Addresses Adopted by the Colored Convention at Waco, Just Adjourned.
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Title
Addresses Adopted by the Colored Convention at Waco, Just Adjourned.
Description
A report on the 1889 Texas State Convention held in Waco published in the Austin Weekly Statesman (August 29, 1889)
Source
From the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86089174/1895-05-28/ed-1/seq-2/.
Publisher
The Austin Weekly Statesman
Date
1889-08-29
Type
Newspaper article
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 1]
TEXAS Negroes Address Adopted by the Colored Men's Convention at Waco, Just Adjourned. Special to the Statesman. Waco, August 23. - The following address, issued by the colored men's state convention held in the city of Waco, has been adopted: "We, We the representatives of the negroes of Texas in convention assembled in the city of Waco, rejoice in the fact that through the press, the swift winged messenger, we can address the people of the state, presenting our grievances before the bar of public opinion, which is the highest; reviewing our progress, endeavoring to correct our mistakes and resolving to make greater efforts in the future to improve our race and the country. Circumstances over which we have no control have made us citizens of the United States and of the state of Texas, and we have earnestly striven to show ourselves worthy of the great boon. But while many of our white fellow citizens seem willing to accord to the negro all the rights of citizenship, our people are still compelled to suffer many wrongs. In some counties we are denied the free exercise of the elective franchise, which is the dearest of all human of all human rights. We believe that the whites are responsible for our election troubles, because they are the result of bossism and race antagonism. As a general thing, in the counties where election troubles have occurred certain rings and cliques have established a sort of local monarchy, and against which we appeal to the state authorities for protection. We advise our people in local elections to vote for the best men in their communities. We cannot afford to practice venalty. The man who barters and sells his vote is unworthy to be a citizen. "In many counties of the state colored men are denied the right of serving on the juries, though possessing the legal qualifications for jurors. This is manifestly unjust, because the laws give to every citizen the right of trial by a jury of his peers. We are also unjustly discriminated against by some of the railroad companies and other public carriers of the state. The bugbear of social equality is no excuse for such treatment, for there is no social equality in persons riding together in the same cars; and why is it that negroes in the capacity of servants are not objectionable in first-class cars and steamboat cabins? Is a menial entitled to more respect than a gentleman or a lady who has paid first-class fare? Surely our white fellow citizens, with all their wealth and intelligence, can afford to give us an equal chance with them in the race of life. We do not ask for any special legislation, but we do insist upon being accorded the equal benefits and protection of the laws. "We condemn mob violence in all its forms, and we remind our white fellow citizens that there is a point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue; and, while we do not advise retaliation, we feel that the continuation of lynch law will eventually lead to this. The negroes of Texas have made commendable progress since emancipation. Twenty-four years ago we were turned loose without money, , property or education, and we now own about 1,000,000 acres of land and we pay taxes on $ 20,000,000 worth of property. We have 2,000
[PAGE 2]
churches, 2,000 Sunday schools, 2,000 benevolent associations, 10 high schools, 2,500 common schools, 3,000 teachers, 125,000 pupils attending schools, 23 doctors, 25 lawyers, 100 merchants, 5,000 mechanics, 15 newspapers, hundreds of farmers and stockmen and several inventors. We are very grateful to the state for the liberal appropriation of funds for the founding and support of Prairie View State Normal school, and for the support of our common schools. We also thank the cities of Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Brenham, Corsicana, Fort Worth, Dallas, Sherman, Denison, Marlin, Paris and others for the liberal appropriations they have made for the founding and support of our city public schools. "To us the future of Texas is hopeful, grand and glorious, and we are resolved to do our full part in the development of this magnificent empire state. We urge our people to shun the vices and imitate the virtues of the whites by striving to be intelligent, moral, religious, industrious, economical and good citizens. American slavery was tried before the bar of public opinion of the civilized world, was condemned and had to die, and a similar fate awaits race prejudices. S.H. H. Smothers, Chairman. I. B. Scott, J. N. Gillett. C. C. Queen, J. H. Jackson, W. H. Twine, J. C. Cain, W. H. Blount, R. C. Edmondson, Committee on Address.
