The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12


dred years ago. as 1t does now. and which
was so systematically stated by Bishop
Grant at the meeting to which Mayor Book
walter spoke words of welcome: "All the
colored people ask is justice in the courts.
and right to work" The early work of the
among the colored people. The genius OF
that church inculcated a degree of social
equality which was so distasteful TO the
colored contingent that as early as 1916 they
organized a church modelled after the gen.
eral economy of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in almost every detail, and 1t has
continued to grow until it is one of the most
prosperous of the sisterhood of churches.
considering all things. 1t finds home In
Canada, where the instinct of the race re-
volts at social equality. though the gulf
between the races which slavery caused in
the United States never existed. This great
church is. therefore. an object lesson to be
studied in connection with the future of the
negro. Whoever else shall covet social
equality. he will not.
There is a world OF suggestion in the
bishops statement of the case: Justice in
the courts and right to work. OF the first
there is no ground Of complaint in any
Northern State. 1t cannot be alleged that
any Northern court discriminates against
the negro. The recent patient and fair trials
of the negro grave robbers in this city. un-
der most provoking circumstances. is fair
illustration of their rights in the courts
here, at least. 1t may be different in some
cases in the former slave States, but time
will cure this wrong, if it exists. What the
bishop says as to the negro's right to work
dismissed with a pooh-pooh If we mean
TO consult the interests of the white people
as well as those of the negro. In Indianapo-
lis many colored men are Idle, and Ii Is
these that are causing the police so much
trouble on Indiana avenue and elsewhere,
but their idleness is not wholly, even
chiefly, their fault; they are not permitted
to work in any of the more profitable in
dustries. They cannot be admitted into any
union. and If one comes to the city with a
card of membership from State where col
or is no bar to membership he Is not per-
mitted to work at his trade. except as he
may find an odd job; nor even then. for his
employer is liable to be boycotted if he
employs a nonunion man in any kind of
work. The late commencements of our city
schools graduated several negroes who had
passed the necessary examinations with
credit, while several white children were re-
fused diplomas, either for want of capacity
or application, or because they were not
willing to be graduated with a negro. Ne
groes have not only equal rights in our
courts. but in our schools: 1t is only in the
right to work that they suffer here, and the
city and the State pay dearly for their ex-
clusion from this right.
Bishop Grant suggests the real want OF
the negro, at least in Indianapolis. Honest
negroes are idle because they are shut out
from profitable work. They may. during
housekeeping time, find job Of shaking
carpets or the like. but steady employment
in any trade is denied them. Somebody
must, in some way. correct this wrong, or
others besides the negro will suffer.