Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Feb. 10, 1898, edition 1 / Page 2
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KKV. 0.1*. BLACK WELL, A. H.,D. D., BtiaiHUB Mamas**. Tkmrtdav t (MartOtU, V. ft, /NMUJM nm Jb#< Qffcw «4 CAarttb * **» £UB SCRIPT 10R BJLTSA- tLWj»r • M o«U».’ eo mmMV. Woe. n taMN jwMm «ar0JMM oh 0*4 \ ab&revial*; ovoid iK- wiii 'foG Mom dMM.** Bmd oUartidafvr publication *t (to BtHtcr; tend ail tubscription*; Mil ChtMMQMt fltod Oil ftlllilMif Iflfffr (0 t4i Manage. mm CORRESPONDENTS, *r*. BUbop 0. 0. Potter, editor ot Women’* Column. G.W. Offley, D. Dn Bor. B.O. Biddle, B.D* Ber. J. H-vAndereon, Bor. 1. *• Meeon, D. D Bey. W. H. Hersbell, ^*r. W. A. Bleckwell, Thursday, February 10, 1898. EDITORIAL. Do not shake a hornet’s nest. Although we wrote it correctly the type last week made us say no torial for notarial. The young-lady who has the most lovers is not always the one who gets tied to the best husband. The article with cut of Prof. Brok er T. Washington’s building in ibis issue is a paid ad. Read it. Bishop J. B. Small and family are hornet He and wife preached excel lent sermons in Charlotte last Sab bath. Blshop H. M. Turner will sail for South Africa Saturday from New York. He informs us that he will not return until June 5th. Miss Oommilla, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. R. M. Thompson, of Car thage, N. C., will be married to Mr. J. H. C. McNabb at the A. M. E. Zion Church the 15th inst., at 8:30 p. m. News from Washington, D. C., rt aches us that Rev. J. B. Golbert is not very well, due somewhat to overwork. We sincerely hope for his speedy restoration to health. Let the Y. C. E. Societies pray for their active president. The natives of British Honduras have extended an urgent invitation to Bishop J. B. Small, D. D., to visit their colony and religious work as soon as possible and ordain one of their men. A strong church in Africa has notified him that they want to unite with Zion. A telegram from Dr. Alstork reached here last Sabbath, and a letter comes from the General Secretary say ing. “ W. H. Smith pastor of ‘Old Ship,’ died at six this morning. Will bury at three Monday.” Another faith ful ambassador has fallen. More will be said relative to him in next issue. The Industrial Herald, of Zion, a semi-monthly, beautifully illustrated, 50 cents a year, printed at Clinton In stitute, Rock Hill, S. C., -has reached our desk. Mrs. Perry G. Walker is the editor and Prof. R. J. Crockett business manager. It is splendidly editedand brimful of good reading matter. ijtufi ora jyaitonais lmeiugenccr, published in Washington, D. C., al though in its 97th year, appears quite young and frisky in its 16-page form, fresh from the monotype each week. Red hot anti-monopoly. Send ten cents for three months trial trip to National Intelligencer Pub. Co, Washington, D. 0. To get a quick hearing writers must not .write more than one, two or three pages of matter. Please do not send ufi any more loDg articles, .ser mons a^d speeches, as we haven’t the space-no^ to spare. We will endeav or to riin what few we have on hand, but do not send any more. We want short articles or none at all. ■ -, }*■'. 11_ We Abe sure that the serial story by Bruce-Grit, which we- begin in this issue, entitled “In Futoro—A Novel Law Suit In 1998,” prophesy ing tlntt the colored brother an hun dred y^ars hence will shine among the magnanimous philanthropists and heroes, of which, the Negro race will have a large crop in the coming cen tury, will please and interest every lover of fiction. 0 c B church and parsona ge at Belle vue, Pa., was destroyed at night by fire three weeks ago. Rev. M. A. I Mason and family barely escaped. The fire burnt up their clothing and household goods. The insurance on lar|jh church. The pastors aiird truB teeJIpioitld see that their churchef and]>irsonages are insured. -Ih reference to the lecture whicl the nervy and fiery New York Age r ?ad to us in its last issue, we db not k sow that we care particularly what t thinks or believes, and we draw the line on it when it attempts td give direction to the thought#nd pol icy v bich should govern and control the .