Denounced Black and M’Kinley.
June 25, 1898
Summary
Despite many states moving to keep African American officers in their posts, President McKinley has yet to approve the measure nationwide.
Transcription
Colored ministers in Baptist convention say negro regiments should be commanded by negro officers.
Women cried and approved.
Thanks for the three states that put troops in charge of men of their own race.
Talk of discrimination.
Criticism made because those who rebelled against the nation are put in high positions.
[New York Herald, June 19, 1898.]
One of the most sensational public meetings ever held by the Afro-Americans of New York was the afternoon session Friday of the New England Baptist Convention, at the Berean Baptist Church of Brooklyn. The Convention is composed of prominent colored men.
Their excoriation of President McKinley’s administration and denunciation of Governor Black, because of their refusal to accord what the Convention termed “proper recognition” to the colored volunteers of the country, created great excitement in the church. The speeches delivered were of the most exciting kind, and men and women stand on the seats and applauded while one woman, with tears in her eyes, begged the Convention to let her voice the sentiments of the women.
Pleaded for the women.
“Just for one minute. For God’s sake, hear us!” she cried.
When the Rev. A. Gordon, of Philadelphia, declared that he had hoped, and was hoping, that the American arms would not be victorious until justice had been accorded to the Negro soldiers, there was a vociferous applause.
W. Bishop Johnson, of Washington, D. C., editor of the National Baptist Magazine, precipitated the discussion by a report he submitted on the state of the country, in which he said that the reporting committee viewed with alarms the administration’s attitude toward the Afro-Americans in its refusal to give Negro officers to Negro regiments.
He declared that the Convention should go on record as denouncing the administration’s attitude, and he urged the appointment of a committee to go to Washington to present to the President the sentiments of the Convention on the subject.
Denounced Governor Black.
Addresses were delivered by Dr. J. Anderson Taylor, of Washington; the Rev. A. W. Adams, of Boston; E. E. Anderson, of Virginia; W. S. Holland, of Rhode Island, and Dr. D. W. Wisher, of New York, in which the administration was severely denounced. Some of the speakers declared that the administration was not doing justice to those who had been brave and loyal in the high rebellion, while it had placed in high positions those who had rebelled against the nation.
On motion the Convention went on record as denouncing the Governor Black for his refusal to accept a colored regiment of volunteers which was offered during the week by a delegation of colored ministers. The Convention telegraphed congratulations to the Governors of Virginia, North Carolina and Massachusetts for giving colored officers to colored regiments.
Women cried and approved.
Thanks for the three states that put troops in charge of men of their own race.
Talk of discrimination.
Criticism made because those who rebelled against the nation are put in high positions.
[New York Herald, June 19, 1898.]
One of the most sensational public meetings ever held by the Afro-Americans of New York was the afternoon session Friday of the New England Baptist Convention, at the Berean Baptist Church of Brooklyn. The Convention is composed of prominent colored men.
Their excoriation of President McKinley’s administration and denunciation of Governor Black, because of their refusal to accord what the Convention termed “proper recognition” to the colored volunteers of the country, created great excitement in the church. The speeches delivered were of the most exciting kind, and men and women stand on the seats and applauded while one woman, with tears in her eyes, begged the Convention to let her voice the sentiments of the women.
Pleaded for the women.
“Just for one minute. For God’s sake, hear us!” she cried.
When the Rev. A. Gordon, of Philadelphia, declared that he had hoped, and was hoping, that the American arms would not be victorious until justice had been accorded to the Negro soldiers, there was a vociferous applause.
W. Bishop Johnson, of Washington, D. C., editor of the National Baptist Magazine, precipitated the discussion by a report he submitted on the state of the country, in which he said that the reporting committee viewed with alarms the administration’s attitude toward the Afro-Americans in its refusal to give Negro officers to Negro regiments.
He declared that the Convention should go on record as denouncing the administration’s attitude, and he urged the appointment of a committee to go to Washington to present to the President the sentiments of the Convention on the subject.
Denounced Governor Black.
Addresses were delivered by Dr. J. Anderson Taylor, of Washington; the Rev. A. W. Adams, of Boston; E. E. Anderson, of Virginia; W. S. Holland, of Rhode Island, and Dr. D. W. Wisher, of New York, in which the administration was severely denounced. Some of the speakers declared that the administration was not doing justice to those who had been brave and loyal in the high rebellion, while it had placed in high positions those who had rebelled against the nation.
On motion the Convention went on record as denouncing the Governor Black for his refusal to accept a colored regiment of volunteers which was offered during the week by a delegation of colored ministers. The Convention telegraphed congratulations to the Governors of Virginia, North Carolina and Massachusetts for giving colored officers to colored regiments.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“Denounced Black and M’Kinley.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed August 13, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1419.