The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-27
MEMORIAL TO INGERSOLL
COLORED MEN REMEMBER HIM AND
MIR. JULIAN AS WELL.
Resolutions Adopted Promising Sup
port to Business Concerns That
Employ CoIored People.

Afro-American convention was held yester-
day. Two resolutions were adopted ex-
pressing the honor and esteem in which the
late George w. Julian and Robert G. Inger-
soil were held by the members Of the con-
vention. The discussion of race prejudice
was then continued, being opened with
paper by w. A. Sweeney, of this city. The
paper. in which references were made to
the position OF trades unions, the lynchingG
and the Acknowledgement Of the Southern
negroes, created quite sensation. Rev. E.
L. Gillian followed with an attack upon the
labor unions for their refusal to recognize
colored men.
Rev. d. A. Graham, of this city. then read
paper on 'The Crime Which Leads to
Lynching." He took the position that the
colored race should not be held accountable
as race for the acts of few irresponsible
negroes. He said in part: Our enemies
accuse US of condoning rape every time that
we condemn lynching. They know they are
lying. We. the respectable colored people.
condemn an assault upon women as the
highest of crimes. for which the pen
atty of death should be inflicted in every
case. This is much higher ground than the
white Southern people will take or support.
1t is. however. the just ground upon which
of protecting womanhood. They mean only
white womanhood. 1t is an indisputable
fact that white men of respectable standing
in the South are assaulting AMI debauching
colored girls and women every day without
the least danger of punishment. The col
ored woman has no protection either in law
or society, and the husband or father who
undertakes to protect her is preparing to
form the center OF attraction for a lynching
bee. II is the ignorant vicious colored brute
who assaults white women. but it is the in
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white brute who debauches colored girls.
But a brutes brute for a that. / think
that every honest mind Is prepared to say
that crime. which leads to lynching is in
dice"
Rabbi Wechsler. of this city, who was
for twelve years a resident of Mississippi,
talked for about thirty minutes regarding
the condition of the colored people, and said
that In his opinion they were responsible for
the position they occupy. He urged them
to educate themselves and their children
that if the coiored men and Women ei1 would would
so perfect themselves in different lines of
work that they might without fear enter
that they would get their share of the coun-
try's business, regardless Of their color.
THE EVENING SESSION.
The evening session opened with a pa
per, 1.-The Negro in Politics." by w. A.
Henderson, Of this city, and 1t was en-
Enthusiastically received. He said in part:
You may make the negro the greatest
farmer in the land, the most skilled me-
chanic that ever entered the shop, the most
expert accountant in the bank or the great
est scholar of modern times without the
ballot he is but pigmy. His life Is inse-
cure; he has no protection at home, no
equality before law and may be kicked and
Duneted about as a common cur. The
great bulwark of human liberty is the BAL
lot, and 1T Is the panacea for all our ills.
1 t5 removes the negro to stand fast in the
| made him free He should take no back
ward step, surrender no constitutional
try should be agitated, even convulsed, until
the battle OF liberty is won. We must not
submit to disfranchisement, but protest,
of personal ambition for the salvation of
the. race. The United States Constitution
declares we have our political rights. and
10 yield them would be unmanly, coward
ly and unpatriotic."
An attempt to discuss the political situa-
| voted down.
The committee on resolutions then pre-
sented number Of resolutions drawn up
| immortality. vice and crime: the second
urged the colored people to rigidly practice
economy and give support to colored pro-
| ing; the fourth pledged the individual and
collective strength of the members of the
convention to vote for no candidate for
Il
| to the reduction of the Southern representa-
ton in Congress. Negroes in business
should not discriminate against any man
on account of color was the declaration Of
| the next resolution; the sixth, that colored
people should not discriminate against men
on account Of color; the seventh urged the
colored people to use their best sense and
Judgment in voting, and that no prejudice
should exist on account OF color.
The committee on address, which was to
nave prepared an appeal TO the citizens of
| the country for the recognition without
prejudice of the colored people was not
ready to report and the committee was
| given until tonight to prepare the adj
E. L. Gillian presented a resolution
which, upon being read. caused much dis
cussion, and though the chairman endeay-
ored to cut off the debate most of the men
was as follows: Resolved, That in each
city or town in which there is any num-
Der OF our race committee be appointed
to call upon the merchants, contractors
manufacturers, corporations, ETC., and pre-
sent to them data as to the quality and the
value OF the goods purchased by our
people from them, and ask that in view of
this patronage We be given representation
| In their corps Of clerks, ETC., pledging our
TO those merchants who accord us recog-
milton in. the employment of members OF
our race"
| A. W. Sweeney protested against the
adoption of this, saying that II practically
meant boycott of those who did not COM
ply. Upon an explanation by Gillian and
a roushing speech in its favor the resolu-
ton went through without dissenting
vote. A resolution to make the temporary
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