The Washington bee., 1897-06-26
A NEW LEADERSHIP.

PERSONAL LIBERTY LEAGUE, JUNE
Is.
When Lee handed Grant his sword
at Appomattox Court House IN 1906
dripping with the blood of defeat from
a hundred battle fields of the Republic,
new era dawned upon the american
people. A gigantic rebellion wnicn
! had impoverished the Nations treasury
and baptized the American flag In the
best blood of its citizens and drencheo
it in the tears of widows and orphans
settled two mighty questions. One
was the rehabilitation OF broken ana
severed Union and the other was the
emancipation of 1900, 900 slaves from
abject thraldom and placing them
upon political equality IN common
with their white fellow citizens. In
order to make sure and permanent the
freedom of a colored American and to
fix his civil and political status beyond
question, certain amendments were
adopted to the National Constitution
| insuring and making emphatic the
doctrine that henceforth no man in our
country is white and no man black but
all free American citizens, endowed
with the American ballot, the rights
and privileges which it guarantees.
With = this citizenship for
the colored American came
grave and solemn responsibilities
which he was i'll prepared to meet.
Coming out of slavery confronted with
new conditions and environments and
facing difficulties and obstacles unsur-.
passed by any nation coming out OF
slavery and struggling for supremacy,
it was but natural that we should cast
about among ourselves for a leader,
who would not only lead us Alright but
who was able to give us words of wis
dom, admonition and counsel.
That we have had certain men that
we have regarded as leaders. there can
be no question. That we have follow
ed them, there can be no
doubt. Whether they have been
true or false, history must answer.
When speak of leaders, | mean those
OF our race who for the last thirty years
have been foremost before the country
debating terms, formulating policies,
as they termed for the good and well
fare ofthe race. Associated with these
men are the late Fred'k Douglass, Ex-
Congressman John M. Langston, P. B.
S. Pinchback, Ex-senator B. K. Bruce,
Hon. John K. Lynch ct al, whose
names press upon my memory, but
which time and space do not permit
me to mention.
By political foresight and sagacity,
these gentlemen whose names | have
mentioned, have by the people been
elevated to places of prominence,
emolument and responsibility. They
have had opportunities TO serve the
race and do for the race, things it
could not do for itself, and their SER
vices and labors in behalf of the color
ed American and along the line of po-
litical, moral and civil advancement,
commands at the hands of the nine
million colored people of this country,
special gratitude, commentator and
applause. They have in other words
brought us out of the land of Egypt
across heRed Sea and while we fingered
divided, contending and differing upon
matters of policy and problems upon
which. hangs our destiny
to Mt. Pisgoh and there he
heard the voice of the pale watch
man and he was gathered to his + ath-
ers. We are yet in the wilderness.
The Negro is less citizen today
than at any time since his emarcipa-
tion-Socially and civilly he is pre-
scribed against on every hand and po-
litically he is fast losing his foothold as
an important factor in helping TO
mould and shape the destiny Of the
Republic.
How shall we correct these evils
and reaSsert our manhood and right to
all those privileges and immunities
which are the rightful inheritors of all
our citizens? The history of other ma
tions may suggest remedy.
Every race or nationality has had its
champions; able, sagacious and fear
less in the advocacy of the rights and
liberties of the people. Tonight
amidst the rolling hills and castillian
plains of Ireland's sunny cline can still
be heard the voice of Daniel O'Connell
as he thundered in the defense of his
countrymen. The outrages upon his
people, the oppressive laws enacted to
fasten the yoke of serfdom and social
oStraciSm upon their neckS, so fired
the heart of this wonderful champion
of human rights that his utterances
and appeals in the interest of his fel-
lows gave all the world to understand
that Deniel O'Connell was a true
friend of the Irish.
England today, with her matchless
government, her wonderful resources
and acquisitions, owes its existence
largely, to the wisdom, foresight and
sacrifices of Gladstone and a host oi
others who have preceded him, who
in all emergencies that have arisen cal,
culated to overthrow the government,
have been to her rock of defense,
guarding and protecting her interests
against the onslaughts of both internal
and foreign foes.
The colored American who expects
to hold and enjoy the respect and
confidence of the colored Face as its
champion and leader in this age of our
civilization, must be a man in the
broadest, truest and best sense; one
who will contend for the rights and
Liberties of: the people, no matter al
what cost or sacrifice. Not
IL truculent apoligetic piece
ofphysical monstrosity who to win the
favor of the more fortunate class, will
Judas-like sell out the race for thirty
pieces of silver. but men like Tous-
saint L'Overture, John Brown, William
4 I LOUD Gorricn,, Db;IIs.1