Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1925-08-29
BIC PUBLIC MEETING
CONTINUED From Page u

have been a colonel at the head of
a black regiment, neither would ne
have been so successful had he not
hailed from Virginia. Across the go
way entrance to Westminster Abb
bev. Christopher Randolph, the ar
chitect of the most lovely pile on
earth, wrote these words: If you
seek my monument look around YOU
Go to Fort Pillow, Fort Hudson, and
remember that we died for a cause
that we believed to be right.
Colonel Charles Young.
"Then we went with you to the
dunes of Mexico, following our
Charles Young. We died in France
on No Mans Land The dead lie
buried there. If you would find our
monument, look around you. We
have never attempted to assassinate
an officer. We have left it to the
white men to do that. We have
never assassinated a President. We
have never struck or gone on a
strike. We believe in constituted
authority. We believe in settling
our troubles by arbitration. We
have never joined the Bolshevists,
of which the Governor complains.
= An Emphatic Appeal.
, eve realize that these men and
women are most dependable citizens
in this republic. Governor, oh Gov
ernor, safe at home Don't think
that we came here with any mis-
givings. We have had disagreements
from far away discussions. When
we came face to face our differences
were buried. Oh, must stop. l am
an old man, Governor. I'll soon go
back to my State, where John b.
Gordon and Gus Bacon lived. I'll
soon go back to Georgia, where
Henry Grady and John. Temple
Graves died. If there is to be any
apologi s, it is to be because we
! have been honored as we have never
been honored before. :.
Went Away Early. =,
y "The men who have previously
'elcomed US had their say and they
rent away. They did not wait to
ear what we had to say in reply.
} Te could hear what they said, but
lev could not hear what we said.
GU have remained to hear what we
NV. I feel almost like shouting as a
, lember of the Missionary Baptist
hurch. When the legislature meets
e are not heard. When the Con-
) ress meets we are not heard. When
ne city council meets we are not
card"
y Colonel Johnson concluded by
) ,mmending the chairman. M. A.
Torrell, Attorney James 7. Carter,
nd referred to different lines OF
} usiness, mentioning especially John
:. I[itchell, Jr., in the editorial field of
ndeavor.
) He had been interrupted by ap-
! plause throughout his mastery ad-
dress. which took the form Of an ova-
ton as he resumed his seat. Rev.
, James S. Hatcher rendered one OF
!. his own productions, with Madame
= Hatcher at the piano. He stated that
, he had written it to his baby girl
. six years before he was married.
Colonel Hills Introduction.
= Colonel Julien H. Hill, acting pres
\ ident of the Chamber of Commerce,
proceeded in felicitous language to
: introduce Mayor J. Fulmer Bright.
; His Honor said:
: Mayor Bright's Greetings.
; Mr.. Chairman, officers and guests
= of the Association: 1t is my pleasure
4 as chief executive of the city of
Richmond to extend to you genuine
: welcome. This is an epoch-making
: day to hear two of the best speakers
' Of two races. Richmond knows how
: to value its colored citizens. Our
welcome is heartfelt. You will find
men and women who have reached
high stations. You'll find business
men. editors, bankers and men in all
voc4tions of life. There are in this
city 46 public schools, 80 parish
schools and 1886 children, 10,S76
of whom are colored. We have teach
ers who are molding character and
making good citizens. l know about
the character of the Negro. l have
been a soldier, although | have not
been overseas.
Specific References.
81 met your Colonel Charles Young
in San Antonio. 1 learned how he
was regarded by his superior officers.
lOf $4,000 colored men, 200 from
4 Richmond were killed Three or four
were decorated. for gallantry in SER
vice. Of 10000, 1925 were killed
Tor wounded, a mortality of 40 per
cent. That is the finest tribute that
can be paid to the colored man as
an American soldier. Go back to
l1S9S, when the colored troops came
to the rescue of the white troops in
Cuba. In the campaign in the Phil
ippines they covered themselves with
glory. The Richmond Theater burn
ed. A gigantic, brawny black man
performed a feat that caused admit
ration.
A Colored Mans Heroism.
"Dr. McCaw had him drop into his
arms from a window thirty white
women and children, these people
being saved by his act" He referred
to the act of heroism of the colored
man in rescuing white people from
Mississippi steamboat. "Twice in
the city acts of heroism have been
recently recorded by members of
your race" He referred to the man
hole tragedy under the Marshall
Street viaduct and the charging of
the damp earth in Fulton when two
women were killed and another bad
ly injured. Colonel Johnson has
touched the keynote of your prob
lem," said the Mayor. "You must
look to your own accomplishments
and nothing else. l would pay tri-
butte to the faithful servants who
,lulled to sleep in their arms some of
the greatest and best white people
of the South. l speak of the man.