‘Star. The Age lives in a too fragi e and transparent glasshouse to throw stones on this line. With these few remarks we leave the case with the jury. Ri.v. D. 0. Covington, the able pas tor and sweet singer of Clinton Chap el in Charlotte, N. C., and his beloved wife, nicely dined Bishop Hood, Dr. 3lackwell, Elder H. L. Simmons and ;he, Editor a week ago. Elder Covi agton who is highly esteemed by his < ongregation is the interesting writer of the Afro-American Column which appears each Sabbath in the Chai lotte Observer. He is also a Can dida te for the editorship of the A. M. E. JiionChurch Quarterly Review. Rev. W. A. Byrd, of'Newbern, N. C., correspondent oljlhe Africo-Amer ican Presbyterian printed in Char lotte, N. C , says the greatest men in tne A. M. iii. Zion Church were moulded and trained by the Preeby teriiin Church. Had he said “some” of 1ie g'eatest he would have spoken the truth; but when he fails to qualify his statement he hands out a fabu lout bit of information which is ami sing to Zionites. If Brother Byrd will procure a copy of Bishop Hood’s history and read the biogra phy of our “greatest” men he will have some regard for truth. We have 500 articles on hand and mo e rolling in. Will correspond ents hold up for about a month while we boil these down? If all are to get a hearing we shall have to cor dense more this year than we did las . Writers should take time and stu3y how to say a great many things in a few words. Several persons who write ,for colored papers and kick up because the Negro editors condense their articles would not get a smell in the columns of white pa pers. Lots of people write for the Star who are not subscribers. From no v on we are going to give the ar ticles of subscribers the right of way. If you want to be heard you must subscribe or get some one in your family to do so. Dr. W. J. Moore, of Wilson, N. C., wl o has been a presiding elder for more than twenty yearp, was the first and is thh only living minister who as fisted Bishops J. J. Clinton and J. W. Hood in organizing Zion in the Sc uth and the North Carolina Con fe-ence in Newbern November 23, If 64. He was the first southern pioneer in this State for Zion and ha8 organized more churches than any other minister in North Carolina. He is popular, beloved, loyal and a gi eat, magnetic, gospel preacher. In aj ipreciation of his long and useful service to Zion the North Carolina Conference will give him a grand Jubilee beginning on Tuesday after tie first Sunday infJune, and all are at bed to send him a present, money oi articles, before or by that time, More will be said about the affair in tl e next issue. ’ GOD’S RESERVED SUPPLIES. The rapid thinking and eloquent ts ,lking Editor R. C. 0. Benjamin of the Lexington (Ky.) Standard tl links the disfranchisement of the thousands of Negroes in.South Caro lina is the best 'way to .make them become educated and property-own ing citizens. He says it is a pity t' lat such laws were not enacted im mediately after the war. Because we do not endorse the disfranchisement of our people by these prejudiced, hateful, political legislators he says v e are deluded. The object in paes i 3g this accursed law in some of these Southern States is not fo make the Negro get education and property, hut to keep him down politically so that fraud and rascality at the lallot jt ox and stealing of offices may go on We-want it understood that we are not Negroes lti the eyes of the liw, but American citizens; and if cne citizen’s rights are not worth as nuchas those of another citizen then \rhat is citizenship in this American 1 tepublic worth ? Have you ever read in the sixth (hapter of Second Kings of the,won* < lerful works of Elisha, and especially that portion beginning' wit% the • ighth and ending with the twenty i bird verse ? If not, get and read it now. It is a ir. ’ :: ■ with horses and chariots of the king of Syria, he was frightened, because he thought sure that old Elisha would be taken a prisoner dead or sjive. Eli sha whose faith was in Jehovah was not frightened a bit, because he knew He would protect him ; and in order to convince the young man of this fact “ Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyeB of the young man ; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horsesand chariots of fire round about Elisha." In the above verses we realize the fact that God has reserve forces. See ing that His reserve force and aid is exbaustlese, every minister of the gospel .and member of the church should learn to trust in God more and more each day. A poor woman, never having had or seen much of any one thing, was walking along a street one day near the water’s edge seemingly in deep meditation. Sud denly she looked up the street, then down the street, and at the water, and