The evening times., 1900-01-02

taught it in our schools when the right to
use our learning was denied us, until the
very word has come to be a reproach upon
a black mans tongue!''
There were cries of Order, Order,"
and "Sit down'' and the gavel was rat
Ting on the chairman's desk. Then some
one rose to a 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 Kirkman 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 cheeks.
This outbreak was but the precursor of
other storms to follow. Everyone had
come with an idea to exploit or some
proposition to advance. Each one had his
panacea for all the aches and pains Of his
race. Each man who had paid his s. want
ed his full s. worth of talk. The chairman
allowed them five minutes apiece, and they
thought 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 pathet-
ic. Jones OF Georgia was swearing softly
and feelingly into Shackleford's ear.
ShackelfOrd was sympathetic and nervous
as he fingered large bundle of manuscript
in his back pocket. He got up several
times and called Mr.. Chairman" but his
voice had been drowned in the tumult
Amid it all. calm and impassive, sat the
man. who OF all others was expected to be
in the heat of the fray.
IL has been rumored that Courtney of
the New York Beacon" had come 10
wi in b{o Il4rf
there he sat, silent and unmoved, his
swarthy, eagle-like face, with its frame
OF iron grey hair as unchanging as if he
had never had a passionate thought
don't like Jim Courtney's silence, -
whispered Stowell to colleague.
There's never so much devil in him ss
when he 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. II is hardly
relevant, even, 10 tell how Stowell's pre-
diction came true, and at the second day S
meeting COurtney's calm gave way, and
he delivered one OF the bitterest speeches
OF his life. 1t was in the morning, and he
was down for d set speech on The Negro
in the Higher Walks OF Life" He started
calmly. but as he progressed. the memory
Of all the wrongs, personal and racial that
he had suffered the knowledge OF the dis
abilities that he and his brethren had to
suffer, and the vision OF toll unrequited,
love rejected. and loyalty ignored, swept
him OF his feet. He forgot his subject,
forgot everything but that he was a crush
ed man in crushed race.
] he auditors held their breath and the
reporters wrote much.
TurIinK to- tbem he said And TO the
press oi Washington. 10 whom | have be-
a nv lot
am not afraid to have them take any word
that may say. l came here to meet them
or their own ground. | will meet them
with pen. ! viii meet them with pistol. "
and then raising his tall. spare form. ne
shouted, Yes. even though there is but
> pounds Of me. | viii meet them with
my lists!"
This was all very rash of Courtney His
paper did not circulate largely, so his real
speech, which he printed, was not widely
read, while through the columns OF the
loca. press, 4 gaT5lCd and distorted YER
sion Of il went 10 every corner Of the
country. PuIposeIy distorted? Who shall
say? He had insulted the press. and then
Mr.. Hamilton was a very wealthy man.
When the time for the consideration of
Elkins resolution came. Courtaey. Jones
and ShackleloTd threw themselves body
and soul into the hgnt with Gray an is
author. There was formidable array
against them. All the men in office and
all OF those who had received even a
crumb Of promise were for butte ing owe
their wrongs and making their add ess 10
the public a prophecy of better things.
Jones suggested that they send an ap1I-
Ogy to lynchers FOR having negroes where
they could Be lyEchld. This called for re-
proof from the other side. and tue discus
=
the floor, and surprised his colleagues By
the plainness Of his uttarances. kins
followed with a biting speech that brought
AldTiCh to mis- feet.
Mr. Aldrich had chosen well his time
and had carefully prepared his sp ech. Ee
recited all the good things that The Admin
istTatiOn had done hOIed to 10. tried 20
DO, OF wanted 10 DO. and showed what a
respectable array il was. He couHs e.
moderation and conservatism. and his
pGroration was d flowcry pauegyIi. of a z
noble man whose hand is on the helm
guiding the grand Old ship Of state into
safe naTbCr.'
The offcAhOldeFs Went Wild with enJhu-
siasm. No self-inJeTest there. The op
position could not argue that this speech
was made 10 keep a job. because the speak
er had none. Then Jim Courtney got up
and spoiled # all by saying that il may be
that the speaker had 10 JOB, but wanted
one.
Aldrich was not moved. He saw a rat
salary and Annie kirkman for him in the
near future.
The young lady had done her work well.
and when the resolution came 10 a vote it
was lost by good majority. Aldrich was
again on his feet and offered another. The
forces of the opposition were discouraged
md 1fcn mi yDH and hnr- v7adD
TO stop IT, when the rules were suspended
and 1t went through on the first reading
Then the convention shouted--that is. part
of it did-and Miss Kirkman closed her
notebook and glanced up at the gallery
again. The young man had closed his book
also. Their work was done. The Admins
tration had not been denounced. and they
had their blacklist for Mr.. Hamilton's
knife
There were some more speeches made
just SO that the takers should get their
moneys worth. but for the masses, the
convention had lost it's interest. and after
few feeble attempts to stir it into life
again. a motion TO adjourn was entertained
But before second appeared Eikins arose
and asked leave TO make statement. 1t
was granted.
Gentlemen" he said. we have all heard
the resolution which goes TO 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. Mr.. Courtney
has given the use of his press in New York
and we shall print our resolution and scat
ter it broadcast az the minority report Of
this convention. but the majority report OF
the race
Miss Kirkman opened her book again for
a few minutes, and then the convention ad-
journed.
Il wish to find out Miss KiTkman.
said Hamilton q counle OF days later, Just