The times., 1898-12-30
TIE PRESIDENT KISSED
Afro Americans Hold a Tu.
multuOus Session.
THE RIGHTS OF THE NEGRO
Speakers Boldly Flay the White
Mana Champion for Mr.. Nc
Love of Displny-The Topic of Mob
Violence Hysterically Discussed.

There was a tropical season in the an
cient capital last night and the colored
brethren were the factors therein. The
colored brethren had the upper hand for
many hours and they enjoyed themselves
in partitioning off the various States and
Territories and in occupying and govern
ing them. They hissed President McKin-
ley and condemned almost everything and
everybody.
The poor white man must make way for
the superior colored gentleman. This
seems to have been decided for all time
last night and there is no respite.
The Afro-American convention is
bowling success, and to quote the words
of the president of that body:
IF we had a wahm time tonight, my
bred'ren, jes' wait till tomorrow night"
The convention is holding forth at the
Metropolitan Baptist Church in r Street.
A few dignitaries occupied the platform,
while an audience of over a thousand col
ored people crowded the main floor and
galleries.
Many States Represented.
There were colored divines present from
many States. The brethren simply rolled
in ecstasy as they listened to the speakers
as they "battle-axed" the white trash, and
many of those in the audience were so sin
cerely wrought up that they expressed
themselves in picturesque language.
The convention opened officially yester-
day morning, but the real opening session
was held last night.
The call for the convention was first
read. This document stated in part that:
The continuation of brutal lynchings,
unjust determinations on railroads and in
hotels, restaurants and labor unions: the
attempted disfranchisement OF Afro Amer
leans in several of the Southern States, and
q hos. OF other obstacles which are thrown
in the way of our moral, financial and ed
ucational progress, make il absolutely
necessary that we organize and perpet
uate an organization for self protection"
Bishop WaIters's Address.
The convention WAS then called to order
by the president, Bishop Walters, of New
Jersey In his address Bishop Walters le-
viewed the condition OF the negro from the
close of the Civil War TO the present day
He then made the statement that as
President Mckinley had been silent in his
message as far as the race question and
the race riots in North and South Caro-
lima were concerned, the time had come for
the colored man TO act.
And the colored man did act with a
vengeance, but that is a portion OF the
proceedings which follow.
The first speaker was the Hon. George
W. Murray, of South Carolina, whose sub
iect was. Our Progress in Business" The
speaker reviewed the condition of the ne
gro since the days of slavery and showed
the gradual development of the race to a
higher position.
AT present the places which should do
most for the negro race are its hell-the
South in particular. Yet our degradation
is self-imposed and will last until we
bring about a peaceable revolution which
will bring about our real emancipation.
Education does little TO free the people who
are accustomed TO slavery and the Gus
toms of slavery. Our higher classes are,
it is true, sometimes guilty OF discrimi-
mating against the lower classes of the
race and this does little TO bring about
harmony.
The Love of Dress.
THE negro spends his money for an
appearance, while the white people spend
theirs for more substantial things. \
white tramp with good clothes is at pres
ent better off socially than a negro mill
ionaire. We contrast the wealth and
splendor of the white people with our
poverty, and We use this contrast 10
broaden the color line. The only way to
prevent recurrence of the recent riots is
TO bring about an agitation which will
cause us to act in self-defense. When we
show disposition TO aid ourselves the
white people will aid us.
"our race is without grain of credit
E,an, toll
compete with the white man. Then this
brings us to the colored mans place in
the business of the country. His place
is that position which he should occupy in
accordance with his production and con-
sumption. We constitute about one
twelfth of the population of the country,
and il we controlled even one-tenth OF
the business of the country we would
control domestic commerce of over ST.
0o0, 900 900. We fail to get recognition
from the Government because We cast
away this vast amount of business. We
are the bone and snew of the laborine
class of the country and ought to control
the business of at least three States and
govern them.
"The problem Is not how to live with
the white man, but how to live among
ourselves
Protection of the Negro.
The Hon. John p Green, former men,
Der of the Ohio legislature, was the next
speaker. His subject was THE Protec-
tion of American Citizens" The speaker
referred to the question as to whether
President Mckinley would protect ALI
American citizens. Extracts from speeches
by the President before he was elected to
that office were read, showing that he ad-
cd ttn nf ha rke
speaker said: When Mckinley was gov
ernor of Ohio he saw that no man was
lynched and he protected the negro al
ways. When / was refused admittance al
the Gibson House in Cincinnati, President
Mckinley refused to register at that house
because of this, and came to the other
hotel where was stopping. President Nc
Kinley has the best record of any mar
| ever in the White House, and he is the
| friend of the negro. ] have evidence that
| he remained silent in his message anent
| the South Carolina riots because he was
| advised to remain silent by certain col.
| ored men,"
The speaker was interrupted by Kisses
] and cries of Give the names" A score oi
delegates jumped up and demanded the
| floor, while the audience hissed with en-.
thusiasm the statement Of the speaker.
| To restore order a resolution was passed
compelling the speaker to appear before
committee and prove his assertion thai
| the Presidents message was silent on the
race riots because of advice from promi-
nent colored men.
Almost every colored man in the hal
wanted to be member of that committee
| and Bishop Grant, of Pennsylvania, who
had been called upon to speak, yelled te
! the audience, Wait minute, I'm goinl
| to be on that committee sure
A Pandemonium.
dozen men yelled Mr.. PRESIDENT but
he was deaf and busy qnieting the kissing
and general uproar. The committee al