The Cleveland gazette. [volume], December 15, 1883, Image 1

About The Cleveland gazette. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1883-1892

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THE
Cleveland Gazette.
Vol. i.-no. it.
To-Day! To-Day!
SATURDAY ! SATURDAY!!
BEGINS FOR 30 DAYS THE
GREATEST SLAUGHTER
SALE OF WINTER CLOTHING
Ever Seen on Earth!
Thousands on Thousands of Men’s Suits and Overcoats
for One-Half their Value.
Thousands of Pantaloons at far Less than Cost of
Manufacture.
$500,000.00 !
ZX.2k.I-iF A
Dollars worth must be Sacrificed in the next 30 Days.
See the Bargains I Buy the Bargains!
They are for the World, and the World are invited
to them.
Jgf’Ask for Tickets for the HOUSE and LOT and
HORSE and HARNESS.
CLEmm CLOTHING COMPANT,
SLAUGHTERING CLOTHIERS,
Nos. 120, 122 & 124 Ontario St.
Miller’s Simg Km
A good square meal for 2Oc. can be had at
MILLER M KES * AIJK4XT, No. 3ll> su
perior St., including a cup of French Coffee.
The best in the city.
“johnjTgraves,
PLUMBER AND GAS FITTER,
NO. SO EUCLID AVENUE,
(First door East of Opera House.)
PP~AU orders promptly attended to.
ESTABLISHED 1860.
HENRY BECKMAN,
FINE CLOTHING
gents furnishing goods.
Merchant Tailoring a Specialty.
204 SUPERIOR STREET,
CLEVELAND, - OHIO
co l i
11. c. QUIGLEY
SELLS TUB
Best Hard; Soft Coal
IN THE CITY.
WWW 32, «t 132 Senew St.
TEACHER OF MUSIC.
Mrs. J. Fl Lightfoot,
28 WEBSTER STREET,
PIANO INSTRTfTION CHEN.
BECUNXERS TAKES
as well as
ADVANCED SCHOLARS.
TERMS:
>IO.OO per Quarter. 24 Leswon* a
Term.
CHANDLER & RUDD,
MANUFACTURERS of
Home Made Gandies
DON’T FAIL TO GET A BOX OF THEM
-FOR-
CHRISTMAS.
116 PUBLIC SQUARE.
T. S. PADDOCK & SON,
Hatters & Furriers
ALL THE NEW
HOLIDAY SHAPES
In Stiff, Soft and Silk Hats.
The Finest Stock of Furs!
IN CLEVELAND.
Wo manufacture to order everything in the
Fur line and guarantee satisfaction.
221 SUPERIOR ST.
mrs. h. dixon,
HAIRDRESSER I BAIR STORE
LATEST PARISIAN FASHIONS IN
ItABIES HBAIDB, CI BIA SARATOGA
WAVES, ETC.
All kinds of Hair Work made and neatly
repaired. 16S Central Avenue, opposite Hav
lin's, Cincinnati, O
job printing!
THE GAZETTE
Is prepared to do
ILL KINDS OF JOB PRINTING.
DON’T FORGET THIS.
OFFICE. - - a *° End d Amre
MUSIC
-FOR—-
WEDDINGS, PICNICS, PARTIES, ETO.
Call at Gazette Office.
CLEVELAND, OHIO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1883.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Civil Rights—The National Conven
tion—Suffrage In the District of
Columbia—Prof. James M. Greg
ory—Congress Petitioned to Pro
hibit the Manufacture and Sale of
Whisky In the District—Bethel Lit
erary-Personals.
Reported especially for the Gazbttb.
Washington, Dec. 11.
In accordance with the expectation of
the general public, our legislators are
apparently anxious about securing for
the colored man equal protection be
fore the law. Many bills, with reference
to this end, have been introduced in
both Houses of Congress. Last week
Senator Edmunds ottered a bill for the
“protection of the colored man from
the inhuman and unholy cruelties to
which he is subjected,” etc.
To-day Mr. Calkins, of Indiana, in
troduced a resolution authorizing an
amendment to the Constitution to se
cure the civil rights of persons, any
violation of the amendment to be pun
ishable in the courts of the United
States. It is a noteworthy fact that
all the efforts thus far made so ear
nestly in behalf of the proper protec
tion of the colored men nave been
through the leading lights of Republi
canism, who, like the star of Austria,
are ever in the ascendant.
