The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-06
COLORED VOTERS RALLY
TWO IMMENSE MEETINGS FOR AND
BY THEM LAST NIGHT.
Nr. Overstreet's Speeches-Betting
Still Heavily i'm Favor of
the Republicans.

last night that certainly indicated the tenn
per of the colored voters of this city, and
went long way toward convincing doubt
ing ones that the colored man is not yet
ready to desert the party that has treated
him as an equal in all things. One of these
meetings was held in Odd Fellows Hall, on
Indiana avenue, and the other took place at
Bethel Church, on West Vermont street.
Both were rousing good meetings, and both
were well attended. Representative Over
street attended both gatherings, and made
short but ringing speeches. Prior to the
meetings the colored Republican clubs of
the city gave a parade Indiana avenue,
led by the Hotel Brotherhood Band. The
marchers carried torches. which threw out
red lights. and the avenue was fairly ablaze
with skyrockets and firecrackers.
The meeting at Odd Fellows Hall did not
begin until $50 o'clock, and at that hour
the hall was packed. Half the people who
came did not get seats, but they remained
until the meeting was over. Willis Kersey,
a well-known young colored man, presided
On the stage sat some of the best known
Republicans of the city, both white and coll
ored. Mr.. Overstreet did not arrive until
about o'clock, and shortly after his ar
rival Col. Harry b. Smith came into the
hall. A little later Armin C.. Koehne ar
rived, and with him came John L. McMaster
and Vinson Carter, judges of the Superior
Court.
Chairman Kersey, after stirring selec-
tion by the band, opened the meeting by in
Producing James II. Lott, a colored attor-
ney of the city, who spoke for fifteen or
twenty minutes. He told the voters before
him what their duty was, and made it so
plain to them that they could not help but
understand him. Il have heard colored
men ask he said, what the Republican
party has ever done that it should expect
the colOred man to support il. Then Mr.,
Lott PROCEEDED to enumerate some of the
things the party mas done, and by the time
ne had finished he had made it clear to ev-
act OF the Republican party has been such
as to command the vote and the respect of
the colored man. In closing Mr.. Lott re-
Ierred to the so-caled independent" col
ored voter. He said he did not question
the right of any man to do what he thought
was right, but he did question the judg-
ment OF a great many men.
Gurley Brewer another eloquent colored
orator, was the next speaker, and he be-
gan at the close of a patriotic air given by
the band. MIR. Brewer declared that it is
the Republican party that has made it
possible for the colored man to fight for
his flag as a citizen and soldier. This
declaration was greeted with cheers and
Mr.. Brewer went on to talk of the negro S
part in the war that has just closed. He
man should never go to the Democratic
party to learn the lesson of liberty. AS Mr..
Brewer was speaking, Representative Over
street came into the hall and walked for
ward In the direction of the stage He was
enthusiastically cheered as he pushed his
way through the crowded aisle to the front
While Mr.. Overstreet was speaking, there
was a stir in the rear end of the hall and
some one cried out: Here is Harry Smith. "
The instant Colonel Smith showed himself
to the crowd there was cheer and a
hurrah, and if there was ever any doubt
as to the county auditors popularity with
the cOlored voter II must have been dis
PEELED by those who witnessed the demon
stration last night. Colonel Smith was given
a seat on the stage with his brother, Horace
r. Smith. About the same time w. N.
Harding came in and he was also cheered.
MR.. OvERSTREETS SPEECH.
Representative Overstreet was then intro
duced. He opened his brief talk with the
statement: "There has never been time
when Americanism meant as much as it
does now" There was shout of applause
and Mr.. Overstreet added: Fifty years
ago this statement would not have been
approved as it is now" He then went on
to discuss the history of the colored man
in the war of the rebellion. He spoke Of
the brave work of the coored soldiers in
that war and also in the war with Spain.
The speaker said it was his uncle who led
a colored regiment at the battle of Nash
vile, and he had heard something of the
part that regiment played in the battle.
Looking about over the audience, Mr.: Over
street observed a great many white faces.
Il understood this was to be meeting
of colored voters he said why are
there white men among you? Is that the
rule in North Carolina to-night?"
"No. no, it is not cried a colored man
in the rear of the hall and exclamations of
No, no." all came from different quarters.
Concerning his own attitude toward the
colored people, Mr.. Overstreet said he had
never treated them better than a white
mo hTIf hn hn6 alxryar ClOfV hot fhaKr
were entitled to the same right that is ac-
corded those who are white in color The
Republican party, said the speaker, stands
| for independence, but it is opposed to de
| pendence." This is what the Democratic
party wants, 1t seeks to have the colored
voter dependent ON what the Democrat
tells him. In a few days continued the
| speaker, American nationality will be on
| trial. | have enough confidence in the
| voters of all races and color in this coun-
| ty to believe when they are confronted by
vital questions in the voting booth. that no
matter what emblem is on the ballot they
will realize that there is only one bird and
| that is the bird of freedom. Indiana is the
| State of Oliver P Morton; ii is the State
| that Lincoln loved it is the State on which
| the President puts much dependence. Now
| let us show him that are deserving of
| his confidence" Mr.. Overstreet, in closing,
| spoke of Colonel Smith a soldier and re-
marked that Indiana raised the first quota
| for the war with Spain and Colonel Smith
made the first offer of his regiment to the
AS the speaker closed the band struck up
| the familiar national air, "The Star-span-
| gled Banner" 1t was instantly recognized
with cheer. The men on the stage rose
to their feet and some one, taking a hand
kerchief from his pocket. began waving it.
Nearly every man in the house Sprang to
his feet and other handkerchiefs futtered
here and there. A colored man in the mid
die of the hall raised a small flag, and a
young fellow jerked it out of his hands and
| carried it to the stage. James Fl. Lott took
1t and held 1t up so that the crowd could see
ii. This added to the enthusiasm and eV-
erybody cheered the flag. 1t was only a
small banner, but ii represented the senti-
ment of the men in the hail. Colonel
Smith, as soon as the band ceased playing,
spoke few words in behalf of the Repub-
lican ticket. He recalled to the minds of
the audience a similar meeting that was
held in the same hall four years ago. Col.
auditor, and at that meeting addressed a
gathering of colored men. He made prom
ises to them to what he would do for
his cofored friends if elected, and he asked
the men before him last night if he had not
kept his word. Many cries of Yes, you
have came from different parts of the
hall. Colonel Smith, in closing recounted
the story of how the blockhouse at FL Ca
ney was taken by colored soldiers. The
story had been told him by an officer who
was there, and Colonel Smith gave it in a
way that aroused the greatest enthusiasm.
Following Colonel Smiths talk, there were
short speeches by George w. Nash. the Re-
publican candidate for coroner: George l..
Knox, Armin Koehne and Judges McMaster
and Carter 1t was nearly ii o'clock before
the meeting broke up.
AT BETHEL CHURCH.
At the demonstration given at Bethel
Church. on West Vermont street Rev. d.
A Graham. pastor of the church. presided.
The meeting was not called to order until