The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-02

taught II in our schools when the right to
use our learning was denied US. until the
very word has come to be a reproach upon
black mans tonguei'
There were cries Of order, Orderi"
and sit down." and the gayel was rat
Ting on the chairman's desk Then some
one rose 70 point Of order, so dear to the
heart OF the negro debater. The point was
sustained ald the Ohioan yielded the floor
but not until he had gaZed straight into the
eyes OF Miss KirkmLn as they rose from
her notebook. She turned red He curled
his lip and sat down, but the blood burned
IN his face. and it was not the heat OF
shame but OF anger and contempt that
flushed his checks
This outbreak was but the precursor OF
other storms to follow. Everyone had
come With an idea TO exploit or some
proposition 10 advance Each one had his
panacea for al the aches and pains Of his
race. Each man who had paid his s. want
Cd ms full 50 worth Of talk. The chairman
allowed them i've minutes apiece, and they
thCught time dear at a dollar a minute
But there were speeches to be made for
buncombe. and they made the best Of the
seconds. They hOwled, they ragged they
stCrmed- They waxed eloquent or psthet-
lie. Jones Of Georgia was swearing softly
and feelingly into Shackleford's ear.
Shackeiford was sympathetic and nervous
as he fingered large bundle Of manuscript
IN MS back pocket. He got up several
times and called Mr. Chairman. +" but his
voice had been drowned in the tumuIt
Amid It all. calm and impassive sat me
man. who OF all others was expected to be
in the heat Of the fray
II has been rumOred that Courtney of
the New York Beacon" had come 10
washington with blood in his eye. But
lnere he sat silent and unmoved. his
10
OF lron-grey hair as unchanging as il he
had never had a passionate thought
don't like Jim COurtney's silence %
whispered StoweH 10 colleague.
There's never so much devil in him as
when be keeps still. You look out for him
when he does open up"
But all the details Of the convention do
not belong TO this narrative. Il is hardly
relevant. even. 10 tell how Stowell's pre-
dlctlOn came true. and at the second days
meeting Courtney's calm gave way. and
he delivered one OF the bItterest speeches
Oh his life. 1t Vas in the morning and he
was down tor set speech on The Negro
IN the Higher Walks Of Life" He started
calmly. but as he progressed. the memory
OF all The wIorgs, personal and racial that
J be had suffer-, the knowledge o. the dis
abilities that -- and his brethren had To
suffer, and me vision OF toll unrequited.
Z love rejected. and loyalty ignored. swept
him or his feet. He forgot his subject.
forgot everything but Jhat he was crush
Cd man in O crushed race.
The auditors held their breath. and the
I rcpo. lers wrote much.
turning to-tben he said. And 20 the
press q Washington, 20 whom / have be-
iCTe paid my respects, let me say that [
am not afraid 90 have them take anv word
that J may say. 7 came here 10 meet then,
I OF their own ground. I viii meet them
win pen I Viii meet them with pistol.
and then raising his tall. spare form. he
I shouted. Yes even though there IS bur
- rounds OF me, / viii meet them with
my listsi"
This vas an very rash OF Courtney. His
paper did lot circulate largely, so his real
I speech. which he printed. was not widely
read. while through The columns OF the
[ loca. press, a g-r5led and distorted YER
I SION or IL went 20 every corner Of the
country PuIpOSely distorted Who shall
say He had insulted the press and then
3 Mr.. Hamilton was very wealthy man.
When The time for the consideration Of
I Elkius resolution came, Courtney. Jones
and ShacklefOrd threw themselves body
and sou! into The hght with Gray an rs
author. There was a formidable array
against them All the men 10 Office and
! all of those who had received even a
crumb Of promise we're for butte ing owe
Z their wrongs. and making their add ess TO
the public a prophecy OF better things.
Jones suggested that they send an apll-
0gy to lynchers foF having negroes whore
! they could BE- lyI hsd. This called for re-
proof from the other siCe. and the discus
/ sion grew hot and acrimonious Cav got
the floor, and surprised his colleagues b.
J the rlaiUness of his utterancos. kius
: followed with biting speech tina, brought
I AldrICa. 10 mis- feet
NJ. Aldr!ca had chosen wei his time.
and had carefully prepared his sp ech- Hc
rested all the good Things that tbg Admin
. i-,raJi0u had cone holed 20 90. tried TO
/ DO. o. wanted 10 do. and showed what a
/ respectable array Dc was. He coUns , G.
/ moderation and cor=erya,ism. and his
pCroutiou was ID howery pauegy-ir of tie
/ noble man whose hand is on the helm
/ guiding the erand Ola ship Of state into
/ safe HITbCr.
/ The oiic@holdCTs Went Wild with euJhu-
/ siasm No self-iuJeresJ there. The on
position could not argue that this speech
was Tade 10 keep Job because the speak
+ CT had none. Then Jim Courtney got up
+ and spoiled ii all by saying that il may be
f that the speaker had 80 JOB. but wanted
one
Aldrich was not moved. He saw fat
/ salary and Annie Hirkman for him in the
near future.
The young lady had done her work welI
and when the resolution came 10 a vote il
I was lost by a good majority. Aldrich was
again on his feet and offered another The
forces OF the opposition were discouraged
and disOrganized, and they made no effort
J 10 stop 81. when the rules were suspended
and Il Went through on the first reading
/ Then the convention shOUted-Jhat is. rart
/ Of IL did-snd Miss Hirkmau closed her
/ notebook and glanced up az ;he gallery
/ again The young man had closed his book
/ also Their work was done. The Admins
I tration had not been denounced. and they
/ had their blacklist for Mr.. Hamiltou's
/ knife
/ There were some more speeches made
/ just so that the takers should get their
moneys worth. hut for the masses. the
convention had lost its interest and after
I a few feeble attempts TO stir il into life
again. motion 10 adjourn was entertained
1 But before a second appeared Eikins arose
! and asked leave 10 make a statement II
: was granted
/ Gentlemen, he said. we have all heard
} the resolution which goes 10 the public as
the opinion OF the negroes Of the country.
! There are some of us who do not believe
! that this expresses the feelings Of our race.
/ and to us who believe this. MIR Courtney
/ has given the use of his press in New York.
and We shall print our resolution and scat
/ ter it broadcast "a the minority report OF
/ this convention, but the majority report OF
/ the race
Miss kirkman opened her book again for
a few minutes, ana then the convention ad-
/ journed.
/ said Hamilton a couple OF days later. Just
] what Nru, xorrDs works for -