-
pie from other countries, it was declared,
lit should be no less an asylum for those
hG vii re int
primarily al heart"
Obstacles Met With.
William h Ferris paper dealt with the
obstacles which prevented the negro from
reaching the top and how these obstacles
should be removed. What the negro needs,
he said, is the aggressveness, the courage,
the indomitable will and energy OF the
Anglo-Saxon race.
I'VE are told" he said, ito get our ma
terial prosperity and build our culture ard
refinement on this. On tine American dol
lar is the motto. In God We Trust and
the more dollars one possesses the more
God he has.
They tell us that we must get our for
tune, and intelligence will follow. However,
1t requires intelligence to make and amass
a fortune.
The negro problem will never be solved
until both the white and black come I'D to
Christs standard. Just long will race
can, 1t being born in the blood as the negro
is regarded as inhuman.''
1t was the idea of the speaker that the
development Of the negro was not to be
accomplished by going outside of himself.
1t was rot by any assimilation with other
races.
We should take the best which is in
us, he said, and make the most of it. We
should initiate the virtues of the Anglo
Saxon race, its tenacity of purpose, with
out any vices which it may possess. If we
remain patient and courageous, the negro
problem will solve itself"
discussion followed the reading Of the
two papers when the session adjourned for
lunch which was served by the committee.
Gathering Statistics.
AS stated in yesterdays Star, the matter
of appointing a statistician TO obtain in
formation in regard to the property Of
the colored people in different sections and
vital statistics regarding them was turned
over to the executive committee. The
committee. 1t is stated. will appoint a stat
lsticisn, with a salary, to do this work.
He will most likely be Prof. Kelly Miller.
The evening session will begin at
o'clock with an address by G. NJ Girls
ham on the subject. Aims in Negro Edu-
cation Another paper will be read on
The Outlook of Scientific Work Among
the Negroes" by J. w. Hoffman,. Paul
Lawrence Dunbar will read an original
next year.
Officers Chosen.
The officers elected yesterday were: Rev
Alex. Crummell, president; Mr.. W. E. B.
Du Bots, Rev. ]. A. johnson, Mr. w. S.
Scarborough and Mr.. w. H. Crogman,
vice presidents; Mr.. L. 3. Moore record
ing secretary; Mr.. ]. w. Cromwell, CORE
spending secretary; Mr.. F. j. Grimke,
treasurer. and Rev. Alexander Crummell
Mr.. Charles c. Cook, Mr.. J. w. Crom-
well, Mr.. +. j. Grimke and Prof Kelly
Miller, members of the executive COM
mittee.
President CrummelPs address was on the
Attitude of the American Mind Toward
the Negro Intellect" He spoke for about
an hour and half, and had the closest
attention OF his auditors.
The formation of the academy, he de-
clared, was the first step the colored men
OF America had taken toward the difficult
work OF cIitivating the intellect and fos.
terinS refinement in the coored race
history was given of the work of the negro
in the United States. From this the sneak
er drew the inference that there is no
need for the negro to attend a manual
labor school, as he is laborer by nature.
The great need of the negro is to have
his labor properly exploited and a larger
I, of tbn II