Huntsville gazette., 1889-02-16
AN ADDRESS.
Issued by the Conference Of Col.
Ored Men.

neld IN montgomery we cunes
day and Thursday Jan. 8 and 10th,
issued the following address:
To The Citizens of Alabama:
We; the colored citizens of Alaba-
ma, through our representative lead.
ers, who met in conference in Mont
gomery on the 9Th and 9th Of Janua-
ry, 1889, to consider such questions
as are Of vital Importance to the race
and Of interest to the public gener-
ally, and which are being agitated by
all thoughtful men of tie State and
nation, irrespective Of race, or party
affiliations by this method appeal to
the peace loving and honest people
of the State for their aid in the ac-
complishment of such things as are
constantly showing their Importance
and as are indispensable to the gen.
eral prosperity, and ask for your
consideration Of the subjects which
are herein offered.
First. The fear of Negro suprsm-
acy, as it is presumably entertained
by the white or law making element
Of the State, has formed the basis of
argument for maintaining election
laws and customs, which serve no
other purpose than that Of defeating
the free voting and fair counting Of
Negroes vote We desire to be un-
derstood by the intelligent and hon
orable white men that we do not
countenance any more than they do,
the reign Of ignorance over intelli-
gence, whether that ignorance be
possessed by blacks or whites; that
our radicalism in politics is inte nsi
fed every year, more by the con
tempt that is shown for us as part
of the body polite than by the mis-
taken belief, as is alleged. that every
Negro thinks himself incapable Of be-
ing anything but a one.sided par
tisan.
The fact that in municipal elections
the Negroes readily lay aside politi.
cal differences aud support the best
candidate as frequently as the whites,
when the assurance Of fair play is
guaranteed, is the strongest argu-
ment that in State elections, if the
same degree of fairness Of elections
obtained, they would all the more
readily and willingly unite for the
maintenance of the best and purest
government.
We therefore respectfully ask, be-
lievipg that the operation Of the
present election laws is against good
government, the re enactment Of the
election laws by which fraud can be
detected, that is to say that the bal
lots as cast shall be numbered to cor
respond with the number Of the poll
list.
Second-A moretofective system
of public schools, especially in the
rural districts, is an urgent necessity.
In order to render them more efec-
tive, the parents are urg ntly solici-
ted to demand in the appointment OF
teachers ouly such whose educational
and moral qualifications are an earn
est that they can and will perform
their duty. Patrons are also urged
to supplement the common school
fund to the end that teachers possess Z.
ing the necessary qualifications can
be adequately compensated for their
services. We consider system now
in operat on, that considers political
services as a qualification for teach>
ing Negro schools, as pernicious as it
is demoralizing.
The avidity with which the colored
youths have availed themselves Of
the meager facilities off red them for
obtaining an education and the ra>
pidity with which they have advanc-
edin education, presents the stron
gest argument for a State University
The moral obligation to establish the
State University rests upon the State
of Alabama upon the following
grounds.
In 1872 when the college at Au'
burn established for white students
the State Normal School and Uni
versity at Marion was given to our
race and the property Of the colorei