The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-05
NEGRO CRITIC OF BOOKER T.
WRONG ABOUT JIM CROW CARS,
SAYSTHE REV. DIR. WALLER.
Roosevelt. the Doctor Says. wasn't the
First Great Man TO Entertain a Negro
1 -Jeners0n Preceded Hlm-NeEro
Landed Here Before Pilgrim Fathers.

The biggest Fourth OF July celebration
ever held by Afro Americans OF the ftve
boroughs was marked by an attack on
Booker T. Washington by the orator OF the
day, the Rev. DR.. Owen NJ. Waller former
rector Of st. Lukes Episcopal Church OF
Washington, D. c., and by q defense
by the Rev. s. W. Timms. pastor OF the
Holy Trinity Baptist Church Of Brooklyn,
who declared that @the big hot air pipes
of the race are spending too nuch time
IN discussing negroes that are trying TO do
something, and are not doing anything
themselves for the betterment Of the race.
Cant the learned doctors Of the race,
said the Rev. Mr.. Timms, "let the past
be done with and suggest something for
the future, Let this day mark the end OF
denunoiation and the beginning of the
accomplishment of something"
The meeting was in the open air, at
Bergen street and Rochester avenue, aud a
large platform had been erected. upon
which were prominent negro clergymen.
lawyers and business men. The audience
Joined in singing America, after which the
Rev. L. j. Brown introduced the first
speaker, F. F. Giles. who said:
not sing America but there are no people
who have more right to sing it than the
negroes, for we are Americans and in the
soil OF America, from Bunker Hill to Florida,
the bones of negroes are bleaching. and the
and made it blessed"
The Rev DR.. Waller said: we are Ameri-
cans to the very backbone, and were pio-
neers and founders Of the republic, The
negro landed in America before the Pill
grim Fathers, and he has right to belong to
the Society of the Revolution and to the
Colonial societies. We don't appreciate our
Americanisn, but let others get in front OF
lis. The negro Is first Of all an American,
Much has been heard Of President Roose-
welt breaking bread with distinguished
colored citizen, but IL you know the history
Of your race you will be reminded that
George Washington wrote commencing a
young negro woman, Phillis Wheatley.
Jefferson entertained at his estate the great
astronomer, Benjamin Banneker, whose first
almanac was adopted by the Academy Of
France. So we have no reason to hide our
face or to apologize when we appear in
public.
-As an educator, executor, builder and
teacher. DIR. Booker T. Washington has
my unstinted regard. Tuskegee, with all
Of its grandeur, will live as monument
to DR.. Washington long after he is dead
constitutions and jim Crow cars of the
South, l part ways with DR.. Washington.
His ideas on these questions would bandi-
cap children, and he is laying plans for the
degradation of my daughter and my daugh-
ter's daughter, and the race should con-
denim any man who would not condemn
the dim Crow cars Of the South.
I'VE are citizens not of a monarchy
but OF a republic, and each citizen is
sovereign und exercises the prerogau ives of a
sovereign, yet DR.. Washington would take
away our liberty and equality l do not
want Dr. Washington as national leader,
made 20 by white men. nor to teach me
politics or to teach my boys to think light
Of citizenship, or of the manhood God has
put into me. We are not followers Of fads
Americans we will in time compel all to
recognize our equality before the law