The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1891-01-31
A Foul Pretence.

OIA NcWS.
Foul Pretence.
Editor, THE APPEAL: One of the most
precious pieces of humbuggery to which
long-sufering people nave been SUBJ
jected to, is that monumental sham
known as the National Afro-Ameri:an
League; and of all its GASEOUS offspring,
the st. Paul league heads the list for
bombast and absolute vacuity.
In THE APPEAL Nov. 22nd, there an
peared u portentious call for a meeting
OF the league for the purpose of doing
SOMETHING: Re uIt?-Nothing.
In The APPEAL JAM, 3'd, appeared a
column and half, headed "Emancipa
ton Day Grandly Celebrated by the
People of st PAULA Gre It and Glori-
GUS Occasion" On this event, some OF
the most notable white citizeus of the
Northwest were invited to be present.
A few We're present; and to what end?
That the league might advertise broad
cast its shame and impotency. That the,
daily pres and our most influential cDti-
zens might not fail to note that there
was an organization in existence whose
duty and aim was to protect Colored citi.
zens in the exercise of their civil and
political rights. On this occasion a Col.
ored orator delivered himself as follows:
Itch sun of our perfect freedom is rising
In this Northwest. Education on the
question is fl wing from here and we
are creating sentiment which will
spread throughout the country" How
much of this did the orator believe?
How much of it did his audi ors believe?
How much Of it was true, aud how does
1t accord with the fact that on JAN, 9Th,
a most Fl grant denial of civil rights to a
Colored man, has not caused the league
to show Tvs existance? That not single
Colored citizen has manifested the slight
est interest or concern? How does it
happen that but one protest has been
called forth from the daily pr s.?
The reason is plain. The league has
advertised the fact of its existence there
by relieving the press and general pub
lie from all accountability. Why should
the press and public concern itself If the
Coored people themselves are ind,ffer-
ent? Why does not the Rev. Gentle
men who fills a popular pulpit, wherein,
every topic is at home-why does not
he declaim as loudly from his pulpit,
against this wrong, as he did at the En-
ancipation Celebration? Because he is
entirely ignorant of the circumstances.
Why does not the distinguished prelate,
who spoke such brave words on that oc-
casion, exert his powerful influence
against such an outrage. Because he
has never been advised of the fac;s
Gould either of these distinguished
gentleman, 80 powerful in moulding
public sentiment, have pleaded ignor-
ance, If the daily press had agitated the
subject? And would the press have
dared to be Indifferent if the league had
done its duty? That portion of the pub
lie which is aware of the facts, has but
to choose between two inferences; eth
or the citizens, whose rights were de-
MED is unworthy of the leagues notice,
unworthy of the Colored citizens, or else
the league and citizens are unworthy of
him. Il has been minated that as this
is the second time the writer has been
denied his civil rights in st.. Paul, that
there must be something "out" about
the man else it would not occur to him
alone. Fortunately for the writer, he
does not require certificate ofcharacter
from the Colored people of St. Paul.
Personally, he askes nothing at their
hands or from the league. He is per-
fectly capable of fighting his own battles
SO far as they are his. If other Colored
citizens have not had his experience it
is because they purposely avoid the is-
sues which would be raised if they at
tempted to exercise in the same way,
their civil rights. There is not State
South of Mason and Dixon's line where
SO large q Colored population are SO
completed IGNORED politically as in Mimi
esota and in the cities Of st. Paul and
Minneapolis. There is not CITY where
in their civil rights will be more insolent-
" denied than in st. Paul. nor in which
the citizens submit SO supinely to insult.
The writer states fact, and defes sue
cessful contradiction.