Our true friends are still to be found
within the rank and file of the Republi
can party. They will stand up for the
rights of the Negro, as members of no
other party would. They merit, there
fore, to some degree our confidence and
gratitude.
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.
There is more difficulty in determin
ing upon a place for the holding of the
National Convention, than upon the
nominations of candidates for Presi
dent and Vice-President. Among the
many places spoken of are Indianapo
lis, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Chicago.
It is the belief of many that either
Philadelphia or Indianapolis will be
chosen. Without doubt, Indianapolis
would be the very best place for hold
ing the convention, for it may possibly
result in securing to the Republican
party several of the Western Stalos
now Democratic. The strength of the
Republican party lies in the New Eng
land States and in the West. It can
ill afford to disregard this fact. Let
the convention be held in some Western
city, in order to cement the bonds of
Republicanism. It is more discreet for
the party to concentrate its efforts and
forces where success is assured than in
places where there is only a contingency
of success. The next campaign prom
ises to be the most exciting and in
teresting in the history of American
politics, and therefore the Republican
party must exercise the highest wis
dom.
SUFFRAGE IN THE DISTRICT.
Several prominent gentlemen, among
whom are Prof. James M. Gregory,
Hon. R. T. Greener, Col. Robert In
gersoll, Alphonzo Youngs, Hon. A. M.
Lapp and Judge Hilton, have or
ganized themselves into a Suffrage
Association. They have petitioned
Congress for the right of suf
frage in the District of Columbia,
where the government is now under a
triumvirate, who “legislate” in certain
measures counter to the interests of the
people, and hence the verdict is, the
commission or triumvirate “must go.”
PROF. JAMES. M. GREGORY.
Prof. Gregory, of Howard University,
(who has been termed the most success
ful scholar of to-day) is a man whom
the people desire' to honor. Surely
they could not select a man more fitted
by his extensive learning, high moral
qualifications, varied experience, con
summate ability and native talent than
this steady son of Ohio. He is in pos
session of all those qualifications and
characteristics which have endeared
him to all men, regardless of creed or
race. He is without doubt not only the
most successful scholar among our
people, but even the foremost, and the
future historian of the colored race in
America will accord him this position,
which he has well merited: Professor
J. M. Gregory— the foremost scholar
of his times.
WHISKY MUST go!
A petition has been presented Con
gress, praying that the manufacture
and sale of'intoxicating liquors in this
District be prohibited. If this measure
could be adopted, if the petition of the
people could be granted, it would cer
tainly result in blessings upon the Dis
trict. Temperance reform is needed
here. The papers daily contain ac
counts of homes destroyed, character
lost, life wrecked by this terrible
monster of iniquity. It is the bane of
civilization, a curse to our poor human
ity. Legislation is necessary to bring
about a better condition of things.
bethel literary.
This popular institution will be held
at the Lincoln Congregational Church
(Rev. G. W. Moore) to-night. Ex-Con
gressman Rainey will open the discus
sion. “The advantages the South offers
over the North for colored men.” A
lively time is anticipated.
personals, etc.
Matthew Arnold, the great English
scholar, lecturer and critic, will lecture
at the First Congregational Church on
Monday, December 17.
Pere Hyacinthe is expected here at an
early day. This most eloquent reformer
is now attempting to do something
which other men have tried and found
utterly impracticable if not impossible.
The Roman Catholic Church cannot be
reformed within its borders. Reforma
tion must be from without.
Hon. J. E. O’Hara proposes offering
a bill for the adequate protection of
colored men at the South in the exer
cise of their constitutional rights.
Hon. B. K. Bruce was on the floor of
the Senate to-day.
Miss Susan B. Anthony is here in the
interest of the Woman's Rights Suffrage
Association, endeavoring to secure , a
sixteenth amendment to the Constitu
tion. The amendment for the proper
protection of the colored citizens is of
more moment and importance notrthan
woman suffrage. The Government had
better deyise means for the adequate
protection of its present voters than to
secure new ones. It can hardly attend
to those it has now. It cannot bear a
greater burden at present; its back is
too weak.
Senator Edmunds has resigned as
Vice President. Senator Anthony will
take his place.