exclaimed : “ I’m so glad there is enough of one thing in this world !” Isn’t it cheerful to know that there iB “ enough and to spare ” in our Fath er’s house? Our heavenly Father is rich. We will get great comfort by look ing at the many examples of God's wonderful store of extra suppliee. Abrabam, tbe trienj ot lioa, ib all ready to slay his son, his only eon Isaac. As he raises the dangerous knife to pluDge it into the heart of his darling child, Jehovah calls. Abraham listens, obeys, and turns, and he beholds a ram caught in the thicket. He offers that in place of Isaac. God never forgot Elijah down by the brook Cherith. Every morn ing and evening He sent the ravens to feed him. Peevish and disobedi ent Jonah, suspected by the crew on shipboard, is thrown overboard, but God had “prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” God never forgot the brave and praying Daniel in the den of lions. God never forgot the sweet singing David, the harp player, the shepherd boy. Beloved, God will never forget nor forsake you if you will trust Him “ He knoweth them that trust in Him.” If you are one of God’s chil dren and sometimes get disappointed, discouraged, almost ready to give up, trust Him ; believe His promisee, and He will make a way of escape for you. “ My God shall supply all your need-,” not your wants, for often your wants would not bs good for you. But God shall supply all your need, if . you will live righteously, fully trusting in Him. Here are 6ome strong, soul-cheer ing passages: “ The aDgel of the Lord encamjaeth round about them that fear Him.” This shows He is round about us. " And underneath are the everlasting arms.” Powerful arms underneath us! “ His banner over me was love.” He is above us. With such infinite protec'ibn above, under neath and round about us, we should not fear. Like David, who felt secure in God’s protection, we can say (Psalms 3: 6.) “ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” “ Though a host should en camp against me, my heart shall not fear." Psalms 27 : 3. THREE WEEKS IN YANKEE LAND. ' AMONG THE BRETHREN CHURCHES. AND THE BY BISHOP GEO. W. CLINTON, D. D. Mr. Editor: Yoilr readers have more than once seen accounts of the brilliant wedding of our distinguished friends, Bishop Walters and Mies E. V. Bird, which called me from home to Jersey City on the 6th ult. And since enough has been already said, and told in a more elegant style than my pen can possibly portray it, I shall simply give your readers an ac count of my observations during a three weeks’ cojourn in Yankee-land among the brethren and the churches of our great Zion. Or Friday night, Jan. 7th, I met the Monmouth st. A. M. E. Zion con gregation, Jerseyv City, pastored so efficiently and successfully by Rev. J. C. Temple. A splendid audience greeted me and the best of all, the Lord was in the midst. Besides the pastor, Revs. Dr. Hubert, J. H. Ac* cooe and Mrs. J. A. J. Foote were present. The growth and prosperity of this ehurch under the present pas tor, both spiritually and financially, have-been^teady and substantial. El der Temjle is an able preacher, a good pastor, a Bfcid student and has a wife< whose piety ancFsdevotion to the work of the Master and church, during at the beauti to tl ch of the time Greater New York, and elegantly fur nished home of Iri P.A. Htibert, 458 Holsey St., Brooklyn Borough. Ac companied by him I visited Plymouth church on Sunday Horning, Jan. 9th, and heard an inspiring and edifying eermon by Dr. Iyman Abbott. Hie sermon and prayer led me tivconclude that his heart is right, whatever, mat be the idiosyncrasies of bis head about Jonah anc. other things about which he has expressed views not re garded as orthodox. At 2 p. m. I was at Mother Zion where I had the pleasure of seeing the Sunday-echcol at work with that model superintendent and tried Zion ite, Mr. E. V. C. E&to at the helm. Pastor Franklin and the' other teach ers, including Mrs. Franklin, were all busy. The attendance and the exer cises gave evidence that the mother Sunday-school^ like the mother church, is still pt the head of the van. The afternoon service was the communion occasion. A large audi ence and an uplifting service made one feel that it was good to be there. Rev. R. Alonzo Scott, our Connection ■ al Evangelist, was with Dr. Franklin conducting a splendid revival. Sev eral persons had been converted and What shall manv were lnoumn&r. wo do to be saved?” Dr. Franklin bas proven himself to -be a worthy snd