The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-22
PROTEST
A Mass Meeting in New York Adopt
Resolutions Regarding the Race
Conflicts in the CarOlinas

New York, November IA mass
meeting of colored men n women to
protest against TIE treatment of their
race in some of the southern states
recently was held tonight in Cooper
Union AS a precautionary measure
the police were out in force, as even
in this city in "HelFs Kitchen dis
trict, there has been a considerable
amount of a~nti-negro sentiment. This
pr%ecaution, however. was not at all
necessary as the gathering, although
enthusiastic at times, was a very
peaceable one. The hall was crowded
with cOlOred people, with a Sprinkling
of whites. A number of prominent
white citizens, however, sent letters
commencing the object of the meet
ing. During a tedious wait for the
speakers a white man with long flow
ing hair arose in his sea in the centre
aisle and shouted: IF we only had a
William Lloyd Garrison, a Wendell
Philips or an Abraham Lincoln at
this time!" This evoked tremendous
applause.
a few moments later and took the
presiding officers chair and in a
lengthy address told Of the race trou-
bles of the south.
Ebenezer D. Bassett, formerly min
lister to Hayti, also spoke.
The following resolutions were
adopted, with a lengthy preamble:
"ResOlved, That we, citizens of
Greater New York, protest against the
rioting and revolution which have dis
graced the states of North Carolina
and South Carolina, and which AVE
been contrary to h letter and spirit
Of our institutions and calculated to
subvert the guaranteed rights of citi-
zens and to damage the good NAME,
reputation and credit of the republic
at home and abroad.
Resolved, That we deplOre as
governors of North and South Caro-
lima are censurable for their failures
to suppress the said rioting and revo-
luton within their states and for their
failure to invoke the aid Of the federal
authority if they were not able or I'M
willing to cope with the condition of
affairs.
Resolved, That we deplore as an
un-American and provocative of End
less friction and contention the antag-
Onism to race and color which alone
appear to have caused the said riot
ing and revolution in North and South
Carolina and that we insist upon it
that the just rights of all citizens un-
der the constitution shall be respected
as the only safeguard against lawless-
ness and as the only guarantee of Or
derby government, and that we appeal
to the conservative, laW-abiding
Christians of the republic to assist in
the creation of a public opinion which
shall compel those in authority to en-
force the law and to secure to each
citizen adequate protection in his life
and property in the exercise of his
manhood and citizen rights under the
constitution.
Hpncn1ro1 Thot &c Tho ctotoc nf
Mississippi, South Carolina and Louis
lana have, by constitutional enact
ment, i~isfranchised more than half
Of their population, we demand that
the basis of representation of these
states in congress and the electoral
college be reduced, in the proportion
which the numbe of such male citi-
zens shall zeal to the number of male
citizens q years old as made and di-
rected by section 2, of article "A, of the
federal constitution.
Resolved, That we recommend such
amendment to the constitution as will
enable the president to use the fed
eral authority to protect the life and
property of the citizens of the United
States from organized or mob con
spiracy whenever the governor of any
state. from fear or collision, fails to
afford such protection or to call upon
the federal government to afford it.
Resolved, That we implore the
guidance of Almighty God in the shap-
ing of our homogeneous citizenship to
the end that it may make for right
for human progress and for
the invincibility of our great and be-
loved republic against the elements of
noting and revolution from within and
the assaults of the enemies from
without"
Among the other speakers were Law
son n. Fuller; ]. P. Peaker, president,
of the State Summer League. Connect
icut: Rev. DR.. J. N. Scott. of Hender-
son, y. c.: Rev. benjamin W. Harris,
of Boston. and Elizabeth B. Grannis.