The state capital., 1891-03-28
ASK FOR RECOGNITION
Addresses to President Harrison
BY the Afro-American Asso-
citation.
They Suggest the Propriety Of Sc
lecting Negro for the Fed
eral Judiciary.
Also that They Be Represented Of
the Columbian Fair Com
mission.

4h4cCIOHs
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The Nation
al Committee of the Afro-American AS
socia ion P. Ii. Murray chairman and S
Price Williams secretary, called upon tn
President to-day and presented the fol
lowing address
To the President-The Afro-Americal
Press Association of the United States a
its recent annual session held at Cincin-
natl. Ohio selected the undersigned com
mittee to present to your EXcellency, th'
Hon. Benjamin Harrison President o
the United States, the general claims anC
Individual merits of large class O.
American citizens for representation anC
prominent positions in the Columbian
World Fair commission and also ut
suggest the proprietY and wisdom Of
selecting capable negro jurist to fill q
place on the bench OF the Federal iudici
ary
The body we represent are the young
progressive and brilliant men of the race
They have been effective in moulding
thought, elevating the masses and giving
impetus to every forward movement that
helps to make the progress of recently
enslaved people the marvel of American
civilization We desire to say on their
behalf that your broad and statesman1ike
policy, official utterances and sincere and
persistent actions in favor of impartially
protecting all classes and extending to
all alike the opportunities of enjoying
the benefits as well as bearing the bur
dens of our great government assures us
that any claim which we may present
FOUNDED UPON JUSTICE
and proprlety will meet with the earnest
consideration and hearty approval or the
Chief executive officer of the Nation.
Our National progress has been rapid
in all directions--agricult manufac-
ture, art, science, literature, and legisla-
tion-but every other phase of American
civilization is common to all christendom
except the rise of hitherto enslaved peo-
pie to freedom and civilization under the
Influence of the benign policy begun by
Abraham Lincoln and fostered and per-
petuatcd by the wise reefbods of the ad-
ministration over which you preside
Many millions in money are the value of
the products of negro labor; the wealth
OF the many great States have been Gre
oUCo Dg Ills tOIlj anu uIlt SUdJltS vi ii fdSU
region of the republic, which load our
commerce, bless our tables, and furnish
mateli ii for the factories to work are the
result of the patience and industry of the
class in whose behalf we speak.
Believing in your sincere desire to ex-
tend impartial treatment to all classes.
we respectfully invite your Excellency to
consider the propriety of placing some
one of this s.class, so peculiarly illustrative
of the Nations progress, in representa-
tive and prominent position in
CONNECTION WITH THE WORLDS FAIR
to be held in Chicago, ILL.,, in 1S93-some
one whose affinity and sympathy will in
yite the cooperation of the colored peO-
pie Of America.
In many States of the Union, as we'll as
in our National Congress, the legal status
of the American negro, and his relative
and rights in public and civil
affairs is still matter of serious discuss
ion and legislation. That he may be
clothed with power to speak for himself
with authority. that the Oldtime idea of
fair play may prevail which grants to the
peers of the accused the right to voice
In the Judgment, we beseech that you
will consider the merits of number of
able iurists, who belong to the people we
represent, in the judicial appointments
which we understand will be made in the
near future.
AS free Americans we desire nothing
that others may not claim. There is
neither merit nor demerit in race or com
plexion; but in ability, labor, patriotism,
and long and loyal service to the public
ha1
;ess. there is that to which we desire rec
ignition in the instances already suggest
I'd. 1t is not our purpose to embarrass
Tour administration by any untOWard or
mpoitic action, for it is an honorable
md patriotic ambition which impels us
@ ask that we have proper representation
n an exhibition which can present moth
ng more marked and wonderful in hu-
nan progress than the products of the
brain and muscle of a people so recently
Hoping that this presentation of the
Jews of very important body of Ameri-
an citizens may meet 0yOnr favorable
consideration, we ever pray and remain
yours,
P. Fl. Murray
H. Price Williams
Robert Pelham
j. Gordon Street
John Dancy.
Committee.
The President in response said |
hat so far as a position on the
Y Worlds Fair Commission was con-
erned there was no vacancies, and
one were to occur the alternate
would fill the place. If it became
'ossible, however, to do anything
nd the proper man was presented
le would make the appointment.
Speaking with reference to the
that a colored man be ap-
,ointed to the bench, the President
sked if the delegation had man
Who was thoroughly versed in the
avs and had arrived at that emf
~,,,c 40 xUl1 ab world