The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-04-23

ulSSeI uOWu, preventing SOCldl S4udA
ity, and incidentally trying to forget
the. depths from which they sprang
the aristocrats and Northern capital
lists are developing the resources OF
the South, are building the factories
and railroads, marketing the crops and
getting the money. So, after all, the
power and influence now enjoyed by
the poor whites is of short duration
The rehabilitated aristocrat will soon
have affairs under his control again.
During a recent discussion in the
House occasioned by the presentation
of letter from Ex-President Cleve
land, denying that Fred Douglas was
invited to his wedding reception, and
further that while governor of New
York he signed a bill providing fol
mixed schools, Congressman Scott OF
Kansas said in part:
us not the AfrO-American handi
capped enough, in heavens name, by
the prejudice of color and caste. by the
limitations Of his race: without tying
his hands and Stacking his feet by
denying him the protection which the
law gives to the meanest of his white
competitors?
1--WE have heard it stated on this
floor that the Afro-American is unfit
for citizenship and incapable of rising
above the level of serfdom. And yet
the records show that in forty years
starting with nothing, this race has
accumulated. $800,000,000 of property
It shows that, starting in almost total
ignorance, more than half of them over
the age, of ten years can read and
write. The census shows that nearly
rs per cent of them own their own
homes, while here and there individu,
ais have amassed fortunes. Here and
there also individuals have acquired
education and culture and developed
intellectual power which would do
credit to the men Of any race.
''In the face of such record as that
is it not the acme of effrOntery to de-
clare that there is nothing for the Afro
American to do but 'peaceably and qui.
city, in the language of member OF
this house. to assume that inferior pO-
sition for. which nature and training
have fitted him. Nature and training
have fitted the great majority of the
but does it follow, therefore, that no
individual of that race who is capable
of reaching higher position shall be
allowed to aspire to it? A fair field
and no favor is all the Anglo-Saxon has
ever.asked for himself. and he has al
ways demanded that. Can he not give
to others, and especially to his infe-
riors, that which he demands for him.
self?
1.-THE lesson of our history, the les
son of all history. Mr.. Chairman, = is
that the people of one nation rise or
fall together We must lift the Afro
American up or the Afro-American will
drag us down. For my own part I
have no shadow of doubt as to the final
outcome. We will lift the Afro-Amer-
lean up. We will do this partly by
reason of the spirit of fair play, so
deeply implanted in the Anglo-Saxon
nature that it compels us in the end,
whether We will or no, to give every
man a fair chance; and we will do it
partly out of the spirit of enlightened
selfshness, because our own industrial
and political welfare requires it.
81 have complete faith in the irwin
chile common-sense of the American
people, and all this problem calls for is
cOmmon-sense. For cOmmOn-sense will
call at last for common justice. and
when common justice is melted out to
the Afro-American, when one law
measures the deeds, the rewards, and
the penalties of black and white alike,
when equal opportunity keeps step
ri W.
Afro-American is given fair field he
will need ask no favors, and the race
problem will be- solved -.
The S. Ccleridge-Taylor Choral So
ciety has accomplished an interesting
and important feat in musical affairs
of next season, having received an ac-
ceptance to their invitation to the
Anglo-African composer, Coleridge-
Taylor, to come to Washington next
fall and personally conduct perform
ance CT his own works, "Hiawatha'
and "The Atonement.." The first one
has been heard here several times, and
always with splendid success, the last
named not having yet been sung here.
In-his reply to the letter sent him, the.
composer expressed himself as partie-
ularly delighted to accept their invita-
ton and terms. as it had always been
his special ambition to some time con-
duct a good choral society OF colored
singers, and he looked forward to the
engagement with the greatest pleasure.
The composer has recently written
three new chorales, which he Informed
them he had dedicated to the Cole
Choral Society here, and
which he hoped they would sing on the
occasion of his visit here. This will
be an Important musical event in this
city, alike to the white people and the
coIored, for COleridge-Taylor has been
spoken Of as among the greatest Eng
ishscomposers.
Special services were held in all of
The A. M. e. churches in the city last