Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-04
Representative White the Special
Guest at Banquet.
fHE RESPONSES MADE TO FOASTS
Gathering OF Leading Members of
the CoIored Race.
MIR W hit Els ADD RE S S

"a h'C'''A - 1900
| qGet last evening al Delmo-Koonce Hall. on
| NJ street between 10th and 18th streets
northwest. Prof. George William Cook was
| POSTMASTER.
| The gathering at the tables comprised
representatives of almost every state in
| the Union, among them being Bishop Alex
ander Walters of New Jersey, Judson w.
| Ly ons of Georgia, H. c. Cheatham of North
Carolina, George W. Murray of South Caro-
| lima. John p. Green of Ohio, Bishop r. w.
Arnett of Ohio, c. J. Jones OF Mississippi,
| James Lewis of Louisiana, Perry II. Car
| son of the District of Columbia, T. Thomas
| Fortune of New York and Paul Lawrence
| Dunbar of Ohio.
Prof. Jesse Lawson presided and made
| short address, in which he said:
These are days of unusual concern and
| solicitude for us as people. Our freedom
and citizenship came to us as results OF the
war between the states. Since the close OF
that war a whole generation mas passed
off the stage of action and the issues be-
| fore the country now are not the issues
| that were before the country then; but
| whatever the issues, it can be safely said
| that the colored people represent the con-
! sentative forces in American politics. I'm
| der the most trying circumstances they are
| seldom ever the aggreSsorS in the commits
| sion of acts of violence, and their con-
| servatsm is often mistaken for cowardice.
I'VE have learned how sublime a thing
| it is to suffer and be strong My hope of
! the race lies in the fact that l see re-
| served force in everything We do, and a
| disposition to hear before condemn. OF
| course susceptible to the excite
| ment of the hour. but in all things essen
| tfal among us the sober second thought
| prevails, and to such people the world is
| bound to accord a hearing. AS nations are
| known by the representative men they pro-
| duce, races are brought to the front in the
| same way. The surest foundation upon
| which any people can build is character,
| and it is encouraging to note that our
leaders are not unmindful of that fact"
| Addressing Mr.. White, he said:
| Sir: 1t required a man of the heroic
| mold to pass through the ordeal to which
you have been recently subjected and come
| out without a scratch, and because of your
| manly bearing under the most trying cir
| cumstances, and the fact that you have
| never betrayed any trust committed to
your keeping. the gentlemen around this
| festal board have assembled to do you
| honor"
Representative Whites Address.
After being introduced by Mr.. Lawson
| Mr.. White made a lengthy address, and. in
| part said he would be less than man did
! he not keeniy appreciate the honor con-
| ferred upon him by those whom he ad-
| dressed. II had always, he said. been his
| aim to live UP to the estimate put upon
him by his associates.
After referring to many disadvantages
south labor under. Mr. White said he relied
| much upon public sentiment in bringing
| about better state of affairs. 1t pub
| lie sentiment he said, that kept the ne
| groes in bondage for two hundred and forty
| years, and it was public sentiment which,
nearly forty years ago, caused the abolish
| rnent of the accursed institution when it
| threatened to crush the life out of the re-
| public.
But, said lie. public sentiment has OPP
| Grated in an opposite direction lately. I'VE
tl..,rt IS
| formerly had-the press he added. The
| crimes of the negro are exaggerated. his
| virtues minimized, and there is TO
contradict the lies that are told
Mr.. White said that more men like T.
| Thomas Fortune We're needed. The colored
| people are not going to emigrate he de-
| clared. except for the purpose of diversity
| irg their industries.
In conclusion Mr.. White said
| Boys, get your shoulders to the wheel.
and keep pushing until it is recognized that
| we are part of the body polite
.Fourth Estate, and Other Themes
THE Fourth Estate formed the theme
of r. Thomas Fortunes remarks Mr.. For
tune referred to speech of his made some
| evenings ago in South Washington, when
he had urged that the President be stabbed
He meant the stabbing to be done at the
ballot box, he explained. He talked a good
deal about his courage, and said he was
| ready to fight with his pen. his fist or his
gun. He referred to the press of this city
as anarchistic, and advocated the estab-
lishment in Washington of a daily paper to
be controlled by negroes.
Bishop Alexander Walters of New Jersey
| took "A Glance at the Future for his topic
and said the best way to advance the cause
| of the colored race was by the establish
ment of daily paper here.
The Southland was responded to by Mr..
J. l. Love.
1T would be difficult" he said. ito find
| anywhere a more genuinely loyal senti-
ment for the section than L love the SOUTH
nor greater local patriotism. a nobler
yearning for wha tever contributes to the
glory of a community or people than that
which animates more than the S,000,0O0
Southerners whom we represent tonight.
In view of the sad and bitter memories
which surround our history, and of the
fragrant crimes, which, breathing drouth
and dearth of human sympathy throughout
the sweet and sensuous south. render it at
| times almost intolerable dwelling
place. our nevcrfailing love of the south
land seems not more wonderful than I'M
natural.
There is, believe, large. conservative
| silent south, unswayed by ambitious selfish
ness, which is awaiting the hour and the
| opportunity to drive from power the de-
tanners of love and free institutions. The
| south. it has been said, Stands upon her
honor before the clean equities of the
hour Let us keep before her and the ma
ton the question, Shall justice reign? The
answer must be, it shall come from the
south, and We must-we shall-help to make
| it just
| Must Save Himself.
THE Negro Must Save Himself was re-
sponded to by Mr.. John III. Paynter who,
in part, said:
I'm view of recent occurrences which
are to us all no less familiar than hateful,
it is easily seen that, as concerns certain
sections of our country. this question was
indeed only thought to have been settled.
! What can we do? What shall we do?
are questions beth pertinent and potent
Shall We continue to convene, organize and
address the President, or shall pool our
resources, establish and support daily
newspaper, as has been wisely suggest
ed. and do our share in directing the world $
current of thought? These are grave ques-
tionS l doubt very much whether any
stronger argument might be put forward
as reason for the absolute protection and
equality of the colored American before the
law than was furnished by the deeds of
immortal herosm performed by the black
troops at Ell Caney and San Juan.
The negro may save himself by patron
| izing the undeVeloDed talent of the race