The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1894-10-06
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE.
The international agitation now 90
ing on in regard to outrages committed
| upon cOlOred Americans in the South
ern states, renders imperative the OF
ganlZatIon Of the American Liberty
Defence League. In order to aid thi:
agitation, broaden and make thorough
ly effective the work of the Interna
tional Committee already appointed tC
investigate the matter, this League is
formed.
The work which the League has un.
dertaken is:
1st To encourage and assist Miss Ida
b Wells in her anti-lynching crusade
by seiZing the opportunity while public
attention is directed to the subject to
keep some one in the field to agitate and
emphasize our demand for justice.
End. To publish necessary literature
and statistics for distribution.
3rd. To keep detectives in the field to
investigate every Jynching, get the Ne
gro side Of the stories, and the real
facts for our English friends, our
Northern sympathizers, and for our
selves to employ counsel to defend
those charged with heinous offences,
and secure the conviction and punish
ment of those who participate in lynch
ings.
OUR DUTY.
Never since the agitation of the abo-
litiOn OF American slavery has there
been period fraught with such serious
consequences, as now confront the
friends Of humanity and believers in
free government, as is nov involved in
the issue before the American people,
raised by the Anti-S0uthern-O Outrage
Crusade an issue with which the
American people must deal and settle
once for all. The abOminable cruelties
of mob law aud lynching have become
National problems. and it seems that
the time has come when every good cit
izen must enter his protest against the
exhibition Of this violent barbarity, as
sert themselves, exert their best en-
deavor to maintain the dignity and ma
jesty of the law, and demonstrate to
the civilized world that the American
Government is in reality a government
OF the people, by the people, and for the
people, and for all tie people.
THE END IN VIEW.
To the end that this agitation may be
conducted i'll such way as that full
light may be thrown upon all the facts
Involved, we propose to org sniZe around
the League sustaining constituency to
do the proper work. For instance
Two colored men, near Alexandria,
Virginia, were charged with the criGe
of assault on two white women. They
were arrested and placed on trial /; the
case was prejudged by the community,
and mob of armed men organized to
overaWe the court and jury, and deny
to the accused the right of fair trial,
The State militia were ordered out to
convey the two colored men to and from
the courthouse, the result was the eX-
ecution Of the men without any legal
evidence OF their guilt. All this hap
pened under the very shadow of the
National Capital. If the American
Liberty Defence League bad been in
the case, instead of being one
of local colOr-line-Democrat
would have assumed national propor-
lions; a fair trial secured to the ac-
cused the ablnst legal ability at the
Northern bar would have been en-
Dloyed to defend the men; reporters
from the Metropolitan press especially
would have been present.
Able and experienced detectives. thor |
Dughly skilled in ferreting out all hid |
len motives and facts in regard to |
crime, would have been employed to as !
certain the character of the women !
who were the accuSerS, whether o. not /
hey were professional harlUts: the
character of the house they kept the |
'requenters of that house if they were |
intimate with any members |
If the armed mob, etc., etc. With such |
IN exhibition of legal vigilance i'll pro- !
ecting The HELPLESS, the Virginia affair |
would i'll all probability have turned |
'ut very different. The purpose of this
league is to apply all over the South |
he principles and policy of such vigi-
ant and tirelesS activity us to render |
he repetition of The Virginia infamy
THE POLITICAL PHASE.
The League also proposes IL furnish
testimony, that, while al
owing for the ferocity born of the spirit
f slavery, nevertheless, the animating /
aotiVe and significance of these South
III outrages is Political. The political
lotive and incentive to these Outraces
oes not embrace merely local politics
does not mean alone the election of
color-line" Justice of the Peace, color
ne sheriff, color line educational COM
littee. color Lille members of the legis
lture, color llue governors and like To-
al and State ofiicers,-it embraces the
hole field OF national political action.
t embraces 159 solid votes in the cleo
oral college. 1t embraces a color line
,gislative majority in both branches of
on.ress 1t embraces a color line
resident OF the United States. 1t en-
races solid South representation as
lch in his cabinet. 1t embraces a rep
in the United States Su-