The Washington bee., 1899-05-13
AFRO AMERICAN COUNCIL.

| ENTHUSIASTIC SPEECHES-THE REPUB
LICAN PARTY CONDEMNED BY ]. r.
HARRIS AND SENT TO HADES,
WHILE MESsRS. PETERSON AND LY'
ONs DEFENDED IT.-GEO. H. WHITE
SPEECH A DISAPPOINTMENT AND
CHARACTERIZED AS ROT. He CR1TI-
CIZED THE BEE AND ITS EDITOR,
WHICH WAS COOLY RECEIVED. The
ADMINISTRATION AND PRESIDENT
MCKINLEY DENOUNCED.
The Afro-American Council No. I,
of the District of Columbia held a
public meeting at the lyCeum of the
Second Baptist church at o'clock p.
m. on last Sunday. Seated on the
platform were: ExGov. Pinchback,
Register Lyons, Recorder Cheatham,
Ex-senator Green. Collector of Port
Dancy and there were present in the
audience which was unusually large
many distinguished ladies and gentle
men. Mr.. Jessie Lawson introduced
Ex-Gov. Pinchback who presided
over the meeting, he then presented
the speaker of the afternoon Hon.
Geo. White of n. c. Mr.. Whites
address was disappointment as was
expected that he would Confine him
self to the organization and the work
of the Afro-American Council, he re-
viewed the recent lynchlng of negroes
in the South deploring the same, and
believed that healthy public sentl-
ment was being created against such,
he gave a tabulated statement OF the
number of lynchings and the crimes
committed by the victims showing
that only a very few were even
charged with rape. He praised the
negro soldiers, despite the opinion of
Gov. Roosev 1t of the Afro-American
Council, he said it would live. despite
the fact that it was conceived out OF
wedlock at its birth we find 1t detorm-
ed and paralytic." All the Bees in the
country could not sting it to death, and
that it could not be Chased out OF
existence. The speaker found that he
was beating a dead march, as
evidenced by the cool reception with
which mis- remarks were received.
His speech contained nothing new,
original or instructive and was gen.
eral disappointment to all and espe-
cially his references to the BEE and its
editor. This reference was disgusting
to the distinguished gentlemen present.
A singular feature of the exercise
was a statement on the part OF Mr.
PinchbaCk at the conclusion OF Mr..
Whites speech that it was not open
to criticism" and that any one who
desired to speak was at liberty TO add
to what had been said, but not criticIse
the paper; this was evidently done TO
save Mr. White from embarrassment.
Mr.. Lucius H Peterson; who said
that the Afro American COUNCIL must
be very warm thing, as the speaker
had said it was like HadeS, whose
gate always stood ajar, he further
said it was the duty of the people TO
and understand the obJecb
and work Of the Council in order to
follow it, that he believed with lead
ership of such men who sat upon the
platform much good could be attain
ed Thar the question of negroes saliva
ton rested with God himself, and the
republican party. He made a glow
ing defense of MCkninley as governor
of Ohio, and as President, and advised
the negro to stand by the republican
party.
Mr.. 7. R. Harris said the interest of
the race was above party, and that
the republican party could go tn
Hades, he indorsed the Afro-Amerl-
can Council The speech OF MIR.
Harris brought Register Lyons to his
feet and he in eloquent and torc1ble |
language declared that every thing |
the nego was in this country had |
been through the help of God Almigh- |
ty and the republican party, that 1t |
was wicked, yea almost reasonable
for negro to stand in public assem- |
Bile and say the republican party |
should go to HI. he advised the negro |
to stand with the party and pictured |
that it would be a say day for him |
when he forsook the good old repub-
lican party which had always been his
friend.
Lawyer Hewlett suggested that we
Join the Afro-AmeriCan Council and
help support it, and follow such men
as are its leaders.
Mr.. E NJ, Hewlett was loud in his |
praise of the organization, and
thought that every man with a spark |
of manhood within his breast should |
Join the Afro-American Council. MIR.
Hewlett is another one who has eX-
pressed himself as against this organ
ization, but in order to be what Is
termed i'll good society,"" he too turn
ed somersault, taking sides with a
that has all head and no
tail Mr.. Hewlett's speech was a
and disappointment.
Ex-senator RGreen, defended the
council, stated its object and said it
would be heard when an Individual
could not, that we could have no such
things as leaders that the conditions
were against it, he also advised adher
ance TO the republican party.
Mr. Harris was the next speaker, he
created much merriment by declaring
that the negro's interest was para
mount. to every other consideration,
and that SO far as the republican party
was concerned it could go to Hades.
This again brought Hon. Lyons to
his feet, who declared that the repub-
lican party was the negro ship, all else
was the sea and lntimated that the
speaker had little respect for the
truth. This aroused DIR. J. n. John
son, who reminded Mr.. Lyons and his
hearers in forcible language that