Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-01-05
THE GREAT VERNON
MAKES A hit IN FLORIDA

FORMER REGISTER OF UNITED
STATES TREASURY ELOQUENT
~ ADDRESSED PEOPLE OF
JACKSONVILLE. us
Doctor Vernon came to Jacksonville
upon the invitation Of the PASTORAL
council of the East Florida conference
OF the African Methodist Episcopal
church, whose president is Rev. n. l.
Gordon, d. D., and whose secretary ls
Rev. r. l.. Brown. Members OF TINS
ministerial organization were present.
showing commendable interest III
all that was done and said.
The rostrum was occupied by the
speaker, Doctor Attaway, president OF
the Edward Waters college; Doctor
Gordon, DR.. R. B. BROKER, DR.. 9. n.
Boyer, DR.. J. Il. Ford, the new repre-
sentative, and many other persons OF
prominence.
After appropriate Introductory re.
marks, in which Doctor Gordon tod
his peculiar experience in bringing TO
the city the man whose name mas peeh
on the tongues Of many for the past
several weeks, and OF how he met TINS
distinguished man while on his Vaca-
ton last summer, and secured from
him an engagement to come to the
city Of Jacksonville and address the
people of this city.
Doctor Vernon. In personal appear
ance, wildly reminds one of the la
mented DR.. J. C. Price of North Caro-
lima. OF all other things, he is an
agreeable speaker. Discarding manu-
script, he came before his audience to
speak out Of the abundance OF his ex'
perience, Doctor Vernon spoke wholly
on matters that are Of prime concern
to his race of people. He is no pessl-
mist, painting heaven and earth with
all sorts Of ugly things, and smearing
life's highway all. over with the gorge
of dependency.
The speaker would have his people
to know that theirs is not unlike the
course of all races of mankind that
have amounted to anything In this
world. To sustain this he traced, with
wonderful faithfulness to real his
tory, mans progress from primeval
times. Especially did he deduce the
evolution of human freedom, specify,
ing Runemede, Magma Charter, the
Declaration of independence and the
Emancipation proclamation. The
strange shiftings Of civilization, the
tortuous course of strivings after the
highest, the best, and that which is
most enduring, formed no small part OF
this address, which was frequently
punctured with applause.
In referring to his race in this coun.
try, 1t was thrilling, the manner in
which he told of their having been the
burden-bearers both in war and IN
peace: how at Yorktown black men
stood at order arms in Washington's
army, while CORVALLIS surrendered to
the great American general, and how
nearly one hundred years after black
men stood and died for the Union and
their freedom.
Inauspicious from Jamestown to the
dawn of the better day, the race has
found that it's greatest need is simply
to be left alone Never traitors in any
war in which they took part, never
tried on impeachment charges while
lawmakers in the halls of congress,
and ever loyal to home, after allowed
to know really what that word meant.
The speaker paid golden tribute to
the church and Christian education,
citing the many benefits accruing from
these two agencies. His tribute to the
fathers of human freedom was truly
transporting, individualizing the Ia
mented Frederick Douglas.
This powerful lecture found it's clos
ing in an appeal to the youths, clinch-
ing all that had been said with a mas
terly appeal to the young to take up
what those who have done so well,
without the advantages of present day
methods. He held up the direful con-
sequences Of the boys who live in the
streets and have lodging places at
home; to girls who do not learn that
there is golden opportunity, often, in
rags.
The speaker, as he approached the
conclusion of his discourse, saliently
pointed out what struck all as so many
places Of danger. In doing this he de-
clared that there Is no race problem,
but there is a human problem. Ad-
justment, SO as to be of actual value,
in the solution of this, was another
strong point. The relation of duty and
rights was wildly brought out, and the
conclusion was reached in broad
vein of patriotism that swayed the
audience with captivation as COM
plete as If religious tidal wave had
been set in motion by some Of the ia
nous revivalists.
Doctor Vernon sat down amid a
storm of applause. All were pleased
to the point Of being jubilant. Hun.
dreds came forward and shook the