The Washington times., 1901-12-16
THE RIGHTS OF THE NEGRO.
Constitutional Defcace Made by
AI.eruon - Crnnsey

"A Constitutional Defence OF the
Negro" WAS the subject OF an address de-
liyered last night at the Metropolitan \.
VI. Z. Church by Algernon Sidney Crapsey.
Senator Cullum presided over the meet
ing. and In short address introduced the
speaker Of the evening.
Mr.. Crapsey started out with criticism
of the Americans who created The great
est Republic on earth when he said.
Never in human history did men so
belle their own professions as did our
forefathers when they set up what they
claimed to be a free government, and
then made constitutional provision for
the enslavement o. a portion OF the peo-
pie.
They did not do this with clear con-
science. They did lot dare to use the
word slave op"Ely in the Constitution.
In speaking OF the prevalence Of lynch
ing in the South, the orator said it prac-
tically placed that section of the country
in state of anarchy.
so common is this method OF punish
ing supposed crimes in the Southern sec
ron of our country that il has displaced
the regular proceedings Of the law courts.
Last year more than $50 human beings
char ged with crime died, without trial. at
the hands OF the mob. More than three
a week. And the perpetrators OF this
treason against the majesty OF the state
are today living at large, their crimes un-
punished, many boasting Of their crimes.
and their sympathizors bit in the Con
gress Of the United States. Surely
anarchy can 20 no further than this eE-
cert 1t murder our rulers. rayish our
women, and burn our homes.
Referring 10 the disirsnchisement Of the
negro Mr. Crapsoy said:
eTha fp1IffYa1 dI HirHlfigg of tho Mort h.
as OF the South are to be solved not by
Acknowledgement hut by eufranchisement
The enfranchisem of the mind from
ignorance and pride and prejudice. the
enfranC hisement Of the heart from base
hatreds and unroly fears"
Mr. CIapsey alleged a serious charge
against the Southern people when he Ce-
nlanded equal rights Tor The negro.
And in pleading for political and civil
rights. he declared FOR those who today
are deprived OF them, We are not pleading
for men ana women OF African blood only
We are pleading for our own brothers and
sisters, our blood relations: VIC are
pleading for those In whose veins runs
The best OF our own hnglo-Sa&on blood;
we are pleading for the descendants OF
the best families in the South. for the
children OF the Pinckneys and the Ran
dolphs the Masons and the Slidells We
ask these 9'niltiutu ol lnt Doulh 10 ~
fair and just to their own flesh and blood.
He advcrted to the Booker Washington
incident when he said:
Il can only say that our social pnwe
is measured By the extent Of our socia
sympaihies. There is something want
ing in the man who cannot associate o
equal terms and unconsoiously with ih
millionaire and the man without dol
lar. with the President of the Unite
states and the hod carrier or the waite
at table: with the fairest daughter Of In
palace and the dusldest maiden Of tn
cabin"
Mr.. Crapsey advised the negro to re
sist any Efforts TO prevent him from roi
ing
Your excuse for this submission I
outrage and wrong IS that If you resi'
you win be killed. Killed! What II 20
are killed? Were not white men klle
by the hundred thousand to secure
you. under the Constitution. the poiitici
and civil rights which you SO easily SUI
render7
God forbid that you should LIT up yot
hands save in defence Of the rights -
man and the lives of women and childrer
Do not kill. but be killed. BE kill'
until you have lost from your veins Il
last drop of the blood of the slave al
can stand UP as free men in free land