Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-09-17
the place of meeting for the session"
Rev DR.. William A. Credit of Phil
adelphia responded TO Mr.. Cummings
address in the following language:


AS | stand here and look upon you
realize that | am facing one of the hnest
/ bodies Of Negro manhood and womanhood
that can be assembled anywhere in the
world. If. perchance. not the finest body.
regret to use the designation Negro man
hood. for l am of the opinion that TAX
ing into consideration the many years OF
| Anglo-Saxon advantages In America and
| the Negroes Disadvantages and hindrances
in this the land Of his birth we present
today a body Of men that compares IA
vorabiy with any body Of men that Amer
lea can assemble in any part OF her vast
| domain.
We do not fear comparison. They. the
Anglo -SaXOns. had England's. Germany
Frances and SPANS accomplishments
upon which they might begin their Amer
lean career. and out Of the best blood of
these mother countries they have grown
American Anglo-Saxon manhood. Not so
with US
They tell us that our forefathers were
stolen or entrapped from the lowest tribes
Of western African coast. and yet from
these the lowest-tribes OF Africas most
| degenerate unfortunates we have In the
very midst Of American pre- eJudice and ha-
tired. In the midst Of American hiudrances
| and envy, through years OF unrequited
toll through the very hell Of American
slavery. through the fires Of American
| obstacles. with our manhood circum-
scribed. legislatcd against, with our wom-
anhood debased. with our children de-
priyed Of privileEes-we have grown q
manhood sterling, stalwart and grand. a
manhood that has competed with the An
gio-Saxon craze for money getting and
has actually grown Negro milliouaires in
less than nifty years We have entered
the hest universities and instead of stand
ing second to any. have won their coveted
prizes.
And by virtue Of having taken these
prizes IN their highest institutions We
have proved to the world that true cul-
ture knows not the texture Of the hair
nor tho color Of the skin. but regardless
OF these the colored American secs tn,
prize of the AnEio-Saxon hanging high
upon the tree Of fame. he determines 10
climb and higher. higher. even yet higher
he climbs until he outstrips the youth OF
| fairer hue takes down the coveted prize
amid the forced adulations OF the white
| race.
The colored people come forward with
spontaneous rejoicing and place the prize
| upon his brow. they believing as he wears
Il that he Is giving the Ne 10 the old
thread worn statement that a Negro IS
only atted 20 be a heHcr OF wood and q
drawer OF water
In literature and letters we boast OF our
Dubois and host OF others, in painting
] Tanner. IN music ColeridEe-Taylor. IN
poetry Philus Wheailey and Dunbar. iH
Industrial education and general race use.
fulness Booker T. Washington. in orator.
the noblcst Roman Of them all-Frederics
Douglass And when the north pole
should ba discovered and the AnElo-SaNon
| should stand on the top OF the earth
| Matt Henson the Negro was at his side
TO help unfurl Old Glory and plant the
stars and stripes upon the apex OF terra
nrma.
| And should any one doubt our fighting
ability you shall be compelled 10 remem.
| Der that all have been whipped TO a fraz-
zle by the pugilistic mancUvcrs OF his
| sable majesty and by the intellectual skill
OF his ebony honor and with the Lord
Chesterfield forbearance Of his excellence
the Hon, Mr. Jack Johnson.
| cannot tell the progress made by our
race as ! stand here ana look upon you
| and could | tell 1t It would remain where
| It is told. Nor is it necessary that
should tell It. Your very presence here IN
| Baltimore Will show to this city that the
colored American is a man OF whom nc
| nation should be ashamed
As you meet in your deliberations, as
| you walk the streets as YOU abide In
these homes. wherever you may go while
| here and whatever you may do. remember
| the eyes OF the world are upon you. And
| ] am sure when we shall have closed this
| B. NJ. c Baltimore city will say and this
| country shall know that no finer body OF
| Americans has ever visited this great city