succeeefut'Euccessor to the many eminent men who preceded him at the mother cht rth. As a pastor and financier he stands second to none. He allows no claim or duty to go neg lected, nor does he come up with a mere pittance on Connectional claims. High water mark" is his motto on every line. ' At 7:30 p. a. I was at Fleet-st. church with Elder Frederick M. Jacobs. I have visited this church on other occasionu when such able and popular pasto::s as the late Revs. J H. A. Sweres, John W. Brown, R. H. Stilt, and the eloquent presiding el der.of the Athens District, Tennessee Conference, I,ev. W. H. Fergurson, were pastors. During the pastorate of each of thene men it was a source of delight to ipeetthe large audiences that filled thi 3 church. I feel that I can safely say that, not to my knowl edge, has Fleet-st. had a more popu lar or belovec. pastor than Elder Ja cobs. The church is moving on grand ly and has a choir that will draw a visitor back again whenever the op portunity presents itself. Zion’s in terests are sa e in the hands of Elder Jacobs. I foi nd it both pleasant and profitable to lie there. EIGHT DAIS IN PHILADELPHIA. On Monday, after a short visit to the Book Room where the accom plished Miss Rosina Nickson is in charge, acceptably filling the place recently make vacant by the resigna tion of the former clerk, I hied my eelf away to the City of Brotherly Love where Bisl^pp Walters and Dr. Qoler awaited my comifcg. Brotherly greetings we re exchanged and I soon found myself happily situated in the “ preacher’s room ” at the home of Mrs. Annie Dunbar, 1332 Lombard Street. The grand reception given by Elder Caldwell and his good peo ple in honor of Bishop Walters and his bride wan the feature of the sec ond week of January in Philadelphia among Afro-Americans. On Tuesday night (he revival started up where the week of prayer left oif. Thai the week of prayer was a success and an earnest effort in the right direction was evidenced by the immense audience and deep fervor of the meeting held on Tuesday night. Some thought that the reception would eomevhat dampen the arcfor of the spiritual interest of the meet ing the following night, but if I had not attendee the former occasion I should not have known 'that it had been help at the same church. I put in eight days with Elder Caldwell and assisted in some way or other at each of the two services held each week-day. Bishop Walters preached on Friday night prior to his depart ure for Trenton. It was an occasion when the Lc rd was among His people. Christians rojoiced, sinners were con victed, mourners converted and the j cause of the Lord was greatly ad vanced. • The conductor of the afternoon service had said, “Let us pray for the conversion of ten souls during the afternoon «,nd evening meetings.” •Two were converted at that service. Satan Beemed determined to defeat us at the night service, but Bishop Walters said we must not'be defeated. Prayer wen; up from earnest hearts, songs went orth from pious lips and the faith of more than five hundred >ic hold of the promises upon them With all Christians the viotory wu won. At no service daring the eight ( eye that I remained with Elder Oaliwell was these a failure to have conversions. I left him on Thursday afternoon with more than fifty conversions and the latest news tells me that a hundred conversions have been the outcome of the meeting, aid yet it still goes on at this writing. Rev. Oaldwell has proven a most happy fit' and eminently successful pastor of the lending and strongest colored church in Philadelphia and the largest congregation in our Zion. He ;is a born leader, a wise manager, a faithful and fatherly pastor, a suc cessful financier and a most valuable citizen along every line of work that tends to the betterment of his church, his race and the city in general. The echo of that gree t meeting still rings in my ears; the spiritual feast en joyed while there’will give strength and courage fer the arduous and numerous duties which are before me. Daring the brief stay of Bishop Wal ters, Dr. Goler e.nd Mr. Dancy, each one contributed a faithful soldier’s part in the gres t battle against sin and satan. Elder Caldwell and bis people gave me the most substantial evidence that my services were appre ciated. Rev. R. A. Fisher, D. D., the cultured and capable presiding elder of tbe Philadelphia District, was pres* ent and did yeeman service. A WHILE IN CAMDEN, N. J. On Saturday evening I abode at toe nurne oi