The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
M'KINLEY AND THE NEGROES.
Part of an Address and an Interview with
Bishop Turner of Georgia.

Part of an Address and an Interview with
Bishop Turner of Georgia.
A meeting OF tho Foreign Missions Board OF
the African Methodist Episcopal Church was
held In Brooklyn on Friday. The board is
composed OF Bishops OF the Church. Bishop
H. NJ Turner CT Georgia discussed the race
question. and in the course Of an address he
referred to President Mckinley thus: If We
only had q man OF strong force and purpose
In the Presidential chair man who had the
courage to INDEPENDENTLY stand by his con-
victions; II we had some man like the Presi.
dent OF France. our condition would have been
ameiorated in the South. Much OF the re.
cent agitation would have been alayed."
This was auplauded by the Bishops present
Yesterday afternoon the Brooklyn Edgte quoted
Bishop Turner as saying before he left for his
home in Georgia:
In regard 10 what l said against Presi-
dent Mckinley. | have nothing to hide
President Mckinley Is n fine man. He has
many friends. | believe that he has as many
friends among the Democrats OF the South as
among the Repu bicans. but lie ls a man lack
ing In force. He has not been true to our peo-
pie when he might have beou. By speaking a
few words. by merely raising his hand or in
some way taking notice Of US. he might have
given recognition to the wrongs which We have
been forced to endure. This he has not d one.
He has remained silent and passive, He has
allowed the most awful crimes to be perpe.
trated against our race, when in some Nay he
might have !nterfered.
There have been great INTERPRETATIONS
Of this race question: continued the Bishop.
speaking in his characte ristic crisp way. clear
ing his throat between each sentence.
i 40 not believe the people OF the North I'M
de:staDd the elationship that exists down
south. It's rhe bad element Of both races
Between the best elements there il The closest
tie CT relationship. ! recently preached In a
white church in which, the white people took
church proper, Between the broad element
Of both races there !. no question. 1t IS the
vicious class which stirs the strife.
u do not hslieve in lynching in any form.
am, externally onposSd TO it,, For the crime
wnGG 0 helene due nan1hment
immediately 10 surgical operation The case
Of mistaken identity is too frequent for lynch
Ga. Just two weeks ago the more conservative
element had not controlled. an innocent man
and Ths
operation which ! sEeak OF would be lust as
rs The Presidents passyitv on this lynch.
have against hin?' was. asked,
promntIy. We believe that the negro r should should
have bean rewarded more for the service per
formed form I"rnS The . w9r with Snan The col;
himself ynlorous. In return some OF my pro.
pic wanted ,commis' ions. They claim that
Ieutenancies among the reCroes But is this
so: Scvernl cOlored regiments were organ
tied townrd:he close Of the war. hut these
have been all dishanded. Those who were
given Offices have been reduced to Coroorals
and SergeAntS.
We have had no recognition by the Admin
stratton. Just now one OF our regular COlOred
reg mentsis leaving for the fhiIprnes. Why
d Dos not the president give us enough oiIlcBrs
to correspond To tho fighting force Of black
men which represents this country? This is
against Mr.. Mckinley and the Administration.
will say that This feeling Of discOnt tent Il gen.
eral among the blacks Of AL sections II i n
gity. too. for believe President Mckinley per-
sonay Is u fine man. but he seems to have no
force
Bishop Turner IL a representative man Of
his race. He IL the father Of the colon izGti"n
scheme that contcm plates the ultimate return
OF tho nek iOes to Africa.