Mr. Allen L. Strong, a graduate of a
Mississippi college, a very promising
young man, and now connected with
the medical department of Howard
University, joined Dr. Rankin’s Church
last Sunday.
Mr. W. H. H. Hart, a member of the
junior class of Howard University Col
lege Department, has accepted an invi
tation to dine with the hero of the race,
Hon. Fred. Douglass, on Thursday.
Mr. Hart is an able doung man of ex
cellent parts and is * recognized as an
excellent speaker.
The Washington Cadet Corps (which
has a new armory second to none in the
District), will give a fair, commencing
December 17. More anon,
Edward.
—
ALLEGH^jY, PA.
The good folk are getting tired of the
way the ministers have in sandwitch
ing financial affairs between the sermon
and the “Lord s” Shipper. Sermons
have been preached that would draw
tears from the eyes of members, and
have a visible effect on sinners also.
But falling from tha&ublime to the re
diculous is a commoA thing as regards
church matters, then i days. There are
many jokes that cot e from the Spirit
ual Adviser while : i the pulpit, even
over the sacrament t ble. After sitting
till this money-maki g business is over,
some of the Chris ians go from the
church without taki g the sacrament.
They cannot apprecl ite it after laugh
ing at a pulpit Joke and wailing
till the financial? affair is over.
After a while there will be no difference
between the Methodist and Roman
Catholic taxation. It looks strange to
see a minister in the pulpit and one at
tables on each side iff the pulpit gestic
ulating wildly and stringing their arms,
calling out: “Como up with your dol
lars, your half-dollsfs and your quar
ters, ” etc. It is a wonder that the sac
rament is not turned over upon the
floor in the endeavwcs ot these good
men to get money. j For the table is put
behind them for future thoughts.
Miss H. A. Burki^of this city, is a
very earnest worker. There is nothing
that concerns the churches but what
she takes an active “part in it. She
teaches vocal and inirtrumental music,
reading, writing, aadApelling also. She
has pupils in and out of town, and at
tends to her duties eyery day, regard
less of the state t# we weather. She
also performs upon the organ at the
Howard Street Baptist Church, twice a
day on Sunday. Miss E. Pulpress is of
the same disposition. Both are ardent
workers.
The Gazette continues to meet with
the approval of the many here. I know
of many who have discontinued taking
the Afro-American to read the Gazette.
J. V. G.
URBANA.
Sunday was a time of much interest
here, it being the day of the session of
the Sunday School Institute of the
Second district of the Western Union
Baptist Sunday School Convention.
The programme was well arranged and
fully carried out. The institute was
held in Jerusalem Baptist Church, and
was opened on Saturday evening at 7:30
with devotional exercises, followed by
the address of welcome by Rev. N. A.
Lewis, and responded to by Mr. C. D.
Swayne, of Springfield, in his usually
pleasing manner. After the reading of
reports from various schools in the dis
trict and miscellaneous business the
meeting adjourned until 9:30 a. m. Sun
day. The exercises" during the day, com
mencing with devotional exercises con
ducted by Rev. J. E. Robbins, were full
of interest and were listened to by large
audiences. The object of the institute
was stated in a brief and interesting
address by Mr. B. D. Morris, President
of the institute. The Scripture recita
tion by the school at 9:30 a. m. was
conducted by Mr. D. T. Johnson, of
Yellow Springs, ’ following which was
an instructive sermon by Rev. J. Shem
craft, of Dayton, from Matthew 21, 5.
An interesting discussion at 1:30 p.
m., “Who is the most successful
teacher?” opened by Hon. D. W. Todd,
Judge of the Probate Court, was par
ticipated in my many. At 7:30 p. m.,
after a song and praise service, a very
§ radical essay, subject, “An every
ay religion,’’ was read by Miss
Clara Wills, of Yellow Springs.
The closing exercise of the meeting was
the discussion of “Temperance in the
Sunday schools” opened by Rev. W.
N. Allen. “Rock of Ages,” rendered
by Mr. Swayne, was quite pathetic.
The institute will hold its next meet
ing in Springfield next June.
PERSONALS.
We noticed among others at the in
stitute Misses Maggie Wilson and
Ophelia Harris, of Springfield, who
stopped with the family of Mr. C. B.
