Evening star., 1897-06-11
DISCUSSED CIVIL RIGHTS
Colored People Condemn Verdict in Recent
Police Court Case.
Claim Made That the Decision Was
an Insult to the Racc-Attor-
ney jones' COmments.


cclored people. who assembled to hear
discussed the case of Attorney Thomas l..
jones. who charges that he was refused a
cup of tea and a sandwich at downtown
lunch room, unless he would consent to
eat in the kitchen Before sdjourning
those present voted to affiliate themselves
with the Negro National Protective Asso-
clation, which has for its object the Sc
cLrirg for colored people all the rights to
which they are entitled under the laws of
the Land
The meeting was organized by the cleo
ton of Prof. John NJ. Langston, as chair
man; w. Calvin Chase. vice president and
Rev. DR.. Robert Johnson, secretary. These
officers were later constituted the officers
of the newly organized auxiliary to the ma
tional association.
After prayer by DR.. Johnson. Mr.. Lang
ston made lengthy address, in the course
changes in the advancement of the colored
people in this country. Sometimes We
seem to have reverSeS; our cause seems to
go backward. Then we bestir ourselves
more vigorously and undertake to educate
public sentiment in our favor and again
We begin to move forward, better perhaps
than ever before"
Mr. Langston said the appointment of
Powell as minister to Haiti was a great
compliment to the colored race of the
United States, for it was no small thing for
any man to represent this country at
foreign court In Haiti the American min
lister would, he said, be the friend and as
sc ciate of the English, the German and the
French minister and of every other min
ister representing nation in Haiti.
Reference to Douglass.
When Frederick Douglass was alive"
SAID MIR. Langston. "how bright everything
looked for u.s. Then We felt that the time
Would soon arrive when the rights of the
negro would be universally respected, and
that the white man would not in any
quarter be considered superior to the negro
But a change has taken place since, and
the negro does not have his rights in the
capital of the nation
We are not suitably respected either in
this city or country, and we propose tn
start a movement which. will create a pub
lie sentiment that will give us our rights
everywhere.
If colored people wouId take moro in
terest in their own affairs than they do
they would secure far more respect from
those in authority. What sight it would
be II the l0o,WOJ colored people of the Dis
trlct would form in procession, march
to the Executive Mansion and demand
of President Mckinley the carrying out
of laws relating to the rights of colorei
people, which are not now enforced. 1
tell you their demand would be needed,
both by the chief magistrate and his subor-
dinate officials
Messrs. w. Calvin Chase r. johnson.
f. NJ. Hewlett, j. w. Cromwell and r. s.
Laws were appointed committee on reso-
lutions.
During their absence from the meeting
Prof. Hershaw, president of the Bethel
Literary Society, addressed the audience.
he said the fact that jury decided
man to be innocent when all the evidence
offered showed him to be guilty. filled him
with alarm, for if it could be done in
lunch room case. there was no reason Ii
could not be done in a murder case or
trial for any crime.
The committee on resolutions submitted
a report, which. after being discussed by
Thomas l.. Jones, E. NJ. Hewlett and others.
was adopted.
MIR. Jones' Speech.
The principal speech was by Mr. Jones,
who, in part. said:
1T is sad commentary upon our ma
tional escutcheon that 10000 colored Amer
lean citizens have cause TO complain of the
treatment of one of it's number accorded
to him by our white fellow citizens.
"It seems that loyalty to country, pa
triotism and love for our national inSti-
tutions and the sacrifices made and sus-
tained on the part of the coiored soldier,
during the bloody days of the republic,
give us no special claim to citizenship,
and the enjoyment of our civil and poll-
cal rights under the Constitution of our
country.
IN entering the restaurant of Mr.. Brun-
haus public place for accommodation
Of all respectable and well behaved persons
who might apply, irrespective of race, color
or previous condition of servitude. L was
not actuated by any selfish motive, Eor
should my action be construed as meaning
that / was endeavoring to oDtrude my
self upon our white brother, nor should
I be regarded a mischief maker, ana
the disturber of the pleasant relation sub
s:sting between the two races in the Dis
trict.
Il am simply an American citizen, claim
ing such privileges and immunities for
myself as are accorded me under the laws
of ry country, and when these rights are
denied or abridged, l shall in all the vigor
of my manhood resent such action, no mat
ter from what source 1t comes
THE reason assigned by the defendant in
this case for refusing to serve me was
that he regarded me a suspicious char
acter. Not a sentence or a syllable of the
testimony offered by the prosecution was
denied or controverted on the part of the
defendant.
Gods Chosen People.
I'm the name of the American people and
If our boasted civiliza ton. I would ask
upon what principle of law is this dscrim-
inaticn justified Upon what hypothesis is
this sentiment sustained? Let me warn oar
Anglo-SaAcn brethren that the negro Is
Gods chosen people. Under Providence
We were wrcstcd from Africa's sunny cline
and brought to this country to perform a
noble and lofty mission. Our ens!avemcnt
is not regarded SO much curse il was
TO prepare us under the leadership and
direction of our Heavenly Father to build
Up. maintain and support a government,
Lrder which The hlackest as well as the
whitest of our countrymen should enjoy
and exercise every right guaranteed him
by law.
"A part of the mission is performed One
hundred and eightysix thousand colored
soldiers sleep the last sleep in the city of
the dead that our government might be
saved. and that. our national capital,
monument to the nations achievements
should tower a symbol of our national
strength to the latest period of time.
We cannot live part slaves and part
free. We had rather die all freeTnen than
to live all slaves. And we are slaves lust
so long as a single right guaranteed to
us by law is denied us by our white neigh
Dor.
Let the negro have it go forth that he
VIII not submit to this state OF affairs
without sincere, manly and vigorous pro-
Test. and that the nation cannot deny us
these rights without peril to the republic" &"
The Resolutions.
The resolutions, in substance, were as
follows:
Whereas the recent verdict of the turv
In the case of the District of C,ol,r,ht, -.