New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-18
The Pennsylvania Equal Rights
League.


We tahc the following frOln the Hrauiug
pa Eagle of the 9th instant. AS the Ma
tional Republican of this city, in keeping with
its intense luminosity toward the colored race,
has attempted to arouse the wrath and oppo-
sition of the white people Of this community
toward colored men who are making laudable
exertions for complete equality before the
law by charging upon them the banding to-
gcther in opposition to the white people OF
this community, the following will explain,
probably, what spurred on to shameful false
hood the malevolence Of the Republican OF
race-hatred proclivities
Yesterday afternoon an Edgle reporter in
terviewed j. Il. StrattOn, President OF the
Unity Equal Rights League of this city, with
the following result:
Q. Do you hold Office in the State Equal
Rights League?
A. am a member of the advisory board.
Q. Where and when was the last meeting
of the State organization held?
A. At Wilkesbarre, on the. 18th, 18th, and
Goth of August last.
Q. What was the object Of the meeting?
A. The object of the league is the eleva-
ton, both politically and morally. Of the col
ored citizens of the State. The principal
business transacted at the last NEE ting was
the Endorsement Of the Republican State
nominations, and the adoption of a resolu-
ton sustaining General Grant and appealing
to him to advocate Summers supplementary
civil rights bill. When we obtain our full
civil rights we will change the name of the
league, and probably make il a beneficial Or
ganiZatlon.
Q. How many delegates were present at
the Wilkesbarre meeting:
A. About 100. Nearly every county in
the State was represented. The delegates
from Reading were IL. L. Still, Sr,, VIM. II.
Still, and J. b. Stratton.
Q. When and where will the nex meeting
be held?
A. On the 10Th of August, 1874, in Read
ing. The State organization Is ten years old,
and there is a subordinate league in this city.
1t is called the Unity League. Every coiored
man in Reading belongs lit. The member
ship numbered some eighty, but during this
summer some thirty or forty more colored
men came to this city to reside, and the
league now consists of probably one hundred
and twenty persons.
Q. Who are the most prominent and active
members Of the State League beside your
self?
A. William Nesbit, president, Of Altoona;
David Il. BOwser, vice president; William ID.
Forten, corresponding secretary Joseph &.
Bustill, solicitor, OF Philadelphia Prof. ).
n. Neale, of Pittsburg; Prof. Howard Day
and c. NJ. Brown, OF Harrisburg James
Cnderdue, OF Philadelphia, who now holds
position in the post office , Jacob e. White,
b. F. Pulpress, q. {. Wood.on, James In.
derdue, A. l.. Still, Sr., W. II. Still, Moses
Anderson. and J. W. Simpson.
William ID. Forten has considerable in
1uence. Politically and socially, Of any col
ored citizen in the State, he is truly repre-
sentative man. Totally unselfsh, hi. life
has been one Of ceaseless activity in battling
for the political, civil, and educational rights
of the colored citizens Of Pennsylvania.
Q. How was the action OF the Reading
school board regarded in ousting the colored
children from the schools?
4. With Indignation, and a great deal Of
feeling was expressed at the outrage. pre-
scented the following resolutions, which were
adopted unanimously:
Resolred, That We, the members of the
Equal Rights League of the State OF Penn
syiyania, in annual meeting assembled, do
hereby tender TO Abraham II. Phillippi, Esq,
of the city Of Reading, Berks county, our
heartfelt thanks for his energy, deyOtedness,
and honesty TO our race during the struggle
of the question OF admission OF our children
10 tie public schools oil the city OF Reading.
Resoleed, That We recommend 10 the citi-
zens Of Reading that they present him some
fitting testimonial in recognition of his SER
vices rendered at that hour, aud should it
ever be in our power TO assist him politically,
let US rise en- masse and distinguish ourselves
with the same devotion which pointed him
out a. a true man and Republican.
At the mention Of Phillippis name there