The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-11-07
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, November 7, 1906.
NEGRO AGITATION
RIFEs1N THE CAPITAL.


Apparently the Chief Topics.
Washington, Oct. 31.-The race
question at the national capital seems
to be assuming grave proportions
among the "colored'' folks. They are
holding mass meetings now over what
they term their treatment in the pub
lie schools, and while they do not
specify any particular grievances of
which they can complain except the
dismissal of Cordozo and a few other
teachers, they are censuring certain
white people, especially DIR. Chan
cellor, the new superintendent of
schools, and expressing the most
virulent condemnation of the senti-
ment heard or breathed anywhere
that the negroes are not a downtrod-
den people. They declare that the
thing for them to do is to "agitate."
The new superintendent, DR.. Chan
cellor, has been throwing cold water
on this agitation, and one Of the most
prominent negro preachers at mass
meeting last night quoted him as hav-
ing said that if the negroes did not
stop this agitating they would bring
down upon themselves some such
STATE of affairs as prevail in the
Southern States. These negroes up
here seem to think, and they deeply
and Indignantly resent the threat of
any man, especially the superintend-
ent of schools, who is a Republican
and an administration man, that any
thing could bring about such a de-
plorable thing here.
DR.. Chancellor proposed to bring
here DR.. w. E. B. Dubois, the cele-
brated negro agitator now living in
Atlanta, and make him an officer in
the schools, but with the distinct un-
derstanding that Dubois was to cease
his stagitation" against Booker Wash
ington and industrial education. The
negroes do not object to Dubois. What
they do not like is the condition upon
which he would be invited here, for
Booker Washington is no idol among
Northern or Yankee" negroes. Book
er is a working negro and in favor of
negroes working. The Yankee negro
is more in favor Of being a gentleman.
The only time the Tuskegee negro
has ever pleased them was when he
ate with the president. That delight
ed them, but when he tells them that
their salvation lies along the paths of
toll, they hiss him, and IS they once
did in Boston, sometimes pull their
razors on him.
This negro preacher; Corruthers,
"member of the colored citizens
committee on the public schools"
who led the onslaught on the superin-
tendent Of schools last night, preach
ed a red hot sermon last Sunday night,
and it was in reference to that sermon
that the new superintendent is alleged
to have threated the negroes with
Southern troubles" Corruthers de-
clared that he had no use for the col
ored man who was afraid to stir up
trouble, ifthereby he might secure
his rights. He declared that trouble
is sure to come some day and 1t might
as we'll come now. He preferred, he
said, to have the trouble himself than
to be cowardly and leave it for his
children to fight out.
Among those present at this mass
meeting was one A. W. Scott, who
for reasons of his own was make to
skip out of Wilmington about six
years ago, just about the time of the
riots there. Said he: CDR. Chancel-
lor seems to be full of chicanery and
tricks. He threatens US with South
ern troubles if we keep up our agi-
tation of this question. I tell you it
was through just such agitation that
Charles Sumner, Fred Douglas, Wend-
ell Philips and other great men made
the institution of human slavery to
totter and fall. Let US, too, be men
and agitate until justice is done in
our schools"
So they believe in agitating. Anoth-
er preacher present said:
eve must speak out for the right.
congratulate the colored people of
Philadelphia on their manhoods in
causing the suppression of "The Clans
man, We want such manhood and
here. ."-Cor. State.