TEXAS Negroes Address Adopted by the Colored Men's Convention at Waco, Just Adjourned. Special to the Statesman. Waco, August 23. - The following address, issued by the colored men's state convention held in the city of Waco, has been adopted: "We, We the representatives of the negroes of Texas in convention assembled in the city of Waco, rejoice in the fact that through the press, the swift winged messenger, we can address the people of the state, presenting our grievances before the bar of public opinion, which is the highest; reviewing our progress, endeavoring to correct our mistakes and resolving to make greater efforts in the future to improve our race and the country. Circumstances over which we have no control have made us citizens of the United States and of the state of Texas, and we have earnestly striven to show ourselves worthy of the great boon. But while many of our white fellow citizens seem willing to accord to the negro all the rights of citizenship, our people are still compelled to suffer many wrongs. In some counties we are denied the free exercise of the elective franchise, which is the dearest of all human of all human rights. We believe that the whites are responsible for our election troubles, because they are the result of bossism and race antagonism. As a general thing, in the counties where election troubles have occurred certain rings and cliques have established a sort of local monarchy, and against which we appeal to the state authorities for protection. We advise our people in local elections to vote for the best men in their communities. We cannot afford to practice venalty. The man who barters and sells his vote is unworthy to be a citizen. "In many counties of the state colored men are denied the right of serving on the juries, though possessing the legal qualifications for jurors. This is manifestly unjust, because the laws give to every citizen the right of trial by a jury of his peers. We are also unjustly discriminated against by some of the railroad companies and other public carriers of the state. The bugbear of social equality is no excuse for such treatment, for there is no social equality in persons riding together in the same cars; and why is it that negroes in the capacity of servants are not objectionable in first-class cars and steamboat cabins? Is a menial entitled to more respect than a gentleman or a lady who has paid first-class fare? Surely our white fellow citizens, with all their wealth and intelligence, can afford to give us an equal chance with them in the race of life. We do not ask for any special legislation, but we do insist upon being accorded the equal benefits and protection of the laws. "We condemn mob violence in all its forms, and we remind our white fellow citizens that there is a point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue; and, while we do not advise retaliation, we feel that the continuation of lynch law will eventually lead to this. The negroes of Texas have made commendable progress since emancipation. Twenty-four years ago we were turned loose without money, , property or education, and we now own about 1,000,000 acres of land and we pay taxes on $ 20,000,000 worth of property. We have 2,000
[PAGE 2]
churches, 2,000 Sunday schools, 2,000 benevolent associations, 10 high schools, 2,500 common schools, 3,000 teachers, 125,000 pupils attending schools, 23 doctors, 25 lawyers, 100 merchants, 5,000 mechanics, 15 newspapers, hundreds of farmers and stockmen and several inventors. We are very grateful to the state for the liberal appropriation of funds for the founding and support of Prairie View State Normal school, and for the support of our common schools. We also thank the cities of Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Brenham, Corsicana, Fort Worth, Dallas, Sherman, Denison, Marlin, Paris and others for the liberal appropriations they have made for the founding and support of our city public schools. "To us the future of Texas is hopeful, grand and glorious, and we are resolved to do our full part in the development of this magnificent empire state. We urge our people to shun the vices and imitate the virtues of the whites by striving to be intelligent, moral, religious, industrious, economical and good citizens. American slavery was tried before the bar of public opinion of the civilized world, was condemned and had to die, and a similar fate awaits race prejudices. S.H. H. Smothers, Chairman. I. B. Scott, J. N. Gillett. C. C. Queen, J. H. Jackson, W. H. Twine, J. C. Cain, W. H. Blount, R. C. Edmondson, Committee on Address.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
State Convention
City
Waco
State
TX
Country
USA
Start Date
1889-08-20
Contributor
This transcription is the combination of work from more than 4,500 people who volunteered during the 2022 celebration of Douglass Day, held in partnership with Zooniverse.
Event ID
1889.TX-08.20.WACO
Citation
“Addresses Adopted by the Colored Convention at Waco, Just Adjourned.,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/1604.