Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-02-01
coIored Men Heard From.

WASHINGTON, D. c., January 25.-The fol-
lowing address has been presented to the
president and to both houses of congress:
We have the honor to inform you that we
have been appointed by the exec 5ive COM
mittee Of the National Afro-Americau
League, under instructions of the national
convention held in the city of Chicago on
the 18th, 10th, and 18th inst, to petition the
executive and congress for the enactment
of such laws and the enforcement of those
already enacted as will secure to US our
rights as citizens guaranteed under the ma
tional constitution and its amendments.
THE recent outrages in the south and
those committed against US IN the discharge
of our rights In the selection of our nation
al representatives at each succeeding cleo
ton are becoming more appalling ana afro
cious. We are only citizens in name. Our
will at the ballot box IS completely thwart-
ed, and the result is an unjust T presenta-
ton given to our enemies to the great detrl-
ment of ourselves and the entire nation. 1t
cannot be denied that this is all unjust and
destructive of the aims intended by the
supreme law of the land. The nation haV-
ing given to US our freedom, as we'll as our
civil and political rights, we can but look to
it as law-ab ding citi -ens for the protection
of freedom in those rights by the enforce
ulent of q republican form of government
IN each state claiming to be sovereign, yet
denying the right of suffrage, which must
always be above that of state sovereignty.
"ln most of the southern states we are
denied the rights guaranteed to US in the
selection of president and vice president
and national representatives. We have rep
reSentation in the jury box in few counties
of any of these states, nor have We fair
trial by the courts of those states where
lynch law and mob violence prevail. We
would, therefore, respectfully ask the pres
ident of the United States to do all in his
power to right the wrongs.
I'VE have also been instructed to petition
the national congress for the pas age of the
Blair educational bill, so that the iDiterate
classes OF both races in the south may be
enabled more lntelligently to discharge the
duties of citizenship, since under the pres
ent educational system in the south that
end can never be attained.
'In many localities less than two months
tuition is Afforded our children, by poorly
Paid teachers. When the right of citizen
ship was given US although cur labor had
been forced from US for centuries without
any compensation whatever, no provision
was made for our education, aud since the
states in charge of this sacred trust have
proven themselves Inadequate to the re-
quireinents of tbs important obligation, we
are uElNeu 10 appear 10 congress anu 10 the
executive, as the head of the national gov
eminent to aid US in this important matter.
"PledgIng ourselves to be loya to the ma
ton and o Its institutions, as we have al
ways been, and pledging our fealty at all
times, we would respectfully urge, Mr..
President, that you will use your best en-
deavors to bring about the realization of
the desires of your humble petitioners in
these matters and for which we in behalf
of those we represent viii! ever pray"