The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-07-05
BLACKS DEMANDS.
Platform Of Principles Of the Ma
tional Oolored Convention.
THEY URGE SIMPLE JUSTICE

The Interests OF the CoIored People
+ Demand the Establishment of q
Military Academy for the Edu-
cation of Colored Youth-Colored
Officers for Colored Troops.
CNoINNATI, July .. : The national
conference Of colored citizens, before
final adiournmenr, adopted the follow.
ing platform of principles:
"The colored people of this country Ore
American citizens, and, like all others
who have been called by that name, Ore
entitled to protection in all their rights,
and to the privileges and responsibility
conferred upon them by law. We ssk
for them no more than this.
"They and their fathers have been lin
the land for century or more. They
have been contributors to the wealth
and progress of the country. They have
no other abiding place, nor Is any other
possible. Their fate is bound up with
the history Of this country and no
power on earth can decree separation.
"Their welfare is the welfare of the
country. However much they may be
made to suffer, 1t will still be true in
the future, as 1t h1s.s been in the past,
that oppression and wrong do more "a
jury to the oppressor than to the Vic
tim. The recent history of our cousi-
try teaches this lesson with an en-
phasis and distinctness that ought to
be conclusive.
1.-THE colored people are not withcpt
reasons for appealing to the justice is
well as the generosity of the couRtrt.
They wrought out a material portion bf
the nations wealth by two hundrsd
years Of unrequitted toll. They astoh-
ished the world by their gentlenSs
under extreme provocation, and by re-
fusing to seek revenge in times Of the
weakness of their oppressors. Thsy
entered Upon their freedom destitute bf
all things except the habit Of labor and
the practice Of obedience; destitute If
education, which lis boasted as the u
heritance Of every American child; bf
training for the free and fierce com
petition which inevitable with the keen
est and strongest race of men; of PROP
erty, though their labor had created
millions of wealth, and of homes, though
they had builded thousands Of homes
for others.
''In their. behalf we do not even ask
forbearance, but justice and opportuh-
ity. They made fattering progress IN
education, thrift and economy and In
every promise of good citizenship. "A
b "While we desire office and pubic
employment, there are greater grieF-
ances that we desire to have righted
than the denial of these. Most OF all
we ask for them security in those rights
which since July ID, 1776, this nation
has not ceased to proclaim inalienable--
hfe,s ,sliberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness. This formula, SO often and 80 sol
emnly repeated, 80 generally approved
and applauded, is the condemnation OF
murders, OF mobs, of unfairness and
fraud, Of the whole round of wrongs
which we deplore and against which
we protest.
1--WE appeal to the American people
In the imperial name of justice. TIE
problem to be solved is not negro
problem. The so-called negroes are
scarcely one-tenth of the people of this
country. They are powerless to solve
any problem, but they may again be the
victims Of the nations injustice, and
the occasion of the nations condemne-
tion.
"It was an illustrious Judge who said
God and one man are a majority 1t
was Thomas Jefferson who said: Il
tremble when | remember that God Is
just, and that He has not one attribute
that can take part with the master
against the slave
.'iWe ask nothing in behalf Of colored
people except the right 10 eat the bread
our own hands have earned, to dwell
safely in our own homes, to pursue our
vocations In peace, to be granted fair
and equal opportunity in the race Of
life, to be protected under the law and
to be Judged according to the law.
m rvNtN ~ ..,.la
and violence, against robbery and ex!
tortion, against hasty and cruel judg-
rnents, against fierce hepbs that outrage
our people and desol62s their homes.
"We appeal to the colored people in
every part of our land to bear in Inind
that their prosperity and advapcement
in civil rights and political influence
will depend upon themselves; that the
consideration given them will be in pro,
portion to their own good conduct and
approved good character. For this rea-
son we appeal to them to practice indus
try, that they may prove their own ca
pacity to sustain themselves; to practice
economy and sobriety, that they may
out of their own savings secure a fair
measure of Independence; to be patient
and respectful orderly, law abiding and
honest, that they may win the reputa,
tion of desirable neighbors and good
citizens, and commend themselves to
the good opinion of all by blameless
life. These virtues will speedily dispel
prejudice and secure every civil right.
"That the interests of the colored
people require the establishment of d
military academy where colored youth
may acquire thorough tactical and en-
gineering education.
"That the numbers. wealth and power
of the patriotic colored people Of the
country are inadequately represented
unless colored troops are commanded BY
colored officers.
"That the colored factor in national
glory and agreement would be more
affected both in Peace and war by hav-
ing a body of skilled colored officers aud
gentlemen residents in the colored cen
tres of population.
THAT the reasonable ambition Of
colored youth should be gratified in this
particular.
"That Washington city is the best
suited for the location of such an in
stitution of learning and that this pro-
ject is respectfully submitted to thb
thoughtful consideration OF the loyal
and patriotic people of the United
States"