Jjiuer l^aveuporu auu worshipped with his people on Sunday morning. I found that the bishop had lpm.d the proper man to succeed-the scholarly and pious Elder Bloice.' Camden church is a live and intelligent people who are Methodists in spirit and ir form. Elder Daven port k a grand success if what I saw and heard was a good sign. AT THENTON, N. J. It was my privilege to be present at St. Paul church on Monday even ing when Dr. White and his good people and the people of New Jersey’s capital, regardless of race or denomi nation, tendered Bishop Walters and bride a grand reception. Owing to the fact that a gracious revival was going on Dr. White insisted that I should return on Friday night and lend a helpin3 hand in that good cause. It was not a hard task to pasB out of the revival at Philadelphia over into New Jersey to engage in a similar battle. I did the best I could and several pe rsons came forward for prayer, and a young woman, a new convert, joined the church. The good work was going on with in creased interest when I heard from Trenton last. Dr. White is in many respects the leader of the New Jersey Conference and has always taken care of what Zion committed to his trust. As a student, pastor, sound theologian and churchman he is first among equals Zion’s forces in Tren ton have hare ly been more efficiently and successfully led. THREE DAYS AT HAERISBUEG, PA. According to arrangement I stopped over on the 4th Sunday in January at Harrisburg with my old friend and soi in the gospel, Elder J. H. McMullen. All up-to-da,te Zionites know that one of the grand est of Afro-American leaders and one of Zion’s pilh.rs in the person of Dr. W TT T)»r lives of. ftie nonifnl of Keystone sti.te. Besides him such men as the scholarly Profs. Rev. W. R. Marshall J. P. Scott, — Layton, Dr. W. H. Sr owden, presiding elder of the Baltimore District, and Revs% 0. H. Wye and — Hawkes live here. Each of these men is doing his part to make and keep Zion head and shoulders above all other churches in that city. I found a shadow of gloom hanging ovei the home of Elder Mc Mullen becaiee of the sickness of his little daughtor, but signs of improve ment- each day of my stay caused the parents and people to seem happy and hopeful. I worshipped four times at Wesley Jnion on Sunday, the Sunday-school and Christian Endeav or being not the least of the precious services I attended. Despite the faet that the earth was wrapped in a cloak of snow, each of the services was largely attended -by one of the most intelligjnt congregations it has ever been my privilege to meet. El der McMulkn, who is one of our well-educated young men, best preachers and most exemplary pas tors, likes the people and they like him. Hn^nony and success describe the condition of affairs which prevails at his chard.. On Tuesday night I met a part oT Elder Wye’s people at aat Harris'>ur«, deeoite the storm intense jeopie unite: attention. the cbaderonage of Dr. Day I was privileged to visit the excellent schools of Harrisburg and other places of ^interest and* through liis influence I received a complimen tary ticket to the great Cuban Relief Concert wheresome of the best talent of the city was on exhibition, besides the speeches of the governor and the mayor. AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Wednesday morning found me en* route to the City of Magnificent Dis tances. After three hours’ ride I' halted at the Baltimore and Potomac station and soon found 1216 25th St., N. W., where Rev. A. A. Crooke, A. B., wife and child abide. I met his people at Union Wesley on Wednesday evening and found them in the midst of a glorious revival. Two souls were converted and several were seeking deliverance from their sink. If anybody at Union Wesley ever"thought Elder Crooke was not the man for that church he is ashamed to own it now. The church seems to be as prosperous as it ever was in its history. The pastor’s influence is growing as the people of his fchurcb and the city know him better. I was at Galbraith on Thursday night with the polished chieftain of our Christian Endeavor work. Here, too, a gracious revival was in progress and many were seeking salvation. Several had been converted at both of the above named churches. I made my home at Eider Crooke’s with Hon. J. C. Dancy as my companion and had the pleasure of diniDg with Rev. and Mrs. Colbort and taking lunch with Miss Sarah J. Janifer, one of our staunchest Ziolrites. Galbraith is one of our best churches, has a