Negroes Want A Fair Show. The Texas Convention of Colored Men Issues an Address.

Negroes Want A Fair Show. The Texas Convention of Colored Men Issues an Address.

A report on the 1889 Texas State Convention held in Waco published in The True Northerner (September 11, 1889)

From the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85033781/1889-09-11/ed-1/seq-3/.

The True Northerner (Paw Paw, MI)

1889-09-11

Newspaper article

NEGROES WANT A FAIR SHOW. The Texas Convention of Colored Men Issues an Address. The State convention of colored men, in session at Waco, Texas, has issued an address to the people of the United States. After describing the circumstances under which citizenship was thrust upon them, they say: "In some counties we are denied the free exercise of the elective franchise, which is the dearest 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 counties where election troubles have occurred certain rings and cliques have established a sort of local monarchy 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 venality. We do not ask for any special legislation, but we do insist upon being accorded equal benefits and protection of the laws. We condemn mob violence in all its forms, and we remind our white fellow 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 progress of the Texas negroes is shown by statistics, and the address winds up with "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.” – Waco (Tex.) telegram. _______________

Waco

TX

USA

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1889.TX-08.20.WACO