Jones.
Miss Mary Spyglass, of Yellow
Springs, is Secretary of the institute.
Misses Cordia Reynolds, Keren An
drews and Nettie Guy spent a fe w
days in Bellefontaine, visiting friends
and relatives.
Miss Alice Reynolds will leave on
Thursday, the 13th, on a visit to her
sister, Mrs. C. L. Bradwell, in Georgia.
Mr. and Mrs. John King will leave
on Monday, 17th inst., for Georgia,
visiting their relatives.
Mr. Austin Redman has returned
from his visit to Shelby County.
Mrs. Al. Boyd visited friends at
Piqua.
Misses Hattie Dickinson, Carrie Jones
and Josie Roberts, attending school at
Wilberforce, will spend the Holidays at
their homes in this city.
The holidays ar^ nearly here and still
no mow. Let us pray for a snow-fall
before Xmas. Erdnaxela.
The Gazette has favorably impressed
the few friends who have read it, and
it will probably become the paper of
City-Anna. Master Egbert, son of
Rev. John Dickerson, pastor of St.
Paul A. M. E. Church, will deliver
every Saturday.
WB
JUDGE GEORGE L. RUFFIN.
♦♦MAT IT PLEASE TOUR HONOR.”
Sketch of the Life and Services of
the First Colored Man Ever Ele
vated to the Bench In the North-
Col. George W. Williams on the
Charlestown Judgeship.
One of the most interesting features
in the late campaign in Massachusetts
was the Municipal Judgeship of Charles
town. Last May the Judge of that
Court, the Hon. George Washington
Warren, died. In a short time alter
the death of Judge Warren, Governor
B. F. Butler nominated James O’Brien,
an Irishman and a Democrat, to fill the
vacancy. Massachusetts has an Exec
utive Council before whom al) the nom
inations of Governor are sent. This
Council is composed of eight members,
who are elected by the people from dis
tricts, and the Lieutenant Governor is
a member ex-officio. Its political com
plexion is very decided, eight
Republicans and one Democrat.
Nevertheless, its requirements are
those of character and qualification
rather than party alliance. Mr. O’Brien
was rejected by the Council for reasons
that seemed good and sufficient to that
conservative body. The Governor nom
inated next Joseph H. Cotton, a Demo
crat and an ardent “Butler man.” Mr.
Cotton was found wanting, and was
accordingly rejected. The Governor
re-nominated him and the Council gave
his case a patient and fair hearing.
He was again rejected. Next the Gov
ernor nominated Edwin G. Walker, a
colored man, and a lawyer of consider
able local reputation. His nomination
“went over under the rules” for one
week. In the meantime Mr. Walker’s
friends gathered and made a noble
effort to secure his confirmation. At
the next meeting, held at Worcester,
for the convenience of the Governor,
who was busily engaged in his canvass,
it was decided to postpone action until
the next meeting at Boston. At this
meeting a tie vote—four for and four
against Mr. Walker—deferred it still
another week.
The campa gn was growing intense;
but notwithstanding Governor Butler
was the “issue” Mr. Walker’s case was
very prominent. Democrats charged
that the “Republican Council” lacked
the courage and honor to confirm a
colored man as a Judge. Finally Mr,
Walker was rejected by a decided ma
jority, at the critical moment in the
campaign. The Council felt that its
action was justified in taking adverse
action. Mr. Walker himself was on the
stump for Governor Butler, and there
was some little feeling among some of
the colored.voters. But before the can
vass closed the colored voter was in
line, and with its usual, or rather with
unusual zeal, voted for the Republican
candidate for Governor, George D.
Robinson.
From the moment of the rejection of
Mr. Walker by the Council, the Repub
licans openly promised to secure the
nomination and confirmation of George
L. Ruffin, Esq., as Judge of the Court
in Charleston. This declaration be
ing made in the presence of Governor
Butler, the morning after his defeat, he
nominated Mr. Runin, and thereby de
clared his intention to share with' Re
publicans, the honor of placing a col
ored man on the Bench in Massachu
setts. Mr. Ruffin had taken an
active part in the campaign against
Governor Butler, and had expressed
satisfaction at the Governor’s dis
comfiture in a speech the eve
ning before. Everybody in the Com
monwealth knows that this was the
last staggering effort of a politican to
catch the Negro vote. Mr. Ruffin was
bound to “ketch de coon gnawing or a
coming.” In any event he would have
been Judge. And. without invidious
comparison—always odius—he is both
worthy and capable. It is now nearly
fourteen years since I made his ac
quaintance. It has grown into a warm
and enduring friend Slip, and no cloud
has ever o’ercast it. He has been, for
a series of years, a thoroughly repre
sentative man, and into whatsoever po
sition he has tilled, has carried a sound
judgment, a guileless heart, an exalted
dignity and a rare fidelity.
