The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-06-06
Memorial
Services
Continued from First Page.

Of the Grand Army Post, allow me to
ask whether or not the negro has
come to your expectations? In other
words, has the sacrifice that you
have made for his freedom been in
vain. Scarcely 80 years since he
emerged from the inhurnan system Of
chattel slavery, penniless, with no en-
couragement, hampered and oppressed
on account OF his color, and with all
imaginable odds to fight against, yet
the census of 1890 of the whole coun-
try showed thesnegro occupied /, $780,
600 farms and homes. He Owned
2I0, 900 of them. Now it will be a bold
man who will assert that the renter s.
OF 100000 homes and farms do not
only pay taxes, but the insurance
and all other charges upon such
properly. Up to July 20, 1899, there
were in the United States 795 colored
lawyers, 934 doctors, 30, 900 teachers
in the public schools, 1900, 600
students in the common schools, l25
deLtists, 243.000 farmers who devote
their time farming, 100000 col 1red
men that have trades, four banks
owned and managed by colored men.
So II say that with such q record in so
short space of time it is not only
unjust but cruel to try to take from
this young race those honors which
have been SO grandly achieved by
honest toll. All the negro asks the
races in superior condition is not to
stand in his sunshine, but to give him
IA fair and equal chance to use his
good right arm in striking for higher
civilization-only chance to stand
or fall like other men. Much has
been written and said about negro
crilninality. The race has been greatly
misrepresented. Government statistics
for 1890 show 33 negro criminals to
every 10000 negro population. This
record is made up generally Of con-
victions for small otfenses, and are
almost invariably committed by the
idle, ignorant class. q Unfortunately
for the race persons who are unfrienaly
to it magnify the small otfenses OF the
negro and yinify their own. And the
fact that the negro does not make,
construe nor execute the laws places
him at a great disadvantage in making
up criminal records. That class of
negro brhtes who commit those out
RACES for which 80 outof every 100 of
my race hang their heads with shame
no more form a part of the better
element OF the negro race than the
tramps and criminals represent the
better element Of you white people.
These iends who pay such q horrible
penalty for their revolving crimes do
not form part OF our audiences
congregations and social gatherings.
They are the low, shiftless, tramp ele-
ment OF society who are brutalized and
imprisoned by the licensed saloons,
dives and gambling dens authorized
by Christian men, upheld by Chri stian
courts and legalized by Christian leg
islatures.s In the south where the
negro has been the loved and trusted
custodian Of southern homes for more
than two centuries what one of my
race ever taught those blue-eyed
children lessons of sin
and hate? Regardless Of how the
white mans lust had preyed on the
black woman,s virtue; regardless OF
what violence the white mans avarice
did to negro manhood; still the black
man and black woman taught the
white mans child lessons of truth,
honor and virtue. But has the negro
no claim on the American govern
ment? Is there section which has
not felt the warm breath Of his loyalty?
Is there section which has not been
bathed in the sweat of his brow? Is
there a section which has not felt the
lifting up influence Of his toll? Is
there a decade in its history or a spot
on it's surface which has not been hall.
lowed by his blood? Has the east
ever called when he did not answer?
1t was Crispus Attacks, young null
alto, who was the first to lay down his
life at Lexington in the Revolutionary
war. Has the south ever called when
he did not answer? Was he not with
Jackson at New Orleans? Has the
north called when he did not answer?
Although he spurned the entreaties of
John Brown to rise and Stay innocent
women and children, still when he
had legal opportunity he marched
forward 200, 900 strong and battled for
his own freedom and the perpetuation
of the union. Has the west called
when he did not answer? 1t was the
Tenth cavalry that rescued white regi-
ments from Indian massacre. Has
the whole nation ever called when he
did not answer? IL was the Tenth
cavalry under gallant Wheeler which
planted the American standard on the
heights of San Juan, crushed out the
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