The Washington bee., 1897-10-02
ENDORSES THE SPEECH
Compliments to Our Colored Lawyers.
Urges Union and Race Support.
DIR. N. Johnson writes

DIR. I. n. Johnson writes
Editor Washington BEE:
Although am very tardy in this du-
tv, must compliment you on your
able, timely speech, delivered at Fred
erick, to the colored citizens of Mary
land. Maryland is the only State in
the Union whose colored people COM
memorate their day of emancipation
together at a single place. This they
do yearly and without single excep-
ton. You urged union, not only to
celebrate, but to accomplish real use
full and necessary ends for the good OF
thousands of negroes in Maryland. l
want to ask, Will the colored brethren
heed that sound advice? u hat say
our prominent men at Frederick and
Baltimore, in whom all the race in that
State have full confidence? | noted
some time since that there was much
dissatisfaction among the colored vO-
tiers in that State regarding their treat
ment at the hands of their white party
allies. l do not know what course
they have adopted, but | do know that
union of the colored people of the
State will bring to bear such wisdom
as will direct them properly in their
own interests, whether it be to let the
white brother have all the offices and
continue their support to the grand
old party and to have the republican
State government to force recognition
of colored peoples rights in Maryland,
or whether the race will take their pay
in a few offices for the leaders and let
the rights and interests of the masses
go, is not for me to say. | love the
State of Maryland, the place of my
birth, the soil that contains the MUIR
dered body of my Sainted father, the
home Of many of my near and dear
relatives.
Iwould like to see the rights of col
ored people respected in Maryland to
the extent of being allowed on jurieS.
They are no more allowed to sit on ju-
ries in republican Maryland than they
are in democratic Alabama. In some
of the cities and villages of Maryland
a negro cannot buy or rent home.
Brethren in Maryland are tardy of
their duty if they disregard Chase's
advice. Now, Bro. Chase, | want TO
call special attention to some of our
Washington colored lawyers whom /
think deserve special mention for their
skill and ability, as well as the indus
try they display, in hunting up the in.
terests of colored people whose inter-
eStS fall in the tolls, often doing this
without pay. Your able defense and
success in the Goodal case, where
spitefull, presumptuous officer, con-
stitutional defer who hunts in houses
without warrants, wished to vent his
spleen and send negro to the pen on
his dnSWorn statement, charging him
with perjury. M. M. Holland, in pre-
venting the wrong negro from being
held on f1imsy guess mot testimony
that he was the assaulter of Mrs. Chan
dler near Tennalytown, is worthy of
commentator. Hewlett'S interest in
having released by the police depart
ment the colored man Thomas, held
for assault near Laurel, on no papers
at all, was fortunate act for Thomas,
for he was doubtless saved from being
lynched, although innocent. LangS-
ton and JoneS need no introduction
they have strong race Sympathies.
which make negro clients as we'll as
. white ones safe in their hands. Well,
there is Kicks, Martin, Peyton, and
Amber, who can also be relied on to
give their clients and their interests
able defense. | must not neglect men
tion J. F. Bundy, R. S. Smith, Thomas
Walker, J. H. Stewart, and Robert II.
, Terrell, who give most of their atten-
; ton to civil business. All these able
colored lawyers, and others l might
mention, are worthy OF hearty sup
port, not only of the citizens of the
, District, of the country at large that
needs the service of an attorney here
at the capital.
| write this, Mr.. Editor, because the
newspapers, colored as well as white,
are slow to notice any merit IN our col
ored lawyers anywhere, notWlthstand-
ing the obstacles against which they
have to contend. | must say this IN
Justice to the courts here and to diSa-
buse the minds of the few colored peo-
pie who doubt negro lawyers chance
of winning difficult cases that the col
ored lawyer in Washington has as
good a chance as a white one.
The judges have no prejudice
against them, not half so much as
some colored people have, who are
quick to question a negro's ability.
Give these men the support you should
and set the proper example to others
elsewhere in the country.
While | have always stood up for
our colored ministers. must criticise
them a little for their failure to give
colored enterprises and colored talent
the benefit of their influence; for many
of them. though supported by the race
alone, they throw their influence in
favor of white talent in too many in
stances. This is not practicing the
doctrine we preach. Let our ministers
be a little less selfish, and our cause
will thrive more.
]. N. JOHNSON, M. D.