The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-26
MASON TALKS OF LIBERTY
An Address to Colored People at the
Second Baptist Church.
The Struggle Against Siavery-Lin-
coin Quoted 10 Prove That No Man
Without His Consent - An AIIu-
sion 10 Our Philippines Policy.

| Senator William E. Mason delivered an
address yesterday afternoon before the
Lyceum Of the Second Colored Baptist
Church, in Fourth Street between H and 1
st 'Hets northwest His subject was Per-
sonal Liberty" and during his remarks he
| discussed briefly phases of the negro ques-
| ton. He also made reference to the expan-
sion policy of the present Administration,
denouncing it in strong terms.
Senator Mason began by speaking word
of encouragement to the young colored
| people Of Washington, who have organized
/ the lyceum for mutual benefit and i'm
provement.
Referring to the question of liberty, he
said that the war against slavery began
| long before any of the present generation
were born, and would continue long after
they were gone. Those who defend
! slavery" said he. always said that the
slave was owned and governed for his
good. For instance. when we in America
were fighting for our liberty, the King of
England answered us that he wanted to
govern us for our own good and in the
Kings address to Parliament he said he
wanted to give us liberty.
Pitt. who was the friend of liberty and
friend of America asked how the King
intended to give us liberty. The King
answered by bayonets. We" said Mr..
Mason. have temporarily gene into this
liberty giving business. We're going TO
give people liberty with our guns. We are
told by a distinguished statesman that We
shall send governors to a people 10000
miles awar.-They are 10 be good men, Oh
so good, Stand your good man up on
pedestal anG look at him. Imagine him to
be the very best kind of man in educa-
ton, honesty, and principle. After you
have looked at him, let me tell you what
Lincoln said about him: No man is good
enough TO govern another man without his
consent -
Senator Mason then spoke of the duties
Of citizenship and advised the young men
present that the best way to advance
themselves and their country was to cul-
tivate individual industry and character.
He mentioned Dr. Curtis, the young col
ored surgeon of Chicago, who he'd. after
competitive examination, became the head
of the Frcedman's Hospital in this city.
and suggested that his life and success were
a complete answer when il was charged
that the race is not progressive. He urged
them to PERFORM every duty from the
plainest TO the most skillful labor, from
streets to the trying of a law case, to the
preaching of a sermon. as though their
whole existence depended upon doing il in
the best possible way.
Speaking of the duty of the citizen to-
ward his country, he said: I'VE must |
stand by our country. 1t is not infallible; |
il has made mistakes, and may make them !
again. For a hundred years We sang |
The Land of the Free and the Home OF I
the Brave, and sold women and children |
to the highest bidder for cash. We tore |
down the slave pen. the whipping post and |
the auction block, but We did not have ma
terial enough TO make head boards for the |
graves of the men who sacrificed their |
lives to do it. We must try to prevent our /
country from making further mistakes in 4
the slave business. We have the best I
country in the world, greater freedom 1
and opportunity for the laborer. We must I
keep it as our fathers gave it to us. Every !
time you young colored men perform any
duty honorably, you give additional proof
that slavery was a mistake
Senator Mason declared that he knew /
how the people in the state of Lincoln |
felt on the question of personal liberty. /
They believe as the great emancipation |
did, and though a champion of liberty |
might be unpopular now. he would continue |
to uphold it, no matter what the conse-
quences were. |
Representative White of North Caro-
lima followed Senator Mason. He advised /
his hearers to take an active part in the
affairs of their country. He urged that !
the colored people build homes and ad-
them against tearing down the
homes of others and against mob violence
Judson W. Lyons, Register of the Treas
ury, also made a short address, in which |
he advocated peaceaFle insistence upon
the colored peoples rights He deplored |
anything savoring of violence.
The auditorium of the church was crowd |
ed and the remarks of the speakers were |
received with enthusiastic applause.