Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-11

Episcopal church (Colored) was crowded
with colored people at o'clock last night.
when the pastor, Rev. Jacqueiin Strange,
introduced Bishop Walters. OF New Jer-
sey, to the audience.
It was understood that Bishop Walters
would address the gathering on the sub
ject of the fight against the suffrage
clauses of the Virginia Constitution. and
there was much curiosity to know what
line his remarks would take. inasmuch
as it had been published that he was op-
posed to the course that was being pur-
sued
His first words tiispelled any such IL
James Fl. Hayes, the colored colleague OF
Mr.. John S. Wise. who was present, and
he assured him that he was heart and
soul with him in the movement He said
that more had been accomplished in Vir
giIia than in Louisiana, where they had
employed a white lawyer and spent $1,000.
The negroes had been stirred, and that
was what they had found it impossible to
do there. He wants the good work to go
on until North Carolina, South Carolina.
and Louisiana all joined hands in this
fight, and the negroes of New Jersey,
and other Northern States, joined with
them.
The time had come for the negro to
fight his own battles, and not wait on
any white man or depend on any party.
whether Democratic or Republican Their
cry should be that Of Patrick Henry,
Give me liberty, or give me death
Let Virginia, let North Carolina, let
South Carolina. let Louisiana bring this
question up. Let us get it before the
United States Court.
Had Money and Spirit
1t had been said that the negroes did
not have either the money or the dis
position to make this fight. You have
given the lie to that he said, amid ap-
Diause.-~s.=s-s--E
We are tonten6ing under God for legal
rights-every one Of thenl-and we should
boldly say so. The black man had shed
his blood In the Revolutionary war, in the
war Of 1872. and when after Bull Run
Abraham Lincoln had said we cannot
stand another such defeat and called
upon the negroes again, they had freely
shed their blood in defence Of the ma
ton.
The duty of the hour was to press this
fight and every negro who has a drop
of manly blood in his veins will come up
to the colors where their representative
Hayes had carried and planted them.
Certain it was they had to make their
own fight. After the war when they were
given the franchise the sympathy of the
northern people was with the negroes.
They had shed their blood and spent their
money in a ruinous war and out of the
feeling of that time the negro had been
given the ballot. Call it sympathy or
what you will. he did not care how it
came the material point was that the
negro vas enfranchised.
Friends Grown Cold.
But conditions are changed and the
Republican party had turned its back
upon the negro. But this thing must be
settled fairly and squarely- There will
be no peace as long as injustice reigns in
the land as it does. AS long as these jim
Crow cars for your refined and cultivated
wives and daughters; as long as there are
midnight assassina tions, and as long as
there are determinations against the ne
gro. Every negro III the land must stand
together; they must insist on the south
ern representation in Congress being cut
down That will reach the white man and
help your case.
Let them see that you are contending
for something definite. Let the negroes
North assist their southern brethren and
in the States where they hold the balance:
Of power as in New jersey, let them
senland of the candidates they support,
justice for the southern negroes.
Mckinley and Roosevelt.
The cause will raise up friends and
God is with you The speaker told OF an
interview he had with President Mckln-
lev before his death. He was a charming
man of pleasing personality and he had
omplained to him (Bishop Waters) OF his
having been unkind and unjust to him in
something the speaker had said in the
Afro-American Council. But it was not
Mr.. Mckinley who criticised. 1t was the
President of the nation.
Shed Tears for Glory.
And God had removed President Nc
Kinley. God was displeased and had
called him home and he (the speaker) had
shed tears But said he, with marked
emphasis sometimes men shed tears for
glory"
And he raised up Il man to take his
place In MI. Roosevelt. I know Mr..
Roosevelt, and l say to you that he is
a brave, courageous. true man. The poll
ticians may head him off sometimes. but
he will help you, he can't help It.
The bishop then closed. after urging his
hearers to put the motto mo Surrender"
on their banner and to live up to it.
Hayes Makes Il Speech.
Following Bishop Walters address there
We're numerous calls for Hayes. who was
not backward in responding. He regret
ted there were not more here to hear this
remarkable address and this remarkable
man. =
I'VE have brought the bishop here" he
said, "for one specific purpose. 1t had
been reported that he was opposed to the
fight against the Virginia Constitution.
and we have brought him all the way
from Louisville, KY, to deny it.
Hayes then referred to the recent hear
ing in the United States Court, and said
the attorney general and Mr.. John Goode
had gone to Washington to beg the chief
justice Of this nation to come here and
save the Virginia Constitution. And he