Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-08
COLORED MAN
IS BEHIND HIS
NATION IN WAR
Big Mass Meeting Stirred by
Orators Remarkable
Address

A magnificent grafton. worthy OF
the greatest and best leaders of the
colored race, was delivered last. night
in the Armory by Roscoe Conkline
race, interspersed with a number OF
white men who were as intensely in
terested as any. SO truly, accurately
inspiringly did the orator set before
his intelligent audience the aims and
conscience of the negro in America
that he was interrupted from time to
time with ringing cheers, the women
whC were well represented, joining in
with the men such a spirit of vivid
patriotism and loyalty to the nation
prevailed that old men, were minded
of the days. of Abraham Lincoln
friend of the black man.
Mr.. Simmons is regarded to great
extent as the man who has stepped
in the shoes of Booker T. Washing
ton, who. taught the negro to work
with his hands and brain and develop
the vast latent talent which is his
birth right. Educator. student. phil
osopher and patriot, he delivered a
message which will never be forgot
ten.
He touched the depths of the color
ed mans feeling, toward his, native
land in fiery words, saying: Teach
ing the world democracy my country
instructs her own in lessons of lib
erty. Why does the government hold
back back when spY and traitor ply their
y
can negro, soldier among soldiers
as the home guards. Put him under
Theodore Roosevelt, and 1 promise
that spy and traitor will cry mercy
Undivided Allegiance
!, Let me speak for one-ninth OF
the population of this country. Let
me speak for the American negro;
! Will say for him that he knows
but one government, speaks but one
language, and claims but one flag
the flag that set him free.
Living side by side with the
proudest and nobliest figure of time
side by side with the American white
man, the negro, with no voice in his
government. has but one request He
asks for the gun of war, for the
uniform of his country, and for the
command from the officer afraid of
neither life. nor death. He asks to
be shown the field. He will do the
When Mr.. Simmons turned to Old
Glory with gesture, and solemnly
declared All ] am, all I hope to be
waved above Grant at Appomattox and
above Meade at Gettysburg: whoever.
white or black. stands against that
nag stands against me-" the audience
was fairly swept by impassioned ap-
plause and cheers.
Speaking of after the war and
speaking for twelve million of his
ptOplS, race Oh warriors, first in
war and last in peace" he said. "Mv
faith is planted in the American white
man and in the unfailing promises of
my God. When the soldiers of our
mighty army shall have sent the Hun
back across the Rhine. they are go
ing to pick up. Liberty from the dust
OF our land, wipe away the tear from
her eyes. and tell her. Weep no
more my lady"
To his own race he gave a solemn
eXhortation to live clean, live true,
men and women. and do something
worth while" lie pointed out that
the negro is holding more and better
places than ever before, but "you
must make yourselves worthy" lie
concluded.
The meeting was presided over nv
w. Justin Carter and before adjourn
ment it voted to adopt resolution
calling upon the Dauphin County
Commissioners to accept the pro
visions of the mothers assistance law
when would provide a pension for
fatherless or deserted children under
sixteen years of age.