The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-01
THE RACE QUESTION
Vigorous Words of a CoIored
Minister.
COMPROMISE NO CRIME
A North Carolina Preacher, Rev. c. S. Brown.
Before The Foreign Mission Conven-
ton in Baltimore.
Baltimore Sum-

Discussion of the race question formed
a large part yesterday of the first day $
proceedings of the District Foreign Mis-
sion Baptist Convention, which was held
at First Baptist church, colored, Caro-
line and McIGlderry streets.
The president, Rev. DIR. c.. S. Brown.
OF North Carolina, sounded the keynote
i'll his annual address. From the express
sions of approval given by the delegates
it was evident that he voiced their senti-
ments in condemEing unawfulneSs by ne.
groes as well as unlawful punishment o.
their crimes. The presidents reference
to the race question was in part as fol-
lows:
MANY of our selfIconstitnted race
leaders rage and foam at the mouth
like mad horses in their desperation TO
embitter the race feeling and to stima-
late needles friction and rivalry. They
discuss the problems. but never solve it,
they widen the breach that separates the
races, all to the detI-iment of our own
unfortunate people. They fairly bite
themselves with rage and ranfcor when
fresh outrages and lynchings occur. They
recommend retaliation. but give MS 10
arms: they tell MS to leave the white
people. but fail to tell us where to go;
they advise us to run our own schools.
but give us no money. In fact, TO fol-
low their instruction would be worse
than ruin to us.
1--WE SHOULD NOT CONDONE
WRONG"
I'VE deplore as seriously as any one
the irldignities which we are forced as
a race to suffer. Ny whole nature r.
volts against insults and imposition; my
blood boils and BURNS in my veins as
read of the barbarity which is perpetrai-
ed at some of these fiendish iynchings
yet the truth is, | can feel no more IN
dignant, hurt and mortified than thous-
anals of white Christians all over tbs
country. North and South. We shonti
mot CoIti0ne wrong or support iawless-
ness. Let us condemn rape and rapsts;
lynthing and lynchers.
"A general revolt means general ex'
Examinations We have courage, but We
have mo resources The thing 10 do is to
sustain the closest relations possible
with the enlightened Christian white citl-
zenship of this country and secure by all
honorable means their fullest co-opera-
ton in our struggle to rise.
"Co-operation or the unifying of tile
people is the right thing and should be
supported. If we can not get all we
desire or all we think we deserve. LET
us get what we can. We usually get a
great deal more than we pay for. 1t IS
better to get nothing and be right than
to gain the whole world and lose the soul.
Call me what you will, am migrate, a
traitor. a slave-heap your yenomous
anathemas upon my head, scorn me. de-
ride me-but, mmoyed and fiEnher than
ever before, ] stand for cooperation be-
tween the white and the colored Baptlsts
of this country, and / believe that my
position is sustained by the whole moral
force of the Bible.
1.-THE destiny of the American people
is .one and inseparable.' Cooperation
means everything to us: it means OPP
portllnity, privilege and life itself. When
broken from it we will find ourselves
beneath a force which will grind us into
powder.
Therefore, as leaders in crisis so
irnmEnent, SO dangerous to our moral and
material welfare, we cannot afford TO
make a bltnder. We cannot afford 20
mislead our people. for with chldlike
simplicity they have confided to our keep
ing their most sacred rights and liberties.
What we cannot secure by honest
straightforward living through the relig-
ion of the Lord Jesus Christ by accepting
the proffered help to ADLER friends Is not
worth having. Whether it be the saving
of Africa from the clutches Of the con-
iurer and from the claims of heathenism.
or whether it be the lifting of our own
selves in this land TO a higher Christian