The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-13

Of the condition OF the free negroes In
the north. he can neither share the
rights. nor the pleasures. nor b labor.
those whose equal he has been declared
to be- Again. In 1850. ne writes: Who
ever has lived In the United States
must nave perceived hat In those parts
Of the union In which the negroes are
no longer slaves they have In no wise
drawn nearer to the whites" No
higher evidence could be offered for
both were Of a high rank Of ability and
standing. In New England h states
OF the negro is increased as TO politics
by reason 'of culture and relatively
decreasing Importance as a factor In
the population" Mr.. Stetson states
He say that a prominent colored cit
izen of New England. the personal
friend Of Sumner. Wilson. Garrison and
remarked to the writer that the social
ostracism and growing indifference to
his race was in his old age n cause Of
great mental distress" Yes, Yes, But
they are quite willing and anxious to
force equality upon the south be-
cause they wish to wrong and punish
the southern whites for fighting for Sec
ond independence. The earlier preju-
dices'' have revived says Il witness.
He gives a sample or two TO show this
existing antagonism as 10 races. He
writes:
Not long ago the negroes and colored
men of Boston and CT New England.
gathered in convention. complained OF
unjust discrimination by political par
ties. by merchants, manufacturers. ben
evolent associations. and private land
lords-and that no distinction was made
as to degrees OF color, intelligence. char
acter, department, or means; n final
ly declared that Massachusetts opens
her chools but shuts her shops"
Butler R. Wilson. of the Atlanta CGa.l
University (colored) made a personal
examination in Massachusetts,. He
states that "a large percentage of loo
colored families investigated in Cam
bridge, Mass, had been refused work
because they were colored; a number
also said that they were unable to fol-
J low their trades for the same reason"
They can only get negroes into places
of amusement, inns. public meetings,
conVeyances or barber shops by a law
that fines and imprisons for its viola
ton. lions Herald, the leading Meth
| odist organ in Massachusetts, and much
learning to negropholism. said in 1896
that in Boston-think of 1.-THE color
| line is drawn silently and c~ourteously,
but positively and vigorously" to show
this Mr. Stetson gives a we'll known in
| cident: when the senior bishop Of the
African M. E. church visited Boston
! a few years g to attend the great
| Christian Endeavor meeting. and tc
take the place assigned to Hon. John
Wanamaker. he found that when he ap-
] piled to the leading hotels for accom-
/ mediation. they were for the moment
remarkably exhausted" Mark this was
done in the face Of a strong law. Now
bark! Read this Of very recent occur
rences. It is what befel President
| Roosevelt's favorite guest at his home
| the great and wonderful Booker T.
| Washington The New York World
| says that within the week the same
Booker T.. Washington has been refused
admission e0>the three leading hotels of
| Springfield, in Massachusetts,. Massa-
chusetts is not only a northern state,
but the state of Garrison, Philips, Sum-
ner and the first ab~olitionists! Here is
still more instruction touching the real
progress the colored race is making to-
ware equality Of rights.
1T seems TO be a very gradual prog
ress in all parts of the country"
And that in bowling Massachusetts,
where there is a law TO force and i'm
prison hotel men who act in this way of
hostility and prejudice. The mighty
Booker refused a lodging ever in a
garnet in three hotels.
But, do not suppose that prejudice and
opposition tor SaInbo and Booker exists
In Massachusetts, only, or in New Eng
land. 1t may say the whole ~boundless
I continent is mine" Mr.. Stetson records
that New York, Ohio. Illinois. and
other states furnish recorded evidence
of this prejudice. The constitution OF
Oregon is stEingently anti-negro. n in
connection the negro was d~isfranchised
until 1876. when the white clause in
it's constitution was repealed" In eon
Guiding his searching discussion neal
the end he gives this as the experience
of New England. and 1t is true nc
doubt:
I'm the pursuit of our historical in
quiry, it will be found that in the.pro
cess of evolution from slavery condi-
tons. emphasizing race and caste. ar
evolution, as we have seen, not ye,
complete IN freedom from race pretu-
dice and discrimination. New England
has experienced all the phases of racial
antagonism and super-racial and inter.
racial discrimination which resulted In
an era or Acknowledgement, of ~restric-
ton Of L. qualification of the suffrage
similar TO- that which the southern
I states are now passing through and
contendtng with. and which Is made sc
familiar to US In the periodicals OF the