Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-03-10

M lem
oscupy viii reference to the white
people will never increase, win gradu-
ally diminish but the number OF Ne
groes in this country will con tinually
increas.
ss I say it will never increase, because
We do not import Negroes into the
United States. It is an evident fact that
the riffraff OF all the nations Of the
earth enter this country except N egroes
And, strange to say, they find open
doors and find open hearts, and soon
mingle and comingle with all the
people Of this country and are lost in
the great civilization OF this country.
We do not ask to be assimilated; we 0
not ask to be amalgamated; we do not
ask for anything but to remain dis
tinct and separate race as we are, and
be permitted to work out our own man.
hood and womanhood We do not expect
anything else.
Now, gentlemen, what are you going
to do with this problem, with this
question? l believe the time is coming
very soon when the color of mans
skin, SO far as business relations are
concerned. so far as citizenship is con-
cerned will cut no figure at all. A
man will be regarded as man wheth-
err wrapped in a white or black skin
l believe the time will come when we
will have no mere riots in the South on
account of color, when civilization will
so develop all over this nation that
there; will be no more lynchings and
barbarity and mobocracy, now so prev
alent in some portions of this country.
When the black man through toll
and economy, shall have acquired prop
erty and wealth and all those things
that make full American citizen, and
when all the barriers of legislation now
in the:way shall disappear, he will be
taken by the hand as man. l believe
the time will come-yes, soon-when
the condition that prevails to-day in
Boston, in grand old Massachusetts,
where all ara recognized, both black
and white, will prevail in South Caro-
lima, North Carolina, Louisiana, and
Mississippi. We can not live on the
dead ashes of the past. Slavery and it's
institutions, racial distinctions and
wrongs will come to an end. We are
going forward; we are looking out; we
are stretching out our arms all over the
United States, The nation must care
for those att home as well as those
abroad.
Our ratio of representation is poor.
We are tainted with being uppish; we
are told to be still; to keep quite. How
long must we keep quiet? We have
kept quiet while numerically and justly
we are entitled to 81 members of this
House;..and lam tho only one left. We
kept quiet numerically we are entitled
to member of the supreme Court
We have never had member and prob
ably never will; but we have kept quiet.
We have kept quiet while numerically
and justly, according to our population
as compared to all the other races of
the world, SO far as the United States
are concerned, We should have the rec:
ognition of place in the Presidents
Cabinet; but welhave not had it. Still
We have kept quiet, and are making no |
noises about it. ~"
We are entitled to 10 United States |
Senators, according to justice and &C.
;ording to our numerical strength, but |
We have not one, and possibly never
will get another; and yet we keep qtiet.
We have kept qtiet while hundreds
md thousands of our race have been
strung up by the neck unjustly by
nobs and murderers. If q man COM
nits crime he will never find an apollo
fist in me because his face is black.
lie ought to be punished, but he ought
o be punished according to the law as
in court of justice
But we keep quiet; do not say it, do not
ak about it. How long must we keep
uiet, constantly sitting down and see-
ur rights one by one taken away from
S? AS slaves it was to be expected;
S slaves we were docile and easily
but as citizens we want and
ave right to expect all that the law
us.
We are passing as we trust, from ig-
ORANGE to intelligence. The process
lay be slow; we may be impatient; you
lay be discourage; public sentiment
nay be against us because we have not
lone better, but we are making prog
ess. Do you recollect any race of
cople placed in like circumstances
vho have done any better than we
ave? Give us a chancei and we will
o more. We plead to all of those who
re here legislating for the nation that
While your sympathy goes out to" Cuba
and we are legislating for Cuba
While your hearts burst fourth with
,reat love for humanity abroad, re-
member those who are at our own door.
remember those who have worked for
'ou; remember those who have loved
,ou. who have held up your hands,
Who haved felled your forests, have
legged your bitches, who have filled up
'our valleys and have lowered the
and have helped to make