Mr. Ruffin was bom in Richmond,
Va., December 16, 1834. His parents
were free people of color, possessed of
some little property and education.
His mother brought her children, eight
in number, to Massachusetts thirty years
ago, that they might be educated here.
Mr. Ruffin went to school at Chapman
Hall, Master Boker, in the rear of where
the Parker House now stands. He first
did business as a barber on Green Street,
then read law with Messrs. Jewell &
Gaston, and afterwards studied at the
Harvard Law School, where he gradu
ated in 1869. He has since established
a successful law practice in this city,
where he has lived a respected citizen
and an honored member of the bar.
Mr. Ruffin has been active in politics as
a Republican. He served in the Legis
lature two terms, in 1870 and 1871. He
has been prominent in the religious and
charitable organizations among the col
ored people of the city, a frequent con
tributor to their publications, a leader
in many of their social and literary
gatherings and in all their efforts for
advancement. For ten years he was
superintendent of the Twelfth Baptist
Sunday School. His wife also
has been identified with much
that has been done for the eleva
tion and benefit of her race. She is
now connected with the Associated
Charities, and other charitable and
religious organizations have found in
her a willing and efficient assistant.
Mr. Ruffin has four children—a daugh
ter who is now a teacher in the Boston
public schools; a son who graduated at
the Boston Latin School, and was two
years at Harvard, and is now in his
father’s law office; another son who is
in the Institute of Technology, and a
third son who is also at school. Mr.
Ruffin’s practice at. the bar has been
principally on the criminal side of the
court: but he is possessed of a good
knowledge of the law, he has sound
common-sense, a quick insight into the
merits of a case and a kind heart, a
combination of qualities which his
friends think will make him a good
judge, and the confirmation gives gen
eral satisfaction. Mr. Ruffin is the first
colored man who has ever held judicial
office in Massachusetts, if not. indeed,
in any Northern State. He is a safe
man, and neither the Commonwealth
nor his race will have occasion to re
gret his elevation; for Judge Ruffin will
wear his judicial robes worthily and
well. Geo. W._ Williams.
Boston, Mass., Nov. 20.
It being understood that Judge Ruf
fin would take his place on the bench,
a proper appreciation of the event was
expressed by the attendance of a large
number of the Charlestown bar and
other gentlemen who were interested in
this first event of its kind in the State.
Hon. John C. Park, Justice of the
Newton Court, sat on the bench. As
sociate Justice Henry W. Bragg es
corted Judge Ruffin to the chair. Clerk
Williams read the commission and Mr.
Bragg then introduced the newly ap
pointed Judge in well-timed remarks,
and the business of the court proceeded
as usual. After the seven or eight
cases of the day were disposed
of, it was a common remark
among the Irish hangers on that
“he is a joost jedge.” And the Irish
man who some days ago said that “he
would rather be sent up for a whole
year by McCafferty than for a month
by a naygur,” was either in jail br kept
a'very judicious silence, for fear that
the “joost jedge” might have causa to
send him there.
The fact that a colored man is Judge
of the court where not a dozen colored
men are tried in a year, perhaps, and
where almost every face in the dock is
white, seems to have no effect on the
machinery of government. The sun
still shines in Massachusetts. And it is
in order for this entering wedge to be
inserted among the places of merit by
those, who read the signs of the times.
TOUNGSTOWN.
Barber Question—An Answer to R.
H. C. by a Fellow-Citizen.
Mr. Editor.— -I noticed in last week’s
issue of your paper a reply to J. V. G.’s
article on the barber question, by R. H.
