The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-06
BLAMES M,KINLEY.
Bishop Turner Says the President Has
Ignored the CoIored Race.

New York. July 6.-The Sun says:
A meeting of the foreign mission board
of the African Methodist Episcopal
church was held in Brooklyn on FRIDAY:
The board is composed of bishops OF
the church Bishop H. N. Turner, OF
Georgia, discussed the race question:
and in the course of an address he re-
ferred to President Mckinley thus; II
we only had a man of strong force ana
purpose in the presidential chair, a man
who had the courage to independently
stand by his convictions; if we had
some man like the president or france
our condition would have been amer
iOrated in the south Much OF the re-
cent agitation would have been allayeo-
This was applauded by the blshopS
present. Yesterday afternoon the BROOK
lyn Eagle quoted Bishop Turner as
saying before he left for his home IN
Georgia:
IN regard TO what I said against
President Mckinley, 1 have nothing TO
hide. President Mckinley is hne
man. He has many friends. l believe
that he has as many friends among the
Democrats of the south as among the
Republicans, but he is a man lacking IN
force. He has not been true to our
people when he might have been. By
speaking a few words, by merely rals-
ing his hand, or in some way taxing
notice of US, he might have given recog-
milton to the wrongs which we nave
been forced to endure. This he has not
DONE He has remained silent and pas
SiVe. He has allowed the most aWIul
crimes to be perpetrated against our
race, when in some way he might nave
interfered.
There have been great misrepresen-
tations of this race question: contln-
ued the bishop, speaking In his charac-
teristic crisp way, clearing his throat
between each sentence.
7 do not believe the people Of the
north understand the relationship that
exists down south. It's the bad element
of both races which is responsible Tor
most of the trouble. Between the best
elements there is the closest tie of re-
latiOnship. 1 recently preached IN a
white church, in which the white peo-
pie took the gallery and rendered me
and my people the church proper. Be
tween the broad element of both races
there is no question. It is the vicious
class which Stirs strife.
4 do not believe in lynching in any
form. 1 am eternaliy opposed to it.
For the crime which prompts it 1 be-
HeVe due punishment would come if the
guilty ones We're subjected imme diately
to a surgical operation. The case of mis-
taken identity is too frequent for lynch
ings to be continued. Suppose at CEDAR
town, Ga, just two weeks ago, the more
conservative element had not controlled,
an innocent man would have been
lynched, a man who was afterward tried
and acquitted. This surgical operation
which I speak of would be just as effec-
tive as the rope"
rs the presidents passivity on this
lynching question the only grievance
you people have against him?" was
asked.
mo, sir, it is not" replied the bishop
promptly. I'VE believe that the negro
should have been rewarded more for
his services performed during the war
with Spain. The cOlOred man did splen-
did fighting. He proved himself ValOr-
Gus. In return some of my people want
ed commissions. They claim that they
have distributed a number of second
ieutenancies among the negroes. But
is this so? Several cOlored regiments
were organized toward the close of the
war, but these have been all disbanded.
Those who were given offices have been
reduced to cOrpOrals and sergeants,
I'VE have had no recognition by the
administration. Just now one of our
regular colored regiments is leaving for
the Philippines. Why does not the pres
ident give US enough officers to CORE
spond to the fighting force of black
men which represents this country?
This is another great grievance which
my people have against Mr.. Mckinley
and the administration. I will say that
this feeling of discomfort is general
among the blacks of all sections. It is
a pity, too, for I believe President Nc
Kinley personally is a fine man, but
he seems to have no force"
Bishop Turner is a representative man
of his race. He is the father of the
colonization scheme that contemplates
the ultimate return of the negroes to
Africa