Evening star., 1898-12-30
TUMULT IN THE COUNCIL
Excitement Attending the Opening Session
of Afro-Ameiicans.
John r. Green of Ohio Provoked an
Outburst by His Words Con-
cerning the President.

keep cool"
The president in his address counseled
calmness of action, but was vigorous in
the denunciation of the alleged wrongs to
his race as to arouse the delegates TO the
highest pitch of enthusiasm and excite
ment. This told at the evening session,
which was called to order at $50 O'Clock.
Fully 1000 people were crowded into the
church.
The first speaker was George w. Murray
on the subject of Our Progress in Busi
ness" John z. Green of Ohio followed and
his address provoked a lively discussion.
He stated that no man in the White
House had been more Jealous in up
holding the rights of the negro than Presi-
dent Mckinley. The speaker declared it
was upon the advice of some of the promi
nent men of the colored race that the Pres
ident had said nothing about the protection
of the negroes in his message to Congress.
Groans and Kisses were heard in response
all over the house. and it was evident
Green's remarks were not bit pleasing to
his audience. dozen men jumped to their
feet and endeavored to secure recognition
by the chair. Bishop Walters rapping in
vain for order. -''~|
4 Thomas Fortune was heard finally
Il ask Mr.. John p. Green of Ohio to name
the negroes who gave President Mckinley
this advice he cried.
Cheers followed broken by the presiding
officer declaring: Wen not have that
now. 1 introduce to you Bishop Abraham
Grant of Pennsylvania, who will
Another outburst drowned his voice, but
above it all Bishop Grant was heard stout
ly proclafming his wish to have the names
given before he preceded. The tumult
only quoted when a committee was named
to ascertain the Names but it soon reported
mat Mr.. Green could not furnish the in
formation. Laughter and applause greeted
the announcement.
Bishop Grants. Views.
Then Bishop Grant spoke briefly, saying:
ne question is not what the white man
is going to do with us, but what we are go
ing to do with ourselves. The white man
brought US here, and now this is our home
Let us acquire wealth. Let lss mass our
forces. The thing for the negroes to do, if
they want to help rule this country is to
help own it. Don't stop at the normal
schoois put go on to the college. The edu-
cation that is good for the white man is
good for us. The only man In this country
that is before up is the white man. and we
VIII eaten up with him pretty soon, If We
can get a mans chance. Be true to God
true to yourselves, true to your families
and the answer will come by and by
loa Weils-Barnett of Illinois spoke on
mop mop violence and anarchy, north and
south. president Mckinley, she said was
100 much interested just now in the ma
tlonal decoration of confederate graves to
pay any attention to the negro's riehts-n-
remark Is-a that brought forth loud applause.
Warming to her subject she said: IF this
gathering means anything it means that
we nave at last come to a point In our
race history where we must do something
Ior ourselves. and do itnow. We must edu-
cate the white people out of their $50 wears
OF save history. The white people of the
horth are not so much Indifferent as ig-
norant We must get a hearing before
them We must demand of our congress-
men IN the north that they cut down the
basis OF representation, in the south to ac-
cora with the actual number of voters
", we are eternaily"opposed to expansion un-
III this nation can govern at home Let the
negro place himself with the party that
is opposed to expansion
Plea for Conservatism,
Recorder of Deeds Cheatham made a
plea for conservatism and moderation. op-
posing the views Of the previous speaker,
an assertion which brought forth mingled
groans and Kisses. The recorder made a
powerful speech. however and finally COM
nlanded the unwilling attention of his au-
dltors. who evidently wished for something
more inf1ammatory. He said, in part:
While in this unsettled state of affairs
when the blood is running high between
the races, let US who are away from the
scene of action advise and counsel har-
mony and peace between the races l
would not for my right hand utter one
word, even for the sake of your appre-
clated and enjoyed applause, if | knew at
the same time that it would cause a wider
breach between the colOred and white
races in their immediate localities in any
section of the United States. We cannot
bors. the strong against the weak or race
against race.
There is too much at stake. my friends.
and l love the millions of our homeless
doWn-trodden and helpless people too deep
ly to allow myself to indulge in idle speech
or in any language for mere temporary
qualification. The questions before us are
too serious, too vital. too far-reachng for
idle sayings. The peace the happiness, the
prosperity. the sacred homes of our people
in the south and the mighty problem wheth-
er the Two races shall live together in peace
and friendship. enjoying alike the rights of
citizenship and the blessings of freedom are
being asitated and are unsettled. certainly
in the south With such serious questions
confronting US and such mOmentOus issues
before us, we are called upon for our calm
est thoughts and wisest judgment We
want to show to the world that we want
peace instead of strife. reason instead of
passion protection and friendship instead
of confusion and harshness. and thereby
show to the nation that the cQlored man.
with all of his disadvantages, Is worthy of
all franchises and privileges which a gov
ernment has bestowed upon him and that
no wrongs which have fallen upon him will
destroy his patriotism or weaken his con-
tldence in our glorious government. which
gave him freedom and pledged its honor to
protect him in his life. property and the pur-
suit of happiness. Although this may not
have been done in the entirety it must
come. and 1t will come If we make friends
instead of enemies. ! believe with modera-
ton and prudence on the part of our peo-
pie everywhere we shall be able to recon
Gle our bitterest enemy and receive the
sympathy and most hearty and loyal sup
port of the best element of the white race.
both in the north and in the south. We can
afford to do this. for we right.
Presidents Trip South.
president McKinley's trip to the south.
where he was invited to the great celebra-
ton of peace in Georgia. was most glorious
from the beginning 10 the end. He met the
southern people not as an enemy, but as a
friend. He had been denounced by some
hot-headed southern white men because he
was friend to the negro and because he
mad appointed negroes to post offices and
internal revenue positions in the south. But
how did he act when he went down among
these people? Did he go down to stir up
strife? He went and carried in his hands
the olive leaf of peace and good will He
was the President of the whole country. not
the north, nor the south. or the east or the
west. nor the black nor the whites, but the
President of the United States and the
friend of all.
II believe his appeals to the southern peo-
pie 10 lose sight of all past preiudices and
that all sections of the United States unite
in one grand union brotherhood will go a
long ways toward bringing about a more
substantial recognition of the rights of the
black man in the south as q citizen"
Ac NJ