C., of this place. Please allow me
space in your valuable paper to com
ment on R. H. C.’s reply. I claim that
no man who has the interest and ad
vancement of his race at heart would
conduct his business in a manner that
would be detrimental to their interest
and progress for the sake of money.
Principle, our love for our people and
our desire for their elevation should
overbalance our greed for gold. The
motive that actuated those that were
engaged in buying and selling our peo
ple was the desire for money. The
men who do pot recognize our rights
to-day because of their financial inter
ests are as much our enemies as were
the slave dealers of the past. Since
the year 1856 there has been a revolu
tion in public sentiment. Our race in
this country have been made citizens
before the law. We have proven to
(he world that our race is as suscepti
ble of moral and intellectual develop
ment as any people on the face of the
globe. Our representative men have
sat in the council chambers of the Na
tion and assisted in making the laws of
the land. We have had ministers sent
by our Government to foreign countries
to look after her interest, from our
ranks. Lawyers, doctors, judges, his
torians, philosophers, editors, and me
chanicsof all kindshave been produced,
whose intelligence and skill has been
conceded by our white friends. All
these things have been the causes of
the radical change in the public mind
since 1856. Men who have millions
of dollars more in business of various
kinds than the barbers of this country
have invested in their business, have
opened their doors to us. All these
changes have been made since the year
1856. In the name of right and 'jus
tice, why cannot this discrimination in
the barber’ business be changed? I
think the rights and interests of six
millions of people are paramount to
the financial interest of a few thousand
men who are engaged in the prohibi
tory barber business. If we must tol
erate and indorse this wrong on
account of a few men who make their
living out of it, then why howl about
discrimination practised against us by
men in other branches of business?
Why cry out against the Supreme Court
decision? Why not come out and tell
the South that they were right in not
recognizing us as human beings, that
they were right in buying and selling
us, as they were making tneir living by
the traffic in human flesh? O, consist
ency! thou art a stranger to some peo
ple, and conscience has been overpow
ered by man’s greed for gold. The
stream of prejudice, like a large river,
has its small tributaries. If you stop
the flow of some of these tributaries yoft
will decrease the size of the river, and
ultimately do away with it. In conclu
sion, I will say that until a better de
fence can be set up for discrimination,
I think it would be wise to not attempt
to defend it. C. H. C.
Dr. J. M. Brown, son of Bishop
Brown, of the A. M. E. Church, has
been granted a State certificate by the
Missouri State Board of Health. He
underwent a stringent examination
first.
Ex-Lieutenant H. O. Flipper, who
has been employed as a clerk in a Texas
laundry, has now gone into Mexico
with a surveying party.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
SPTE.
CAPITAL CITY CVLLUiGS.
Political and Civil Persecutions—
Freedom In the United States a
Mockery—Call of a State Conven
tion. •
The Dispatch ot Monday evening says
the Russian papers are continually filled
with political persecutions perpetrated
there, and unless it is stopped the peo
{de on this side of the waters would
ook into the matter. The people of
this country should look into political
persecution's committed in a foreign
country, should they? Each campaign
records some political persecution right
in our country, right at our own door.
These should be looked into. Mat
ters at home should be settled,
but rages on humanity in our own free
country should be investigated ere we
go abroad to right the wrongs of oth
ers. Let the boasted freedom of this
country be a reality; let peace reign in
•very hamlet from the lakes to the
gulf, from ocean to ocean. Let every
citizen, be his color what it may. enjoy
all the facilities, privileges and rights
the Constitution and amendments grant
before we raise our voice in defense of
Ireland, of China, and other nations of
the old world. Fred Douglass, in 1852, at
Rochester, N. Y., in delivering a Fourth
of July oration, said in addressing
the white populace: “This is your day
to celebrate, not mine.” He meant by
that, that with his brothers in the South
bearing the shackles of slaves, we, the
Afros, nad no cause to celebrate. The
whites were free to act, to think and to
speak, but we were slaves and had no
rights the white man was bound to re
spect. Certainly there has been a
change—a great change. We have
been made citizens; we have been ten
dered better recognition; yet, when the
proud Caucasian speaks of our free
country, we as colored men cannot join
in the chorus. Not when thousands
of colored youth in the far South
are denied the educational facilities of
the white children, not when the colored
youth are barred from learning the
trades with the whites, not when the
doors of hotels and restaurants are
closed against us, not when we are
denied the traveling facilities of the
whites. Right here in the common
wealth of l)hio are we denied educa*
tional facilities; yet this is a free coun
try, all her citizens enjoy the rights and
privileges that are accorded to others.
