Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-14

or what our governor or other politicians
may have to say. Among the first acts
into Office was to veto the appropriation
to our normal school located at Holly
Springs and started during the admins
tration of President Grant. 1 stood there
out in the midst of the term and a large
class on the eve of graduation. I then
made up my mind that with the negroes
of the state back Of me, / would rebuke
him for that autocratic deed. He closed
the school in the middle of the term, the
smallest thing that had ever been done
to any race or people. We raised $3.50
among the negroes, purchased ITO acres
of land. and now have a school worth
more than the one which he closed, and
400 negro boys and girls are attend
ing it,
Too Much Compromise.
Bishop Alexander Walters was then in
PRODUCED. He urged the negroes to keep
UP agitation and struggle lor the rights
which had been taken from them. II do
not believe in compromise he said. ''for
the negro has been compromising too
much already. and losing more and more
of his rights each time. Shall We sit still
and not contend for that which is ours?"
he asked. No! MOI" came the response
from nearly a thousand voices
DETERMINATIONS are unconstitutional
as long as the thirteenth. fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the federal Con-
stitution are on the statute books" con-
tinued the bishop, land we are with any
party that will aid us in getting our
rights, for the republican party declares
that it is helpless
Continuing his address, Bishop Walters
said:
1--WE are here to note our progress in
the past and talk of victories. We are
here to confer about religious matters
strengthen
large our borders. We are here to plan
for the advancement of the kingdom of
Christ and the uplift of our people along
the moral and material lines as we'll as
protest against injustice of all kinds: to
devise plans to overthrow the separate
coach law.
when the question was first mooted.
1t was declared that it was the vicious and
filthy negroes they were after and not
the intelligent and cultured men and
women orour race. but we have learned
by bitter experience that just the oppo-
site is the case. No matter how intelli-
gent. cultured or wealthy the negro may
be, his presence is resented among the
white passengers on the southern rail-
way trains.
'It is known to us all that these dis
ordinations are the outcome of race pref
udice, and are intended to humiliate and
degrade the moral and Intelligent among
us. Jim Crow cars should have no place
in the civilization of the nineteenth GEN.
fury. They are a menace to health, a
violation of the laws of common decency.
and an outrage against the manhood and
womanhood Of our race"
Is Not Discouraged.
Bishop Evans Tyree, d. D., of Nash
vile. Tenn, who has charge Of Oklahoma
and Texas for the African NJ. E. church,
in his opening remarks said: 1--WE are in
the midst of a lovefeast of rare character.
We are here as workers. and We feel
with you the pulsations which are brought
about by the many things which surround
us. What does a man amount to who
does not have to contend with opposition.
Opposition brings out the manhood. We
have been in a struggle for 300 years. and
goal after awhile. I am not discouraged,
The negro who has been asleep on the
cotton bale for number of years is now
waking up. We are getting together.
and If the colored people don't get to-
gether we will hang apart. Clear the
forest. and let US begin in earnest race
building. having as the corner stone truth,
obedience industry and politeness.
1.-The work which began forty-four years
ag4is now beginning to show up. We
arggetting away from the foundation and
it is this which Is causing SO much talk
now. We are happy people. We have
been singing all of our lives but we have
learned that while we sing We must
build. l know we live in a country
where a senator Of the United States can
go through the country boasting of kill
ing negroes like brutes, but I believe in
truth and justice and God. and with
these right will prevail. Some of our
enemies advocate closing the negro
schools and sending the negro into the
field A Senator from Texas said this.
and the African Methodists in Texas put
on the table for education $11 600 in one
preparation of the gospel to meet the
occasion"
Stays With Republican Party.
Bishop c. H. Phillips. of the c. NJ E.
Church, said: 81 will stay with the party
of Grant and Lincoln
THAT party is dead" shouted Rev. X.
H. w. Leak of North Carolina.
II am an American. and I am going to
stay with the republican party. 1 can
sing America and am proud of 1t. l
honor and love the flag of my country"
Bishop G. w. Clinton made an address,
and was followed by Bishop Charles
Spencer Smith of Detroit, Mich. who dis
caused the Conflict Between the White
Man and the Negro"
by a man In High Office. whose name do
not remember. that it is better to be dis
franchised than to be killed." said
Bishop Smith, but I do not agree with
him, for it is the ballot which executes
the freedman's will. as lightning exc
cutes the will of heaven.
1.-The ballot Is the only weapon with
which an American citizen can protect
his rights. The negro must get some
thing. for as long as we are pauper race