The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-09-18
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE.
The Victims of caste in Society,
business and Politics.
Roston,s coIored Citizens Speak on
the condition Of Their Race.
Resistance Predicted II Southern
outrages Continue.

RosroN. September 5.-The Meionaon
was this forenoon the scene OF a gathering
Of the colored men of Boston and vicinity,
who had gathered for the purpose of confer
ring as to how the members Oh their race
may obtain greater political ana social rec
ogntion. 1t will be remembered that about
two weeks ago about % colored citizens of
this city and vicinity met at 10 Bulfnch
street, and as the outcome of the meeting,
call was issued for today's meeting, and
ard an executive meeting OF ten was chosen,
with Nelson G. Gaskins as chairman. VIM.
H. Dupree presided at today's meeting The
purposes of this assembling of the colored
men of Boston aregound In the resolutions
which they adoN Sand which include the
following paragtapfsxzsx.--
Our object today is patriotic, and we disa-
VOW at the outset the mere securing of Office
for few individuals or Of making demon
stration In any selfish or personal interest
whatsoever. At the bottom OF all our griev-
ances is caste. 1t attacks us in our very
cradles and follows to the grave every. indi-
vidual OF our race without regard to his at
attainments, manners, character or a5pera-
tiOns. In society it denies to us freedom
and equality of worship in the churches,
equality in the schools, in the public places
of amusement, on public thoreughfareS and
in public institutions, from lunatic asylum
to poor house. In the commercial and busi-
ness world it prefers to us all other men---na-
tive and foreign-born, citizens and aliens,
and shuts in our faces the doors OF workshop,
mill, mandatory, the c0unting-ro0m and
store. In the political world it accepts our
suffrage, and then instigates and permits ev-
cry species of outrage on our citizenship,
winks at violence to our persons and
the destruction of our property and
denies to- us all representation and
equality of rights. Subtle, alert, without
in every avenue of the social and industrial
world and forces us into paucity Of occupa-
ti0ns that warp our natural abilities and
deny to us opportunities to expand, to reach
out, to exercise our gifts and training. 1t
forces upon us conditions of discomfort,
ambitions, breaks our spirits, robs us of
manhood and stands between us and the
most ordinary humanities. Throttling prog
ress and paralyzing every effort, only in its
overthrow need we look for conditions of
healthy and, permanent growth: And
against it in all shapes, in all parties and
wherever it exists in our country, we raise
the voices of patriots and protest now and
hereafter. Its final discontinue is the duty
of all men who love their country and re-
gard humanity. And to this end we dedi-
cate ourselves, aware of the immensity Of
the task before us. Imbedded in the bone
and mingling In the blood of our country
men, its eradication will necessarily be Slow
1t cannot be hurried by appeals to passion.
by ill-advised utterances in public or by any
the provocation to such may be. Second
nature to very large numbers of our country
men, it cannot be removed without their
assistance, and we therefore advise against
any distinctively race party or movement
and disavow any desire for a black
iucf Ctr MI
denim a strictively white supremacy. Our
whole aim and intent is for the rule Of the
majority of all American citizens, fairly and
legally empowered by the equal and un-
hampered suffrage Of all. We ask for no
special favors that are withheld from other
citizens or to which we are not entitled
But we do ask for that civil and political
homogeneity which invadeS no mans private
social rights but which does lie at the
foundation of national unity. We contend
not dosrade either them or US. We court
the united efforts of all-the preiudiced, the
careless and Indifferent as well as the
patriotic in shaking from our civil and bust
ness life this creature of fear and misinform-
alton which has been the deaths head at
our every national banquet, and which pre-
sides today at the outrage and murder Of in
offensive and loyal citlZens-w0men and
children as well as men, in total disregard of
law.
We demand of State and National govern
ments rigid enforcement of law all over the
country against all law breakers, and we de-
mand the protection of all citizens in their
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness. We condemn in the name of human
ity and the fair fame Of our country among
civilized nations the brutal outrages commit
ted upon our people at the South. And we
warn our conntrymen that if the violence
done women and children, the burning of
schools and churches, the destruction of
homes and the murder of defenceless and
helpless men are not prevented by the strong
arm of the law, the patience, long suffering
and forbearance characteristic of our people
will be goaded into hate and striking out
in self defence, that will rot only impede
trade and emigration and unsettle business
which the South can just now i'll afford, but
will add to the brutalities now so generally
inflicted upon our people horrors ten fold
greater that will be no respecter of persons
or races. We pray to be permitted to live
within the law, but if we are driven to live
otherwise the blame will not be ours.