Our grave statesmen in Congress
will, in the halls of Congress, in
eloquent language, speak of the
blessed privileges accorded to the citL
zeus of this country regardless of color;
when at Washington,|the Nation’s Capi
tol, right benSatli the dome,of the capi
tal, there is such gross discriminations
because of color that it makes equal
rights and privileges but an idle mock-
ery.
The young men of this country must
arise as one man and in thunder tones
demand that the Constitution be carried
out to a letter, demand that our rights
secured to us by the Constitution be
a reality, not the mere word.
Our fathers battled long and fearlessly,
but old age is fast thinning their ranks;
remorseless time is at his work laying
them low on every hand. Their un
finished work they leave to us to finish,
and we must finish it or our future is
lost. A few more suns and the names
of our fathers will be history. Shall
we emblazon that history with final
triumph or allow it to fade into the
past. There is a great work before the
colored youth of this country, are they
men equal to the task?
The call for a convention of colored
men to consider the moral, educational,
religious and political interests of our
race should arouse both men and
women, old and young. Let every one
that can attend and make it a begin
ning of a new epoch in our history.
Let the Danville massacre, the meagre
educational facilities granted us, the
flagrant abuse of our rights and privi
leges stimulate us to the importance of
the work to be accomplished. Let
every colored citizen read and discuss
this call for a convention. Let every
father and mother well consider our
educational interest. “Educated masses,
not classes," is the hope of our race.
THZ CALL.
With the single object of hastening the
period when the civil and political rights of
our j-ace shall be recognized, guaranteed and
accorded to us in all parts of our common
country, and believing that, this object, so
dear to our hearts, may be substantially pro
moted by proper effort* on our part.; and be
lieving, also, that the time Is at hand when we
should take a decided stand upon all ques
tions pertaining to the welfare of the race,
and realizing the importance of the object
sought, we, the undersigned members of
the race and citizens of the State of Ohio,
unite in a call for a representative State Con
vention of colored men for the purpose of
considering all questions involved in this
matter. We believe that the educational,
moral, civil, religious and political interests of
the race demand our careful consideration,
and especially the interests of our brethren In
the South; and among all of the questions, the
one of paramount Interest is that of the equal
rights of the colored people of the South.
That a class of citizens in one section of the
country should be denied the rights of citizen
ship enjoyed by others, should be, and is, a
matter of the greatest concern. We be
lieve that such outrages as those perpe
trated on colored men in the South,
such as recently occurred in Danville. Va.
for political reasons, are as dishonorable to
the Government which permits them as they
Rr® cruel to the victims on whom they are In
fllcted, an ^ every good citizen who stops to
think must feel himself compromised by
them until he has done all in his power to
check them. When a Senator so broad as a
statesman, so profound as a lawyer and so
Cure as a patriot as Senator Edmunds offers a
ill to the Senate for the protection of the
rights of citizens, two things are certain;
First, there is need for the legislation asked,
and authority in the Constitution to enact it.
We therefore urge upon all who have the
interest of the race at heart to unite m the
movement for the elevation of our people
and elect delegates to the State Convention
that will meet in Columbus on Wednesday,
the 28th day of December, 1883, at eleven
o'clock, a. tn. Respectfully, W. S. Scarbor
ough, Wilberforce: Jas. Poindexter, of Col
umbus; C. L. MaxwelL Xenia; John H. Rat
liffe. Chillicothe; J. W. Barber. Westerville;
Phillip Tolliver. Dayton; H. C. Smith. Cleve
land; Geo. W. Hayes, Cincinnati; Geo. E.
Comlcy. Cincinnati; Harry Richardson. To
ledo: Walter Thomas, Delaware; Daniel A.
Rudd, Springfield; I. 8. Tupp’ns, J. B. Johns
ton and others of Columbus.
The newly-elected Council of Atlan
tic City, N. J., has raised a rumpus by
electing a colored policeman. The
Council was divided, and the Mavor,
who is a Democrat, gave the easting
vote in favor of the colored man. Four
white policemen previously appointed
have resigned.