Huntsville gazette., 1889-02-16
pledge given and accepted in good


help themselves" !" We therefore call
upon the colored citizen throughout
the State to take active steps toward
securing the university, and that they
exert themselves to raise means to
finish paying for the lands whereon
We propose to erect the building, and
having accomplished all that earsest
perseverance and persistent effort
will achieve, we respectfully appeal
to the philanthropic people of the
country to lend us their aid in build
ing up and sustaining this much
needed institution.
Fourth. The necessity for national
aid to educa ton is apparent, and we
are full sympathy with the provisions
of the Blair educational bill" We
urge upon Congress the speedy pass
age Of the same.
Fif h. The peace and order of
many communities in this State have
time and again been threatened with
mob violence. and invariably, the
victim of such lawlessness has been a
member of our race. We view with
honor and righteous indi snation the
alarming frequency of this barbarous
practice and earnestly implore the
support Of all good people in con-
demning lynch law and in b inging
the murderous perpetrators to speedy
justice. We as order loving and law
abiding citizens of Alabama enter our
solemn protest against the unlawful
killing of any supposed criminal, but
sincerely ask for each and every ac-
cused an opportunity to be heard in
his own behalf in court of justice
The unspeakable crime eften alleged
against men and for which colored
men are invariably lynced is to be
deprecated and Sc erely condemned
but let the punishment be done in a
lawful and civilized manner, For
how often has it happened that in
the frenzy and excitement Of the
hour the wrong man is identified,
prima facie evidence alone is taken
and a good and useful life is sacri-
feed for another mans crime.
While we regret the loss oflife, we
heartily commend the action of Sher
if Smith in the recent riot at Birm
ingham, Alabama, in maintaining
the dignity and majesty of the law,
it being the only instance in the his
tory Of the South where lawiess men
were taught obedience to the law.
Sixth. The mistaken idea that
intelligent Negroes are Incapable of
detecting the difference between civil
and social equality had led to the
most inhuman and unjust discriminas
tions on lai i'ways and other means of
travel, operated by Sout' ern corpor
ations. We would be understood to
believe. as all intelligent men do,
that the principles Of association. are
innate aid therefore. Independent Of
Legislative provisions. We hold that
no laws nor the force of auy customs,
can carry with it sufficient power to
make the association Of white man
and black man con- enial. We do
not hatter ourselves with the idea
that to ride in the same ach with
white men, or to occupy seats floor in
public places with Whites Immediate
ly transforms our in qualities to
equa' titles of social rights, but we
simply feel that We renot permitted to
enjoy a civil ris ht which should lie
conceded to every intelligent cultured
and refined citizen Irrespective of his
color, or previous condition. We
ho'd that there are Negro gentlmen
and ladies and that accommodations
that are provided for gentlemen ard
ladies should be allowed to be enjoyed
equally by each without regard to
color as a desideratum. We hold
that it is unjust to demand the SAM
fare from Negroes and force them to
accept Accommodations that in every
respect are inferior to those accorded
white men. We hold that we our
selves are the best calculated to
judge of the class Of fare we get and
when told by others that we are en-
titled to such class Of treatment.