most-excellent people and Elder Col bert is the man to lead and develop them. A MOST PLEASANT MEETING. During my stay in Philadelphia I was invited to dine up town with Dr. H. T. Johnson, the erudite editor of the Christian Recorder, where it was my happy pleasure to meet four old school and class-mates, one of whom I had not met in twenty-two years. Editor H. T. Johnson, Revs. W. A. Sinclair, M. D., and H. W. Pinck ney, the latter two with myself mem bers of the class of ’79 at the South Carolina University in the halcyon days of yore, composed the party. This class which has now passed into history has turned out three editors, five doctors, one congressman, one legislator, one minister to a foreign court, five ministers, one real-estate man and one bishop. Of the twenty two, five of whom were krhite, all are alive except three and endeavoring to do something to make their race and the world better. The following persons in Philadel phia placed me under special obliga4 tions to them for hospitalities shown at their homes: Rev. and Mrs. J. S. Caldwell, Dr. and Mrs. L. J. Coppin, Mr. and Mrs. George Clinton, son and daughter-in-law of the late Bish op J. J. Clinton, Mrs. Unthank, and Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Reason. On Friday morning I started home ward profited and delighted with my three weeks’ stay in Yankee-land. Iff FUTORO. A NOVEL LAW SUIT IN 1998 by broce-grit. Written expressly for the Stab or Zion. ‘‘A prominent Negro merchant, while traveling with his family through the State of Georgia where he contemplates the establishment of a number of branch houses in the leading cities of this State, Was subjected to a gross in sult at the hands of the proprietor of the Planters Hotel—one of the mos^ exclusive establishments in the city of Atlanta—who flatly refused to accom modate the black merchant-prince and his family.” In some way or other the matter got into the lock! newspapers and created a furore in business circles in Atlanta where Mr. Davenport, the gentleman referred to, has large business interests. ‘‘He is a stockholder in nine of the city’s banks, and the' principal owner of the New Gedrgia Street Railway system, which is in operation in all the large cities of Georgia. He is a member of the New York Stock and Cotton Ex changes, and a large owner of the stock of "the Belle of Georgia Gold Mine re cently discovered on the Yuma Reser vation, about which thore has h^en pub lished so much in the Northern and Eastern papers. His private fortune is estimated at $5,000,000. He is a shrewd business man and is held in high esteem by the business men of the North and West, which for the past twenty years have been his fields of operation. His business judgment has been unerring, and for tMtot^r years past he has done nothing but make money by wise spec-' ulation backed by sound business methods and indomitable courage. He is one of the largest and most Successful cotton brokers on ’change, anc^his lips to small dealers have put money into the purses of’many a member of the Dotton Exchange in Georgia, who have aulhnited faith in bis sagacity. This is Hr. Davenport’s first visit to the South n twenty years, and he comes, as has flijrrrfw rning edition of 'ard, September 19, lftwo. i naneial Newt of Atlanta, Ge Sept. 20, 1808, in an editorial with indignation at the discoo shown this distinguished Negro, i With these words: “II is a disgrace to the intelligence i the proud Anglo-Saxon racertaknow that *ny member of our race in Oc could be capable of offering an affr to a Negro gentleman, and especially one who stands so high in the business and commercial circles of this country as Mr. Hannibal Davenport. We beg to ’ assure this outraged gentleman that,the action of the proprietor of the Placers Hotel dees not reflect the liberal senti ment of the intelligent white people of the foremost State of the South. We are :iot unmindful of the fact that Geor gia in recent years has profited largely thrcugh the friendly and generous afd given to the business men of this Sta^e by this distinguished Negro. We trust ' Mr. Davenport will apply to the courts for redress for the insult offered him. We violate no secret when we state that the reputable citizens and business men of Atlanta will resent this affront in a way to convince the proprietor of the Planters Hotel that he has ma<?