Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-03
FIGHT OF THE NEGR0,.|'
OF THE SUPREME COURT.
THE TEST OF THE SUFFRAGE.
Rev. George w. Lee, D, D., Advises
the Race To Wage the Contest In
the Virginia courts-Addrcs. At
True Reformers Hall Heard By
900 People.

Thursday night True Reformers Hall
was crowded 10 its doors with an ems
thusiastic audience Of colored people,
to hear the Rev. George w. Lee, D. D.,
pastor of the Vernon-Avenue Baptist
church, of Washington, D. c., who had
been invited here by the Negro Industrial
Society. of Virginia, to deliver an adj
dress touching upon the new Constitu-
ton.
The Rev. Lee is regarded as being one
of toe most learned pulpit orators of the
colored race, and the address he deliv-
cred was closely listened to by at least
900 people.
The Rev Lee, who is himself about
the complexion Of q lump of coal, said
in the outset that he had no particular
connection with the negro race, yet.
he had always sympathized with them in
their struggles.
WHAT He HAD TO SAY.
THE negro was first landed in this
years ago, in the month OF August.
and ticrc has been an exceedingly hot
time here ever since. and it was pre-
dicted shortly afterwards by some great
statesmen that it was the greatest curse
the country could have had.
las to your fight against the new
Constitution" he said, Il would advise
you to take it before every court in VIr-
gin!a. before taking it to the Supreme
Court Of the United States, because I've
seen too many cases die up there, and
this talk about getting so much justice
there is ali a mistake.
'.Thc Louisiana case fingered there SO
long that they were forced to remind
the court of it's existence; only to be
told that it was never started right. The
case was then taken back to the State
of its birth and started right and when
they get it back to the Supreme Court,
there will be another little excuse await
ing them.
PRAYERS WOULD BE FEW.
IF God had no better record for for
giving sin than the Supreme Court for
giving justice, I am thinking that my
prayers would be few. The time has
come when the negro must stand up and
be p man, and stop trying to solicit
sympathy for his ignorance, because he
is negro.
Have you ever noticed the fact" said
he that Northern white man will
eat with negro, but will not work with
him: and a Southern white man will
work with him, but when it comes to
eating he will go to himself? tell you
the North and the South are fast coming
together. and the old hatcheL of section
alism is being buried, handle and all.
It certainly means something when there
is s11, 100000 worth of Northern Capital
laid out in Southern industry.
''I'Ee white man is the white man the
country over, and the negro must rise
ur and be man unto himself. Every
Southern white man You meet will tell
you Re is your best friend. That re-
minds me of the Southern white lady,
who attended Il revival meeting. She
came back home shouting and clapping
her han0s and tciIlnl: the servant CIR,
what d good thing it was to have your
soul renewed. There was a hogs head
u the safe, and tho servant thought it
;-oi.d time To ask the mistress for that
hogs bead. When the white man comes
along and tegins to tell you about his
warm friendship, just say, q little DEM
onstration. please. boss.
Il don't like to dis4 o him. but 1t
he is our friend, he hs., very poor
way IF showing it 81 times.
Things are now at point where the
negro must get something. He must
secure property and education, and then
he will be felt by this government l
have seen SO many cases die in the. SUI
premc Court. wherein the negros rights
were involved that / would advise you
to keep your case away from there, and
try to fight it out in Virginia