New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-11-27
Our National Convention.

Our efforts as a race to obtain the full and
lust recognition Of our humanity are neces-
sarlly confined TO asking for that recognition.
We have to plead and argue with powerful
people, whose strength and might have made
them lose sight of the claims of humanity
and Justice, to 4 large extent, and who have
contemplated the injustice heaped upon us
with an Indifference amounting To total dis
regard of the teachings Of the founders of the
Government under which they live, and
through which their ancestors had hoped for
the glorious future of a nation built upon the
idea that all men are created free and equal
To the nations conscience we must appeal.
To be effective, our appeal must be united.
The expressed wish for equality before the
law, equality in the enjoyment Of public
rights and privileges, must he from so large
majority of our people as to leave no doubt
of our desire for the realization Of our pray
ers. To our people throughout the country
it NAV not be known that we have in the
District Of Columbia men and women of our
race who are powerful in thwaItng the efforts
of those of us who arc laboring for the estab-
lisnment of justice and equality. Such, how
ever, is the fact When ali attempt is made
here at the Capital Of the Gland Of the free
and the home Of the brave" to strike down
caste and to pluck it up by the roots by abol-
ishinc distinctions based On caste i'll public
schools, colored men here interposc zealously
in behalf of prescription. When colored men
here are conspicuous in the work OF obtaining
the recognition of the humanity OF their
race other colored men are found servile
enough to denouuce them for interfering with,
and disturbing, what their obsequiousness to
to the powers that be makes them declare to
be well enough. We have an element OF
colored people in this city that was always
opposed to any move looking to the amelio-
ration Of the condition Of our race here. a
cowardly element that afraid to ask for
the elective franchise, that thought it impoli-
tic, for fear of shocking the sensibities of
the white people to elect colored man to
represent them in the city council, and now
this element is at work to prevent the choos-
ing of delegates to our National Convention.
The thinking and intelligent class Of colored
people have allowed themselves to be mis-
represented by the sycophants who so before
Congressional committees and represent that
the coored people do not wish caste distinc-
tinctions in public schools abolished. This
sycophant class will arrngate to themselves
the right to speak not only FOR the citizens
of Washington, but for the colored people of
the whole country. This must not be allowed.
The ability, the intelligence, and the love of
freedom of the cclored race are not alone
a. 4 IL
and aspirations are not reflected solely by
the residents OF this District, and the idea
entertained by MANY that i'll this city is to be
found the best evidences Of our progress in
the path of true D'anincss IL erroneous.
There has been more steaiiastrcss TO pin
ciple on the part Of the colored people in the
Ku-klux cursed State Of Georgia than here
more on the part Of colored ineu among the
defiant savages of Louisiana than under the
immediate protection Of the friendly General
Government. The trouble here is that the
people have allowed themselves TO be mis-
represented by men who, for paltry Offices or
positions, have sold their manhood. Not one of
the men who sneak into Congressional COM
mittee rooms and represent that the colored
prescription oftheir children in public schools.
and are gratifed and highly delighted because
colored students are not allowed the facilities
afforded BY the Normal School, Care go be-
fore colcred audience and attempt to defend
their treachcrous and base course. Getthese
men essay TO prevent by Misrepresentation,
by appealing TO the hate of the whites and
to the jealousy Of the colored people, con-
ven,ion of the people to forward the cause of
Justice and humanity.
We feel it TO be due to our friends at dis
lance TO inform them Of the enemies in our
camp, so that when they come up to the
convention they need not be suddenly sur
prlsed by the lack Of progress made here in |
the matter of equality before the law.
We, having no other recourse than plead |
ing for our rights, that pleading should be
made with our best ability. The people |
throughout the country will consult their best |
interests by sending to the National Conven-
ton the ablest men in their midst. Men,
who have independence enough TO stand up
msnfully for what they conceive to be right. !