The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1913-10-25

When 1 think of the rapid increase
and spread of prejudice and discrim-
nation, I can easily see what an ad-
vantage we would have, if we had our
people and our forces together, and 1
can the more appreciate this last
proposition of Mr.. Lincoln.
Time was, when prejudice was con-
fined to the more ignorant of both
races; today it has no bounds; the
greatest profession in this country,
The American Bar Association, has
seen fit to discriminate against one of
our greatest men, simply because he
was not white.
The treatment which our people, in
the post office department at WASH
ington, are receiving, is a disgrace to
this country.
Let me close by saying that, I be-
lieve the race question in this coun-
try will be settled some day, but not
until they have been fully debated
upon the field of battle, and if the
Afro-American is ever called upon to
debate them there, they will do so as
fully and completely as they debated
the questions with the Spaniards
marching up San Juan Hill.
Mayor Herbert P. Keller was next
on the program but his honor was un-
avoidably absent and the next number
was by the very excellent young must
clans, Messrs. Harry and Abraham
Eurist, on violin and piano, who rem
dered "Le Souvenir" by Oh. Doncla,
and "Gavotte," by FRI. Jos. Erssec,
winning rapturOus applause
Attorney General Lyndon A. Smith
was next on the program, for an ad-
dress, but having been suddenly taken
seriously i'll he was unable to be pres
emit; but Secretary of State Julius A.
Schmahl who had graciously consented
to represent him, after being intro
duced by lawyer w. T. Francis, spoke
in part as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: l am appearing here this even
ing as substitute for a legal mind,
the Attorney General of the State, who
is confined to his house and has been
for several days through illness. l
always like to follow a legal speaker
because he is very apt to stick to the
law while I engage, more or less in
gatherings and generalities.
AS l came down to your hall this
evening I was pleasantly reminded of
little incident which occurred up at
the Capitol about a year or so ago by
one OF your number who asked me if
I came down here to tend bar. You
will probably remember that the Sec
rotary of States office was used by the
military department one night at the
governors reception and it is said
that liquid refreshments flowed freely.
l was somewhat amused at Mr.. Adams
method of putting the motion for the
appointment of your resolutions COM
mittee few moments ago. It remind
ed me of the Methodist minister who
was trying to get the people in his
| congregation to join Tie church. He
said, Cali those who want to be saved
will please rise," and everybody got
up but one man, when they we're seat
ed the pastor called for the negative
and this man stood up and said, "Wel]
Pastor, I guess you and are the only
ones that want to go to hell"
My friends, my mind reverts back to
those pages of history when fifty years
ago this country was a country in al
most complete darkness. At that time
it was a question whether or not a
government Of the people, for the
people and by the people was to exist
or whether a handful of southern
states, through their misguided cit
liens, were to control and were to sci
up a government of their own anC
forever make servile and subject tt
them the black man. AS I read the
pages of history I glory in the mer
who were the agitators prior to anC
during the war. I glory in Garrison
Beecher, Phillips and John Brown, bu
l glory most in the existence of the
greatest emancipation of all, Abraham
Lincoln. He had long since been con
WINGED but he waited for the Northern
people to become convinced in theil
own minds that there was but one
thing to do and that was to issue the
emancipation proclamation that would
set four million black souls free, ant
at the time it was issued I am sure
he sent forth the enthusiasm that di(
more than anything else to ultimatel!
bring about a union in the government
of America.
In the last fifty years no race ha
progressed like the Afro-American
They are in every way the equal of tn
white people. The truth is that tn
AfrO-Americans are a peaceful, gentle
non-warlike people. In their faithful
ness to the ties of friendship they ar
superior to the Anglo-Saxon. Wa
, there ever a more wonderful demon
stration of fidelity than during tn
twill 49,
labored in the cotton fields and pre-
: vided sustenance for their master
who fought to continue their bondage
. The care of the estate, the women an
children, and all that the Southerne
held dear and sacred were entruste
to the slaves and history does not re
cord single instance of faithless
ness. After the slaves were freed, s
great was the hatred heaped upo
him, because he wanted to be a maj
, that nothing saved him from utter al
Inhalation, but his value as laborel
l 1t was my pleasure as I passe
f through the Panama Zone few week
t ago to see employed, in that creates
7 of mechanical and engineering worl
, large numbers of black men employe
2 as engineers and in other positions c
r great Importance. And I am sure tina
: that is the condition that will exis
= all over this country whenever 20
, people raise to the Importance of you
position and unitedly assert you
rights. AS look back Is or 20 year
, ago I can see men right here in thi
; audience men who were doing menis
,, labor at that time, but I am proud t