& a mis take in judging the worth and standing : Of n man by his color.” This editorial produced a sensation, anc: the episode became the talk of«tbe tovm and the chief topic of disemsiott at the clubs. The leading Negro iifcr chants, particularly those engaged in the African and Haitian trades, and in Mf&t India fj nits and vegetable*, called a mon ster mass-meeting at the board of Trade rooms in Peachtree Street, at whfcli speeches were delivered by prominent . white and colored merchants which left no doubt of their earnest determination to bring this hotel proprietor to book. j,u due uibauuujc ixwiti niuvnuiu jq threw open its doors to the black Croe sus and his family, giving the best suite of rooms in the establishment, those formerly occupied by the Emperor of Ilaiti and suite during his visit to the United States a few years ago. The suite comprised fifteen elegantly fur nished rooms on the second floor of this hotel, overlooking Oglethorpe Park, one of the chief attractions to all persons woo visit Atlanta, because of its im mense area and great natural beauty. Here with his family and attendants Mr. Davenport remained for six or eight weeks, perfecting the business which had brought him to Georgia, and visiting old friends of his father and of 1 is child hood. When he had-completed this business he turned his attention to the proprietor of the Planters Hotel, by bringing suit for damages against him in the United States Court for $150,CCO through his attorney, the Hon. Douglass D. Banta, former President of the Geor gia State Senate and one of'the leadlfl^1 •«" Negro criminal, lawyers in the United States, who associated with him in this case Gen. Bradley J. Ackermann, late of the U. S. Court of Claims.. The case excited national attention be cause of ,ts novelty, and when it was called for trial at the Fall term of the Court, people came from adjoining counties and states to hear and see how il; would be disposed of. After the jury had been impanelled, counsel for the prosecution stated what they expected to prove, and cited many authorities in support of their position. In the course of his preliminary argu ment the Hon. Douglass D. Banta said among other things: “If your honor please, we submit that the public nature » c f inn-keeper’s employment forbids,him from discriminating against any person s.sking admission as a guest on account of the race or color of that person, pro vided he has accommodations and the jfuest is willing to pay for entertainment. For more than a hundred years the Ne gro has enjoyed civil and political rights, " and the constitution of the United States gave him full citizenship with the white man as the price of his loyalty to I he Union and to the flag which had 1'ormerly been the emblem of his stripes. All the rights and privileges enjoyed by white men attend him wherever he goes. Whatever rights white men have in pub lie places, black men have also enjoyed, because of such citizenship. “As far back as 1806, the Congress of the United States placed the seal of its approval upon this equitable view of the '.Negros’ rights as a man bj the pas sage of a bill known as the Civil Bights bill, whose chief object was to secure to 'Negroes—not social—but all the civil and political rights enjoyed by white men. “The Supreme Court of the Unite States in 1883 decided that this law was unconstitutional because it declared without reference to adverse State legis lation on the subject that all persons shall be entitled to equal accommodations and privileges of inns, public convey ances and places of public amusement, and imposes a penalty upon any indi vidual who shall deny to any citizen mch equal accommodation and privi leges. In the view of that honorable Court this was declared to be not correc tive legislation, such as Congress had power to make, but that it was primary and direct; but it took immediate and ab solute possession of the right of sion to inns, public conveyan places of amusement. Hence ii dared to be an attempt to supe displace State legislalian on the subject or only allow it permissive f< I cite this opinion, if your honor pi to show you what wonderful have taken placo in public sentiment this question, since this antiqi opinion was laid down as a principle taw from which there was no ap Justice Harlan, of Kentucky, a: who it appeari, was the ablest la' and the clearest-headed member of high court, dissented from the opinion in these words: [TO BE CONTINCUD ] Albany, N. Y
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 10, 1898, edition 1
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