Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-28
TALKED OF HIS RACE
DR.. w. D. Crum at Metro
politan A. M. E. Church.
NEGRO HIS THEM E
LARGE AND ATTENTIVE AUDI
ENCE FILLS THE EDIFICE.
Tells Story of Slavery and Benefits Ac-
cruing to Colored Man Since
Those Days.
NEGRO HIS THEM E

A large and appreciative audience greeted
DR.. William D. Crum collector of the port
of Charleston, S. c., at the Metropolitan
A. NJ. E. Church, M street near 18th street
northwest, last night, when he delivered
his lecture, entitled rs the Negro Hin
drance to the Progress of the Nation?'
The fame of the speaker had gone
abroad, his selection to the office which he
holds by President Roosevelt and his even
tual confirmation by the Senate having
been one of the most talked of appoint
ments of the present administration. DR..
Crum said in opening his remarks, he knew
that many of his audience had come to hear
him out of curiosity, and he also knew
that at one time a "crumb' was a most
| important factor in the questions of cur
rent politics.
The lecture was given for the benefit of
charity of the church, and following the
speakers DR.. Crum received those who
passed to the platform. Refreshments were
later served. Bishop Wesley J. Gaines pre-
sided, and the choir of the church sang,
opening with America" Rev. o. j. w.
Scott, pastor of the church, opened with
prayer. The church was decorated with
the national flag, while potted plants and
cut flowers adorned the rostrum and pulpit.
The Blaine Invincibles, led by Perry Car
son. all in their uniforms, marched into
the church to music by the organ, presided
over by John T. Layton
1t had been expected that Representative
Edward de V Morrell of Pennsylvania
would introduce the speaker, but a night
session of the House prevented, and in his
place Bishop Gaines requested John c.
Dancy recorder of deeds, to make the in
troductory address. Mr.. Dancy said that
at one time no more prominent man lived
in this country, with the exception of the
said he was a sterling patriot and noble
leader devoted to his duties as a citizen
and an an official of the government He
said that he began with no opportunities,
but advanced to success, outgeneraling all
obstacles until he now came before the au-
dience as a representative of the people
whose government he upheld and whose
flag he loved.
DR.. Crum's Address.
DR.. Crum said he thanked the distinguish
ed gentleman for the compliment he had
bestowed upon him, and that whether or
not he deserved 1t time alone would tell.
He then said that the American people
were generous people, but sometimes
they lacked the courage to do justice to a
man because he was not colored white.
1.-THE negro he said, ''in his enslaved
condition, which had existed for two and
one-half centuries this continent. took
up the religion of the white man and he
tried his best to serve him with all his
might. The American 1idian, on the con-
might. The American Indian, on the con-
try. but he refused to adopt either his re-
ligion or his civilization, and the result is
that the Indian is very much out of the
scheme of American civilization.
THE negro was made to do all that is
expected of a slave, but in spite of his
sorrows, in spite of his lack of opportuni-
the most loving character in history under
oppression, and when | am asked If he is
a menace to the progress of this nation l
wish to enter a solemn denial right here
= hot Inn {c IN hn nf ha
nation or hindrance to it's progress. Slav-
cry was a canker to the American nation,
gnawing out the vitals of the country, but
abolition came, and a new era sprang up.
This strenuous move was made on the part
of a God-fearing people who had religion
in their souls and believed that all human
beings should be free 1t was this move
ment that caused the birth of the republic
can party with Abraham Lincoln as it's
intrepid leader, and we have reason to be-
lieve that his natural successor will carry
out that leaders great purpose. AS Lin
coin said, in that slogan that marked the
beginning of the great strife that was to
come: This country cannot exist half slave
and half free That phrase was the DEATH
knell of slavery"
He then reviewed the convention of the
southern states and the secession of EACH
the firing on Fort Sumter, April II, 1861,
and the great war which followed Lin
coin, in the kindness of his great heart
he said, called for 1900 troops to put
down the rebellion. They were asked to
serve for three months. He little knew
then what gigantic struggle was to take
place before the arms of the north had
conquered their brothers of the southland.
The southern soldiers were trained as we'll
as their brothers of the north. They had
been educated for war at that great school
at West Point, and when the flower of the
youth of the north responded to Lincoln's
call SO did the flower of the south flock to
their standard. But the sutherner left be-
hind him his faithful slave to protect his
women and children and never yet had
that trust been found faithless. Then 1t
was found that the negro must play a part
in that war. He was not a free man; he
had no country which he could call his
country, no flag which he could call the
flag of his country. These stars and these
stripes meant for him only misery, yet he
sprang to the front to show that by cour-
age and endurance he was willing to do his
part to save that country which had been
the author of his misery. And 1 maintain
that the man who is willing to stand up
and be shot down for a country deserves
every consideration of manhood, and we
stand ready today to prove that the same
feelings exist that existed then. That being
so, the American negro cannot be menace
to the progress of this nation. And I wish
to say to you that there Is no man within
the hearing of my voice tonight who would
IN, 10 rio To CHI