Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-18

AaueoHi5ou. III introducing senator
Harper, he said: Now l am going to
Introduce to you a man who has been
elected and reelected to the state sen.
ate and man who came here before
the stars dropped. don't. know
whether Senator Harper is responsible
or not, but since he has occupied seat
In the state house at Des Moines, the
grand state of Iowa has emerged from
debt, its money, has been put out on
reliable interest and its corn has grown
to an extent not reached by any other
state. ask tor Senator Harper your
closest attention"
Senator Harper Talks.
Senator Harper's remarks were
mainly on the progress of the negro
in the past forty years. In part he
said:
Il came here before the stars fell
and came here in time to assist in
breaking the shackles off the .4,00O,-
200 colored people in the south
am glad to be with you tonight and
praise your little place of worship
here, and hope that this magnificent
congregation will give this church and
it's efficient pastor the support they
deserve. l would like to invite Sena-
tor Ben. Tillman of South Carolina
and some more. Of the prominent
statesmen who are prejudiced against
the colored race and let them look
upon the intelligence Of this congrega-
tion and then say that the negro can
not be educated and carry himself
like white man. l have always low
ed the colored race ever since l read
that stirring narrative by Harriet
Beecher Stowe, Uncle Toms Cabin
Then, forty years ago, my belief in
the negro was made stronger when
Missouri marshals, armed with the
law OF the United States came to this
state to hunt down negroes. Not only
We're they invested with the laws of
the United States, but they had the
power to demand the white people to
assist in the inhuman hunt. it was
then that my feeling for the colored
people became so strong. But am
not here to praise the colored peo-
pie and to flatter them and to say they
have no faults, for l feel that | am
a good enough friend, of the colored
people to tell them of their occasion
al wrongs.
The Races Progress.
But want to tell you of the pro-
gress the colored people have made
in the last forty years. At
that time you were in bond
age and had no education, Meth
er were you allowed to acquire one.
At this time, however, there are 1873
schools and colleges for the higher ed
ucation of the colored race. Fifty-five
per cent OF the adult colored people
can read and write. More than 40
per cent of the cotton mills in the
south are operated by colored people.
Thirty per cent of the rice fields Of
the south are operated by negroes.
while Is per cent of the coffee planta-
lions are operated by colored people.
consider this a very creditable show
ing and think the colored people
should be very proud of what
have accomplished. But they should
not rest on their oars, but should
strive on with their work and. with
their education. In conclusion want
to say that some people, have a vague
idea that there will be state. or col
ony of some, kind made for the color
ed people. This is not SO, our coun-
try is your country your feelings are
like our feelings, our God is your
God and you must live with us. be-
lieve as sure as there is a just God
above that the time will come when
the seven southern states that have
disfranchised your race, will lift the
ban and welcome you back. You,
therefore. want to show in your &C.
lions and your department and in your
every thing that you are worthy of
the respect of every state. / have
faith in the destiny of the colored
people and earnestly believe that the
time will come when justice will be
yours as well as ours"