Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-29
JAW AND ORDER. Colored Ministers Address the
 Voters of Their Race TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY We Must Look for Protection in Our Equal Rights Be-
 fore the Law
BIRMINGHAM, July 2S, 1894.

To the Colored Voters of the State of Ala
 bama:
 The undersigned ministers of the various
 colored churches in the city of Birming-
 ham and it's vicinity, feeling that the pres- ent political contest is one of the greatest
 importance to the people of both races, and
 that the security and prosperity of both
 races depends upon the cooperation of
 both in the effort 10 obtain good govern
 ment, addressed 10 MT. II. F. DeBardele-
 ben tbe following communication: ITO MT. H. r. DeBaruelebeu, mingham, Ala.---
 "DEAR SIR: The colored ministers of this city have had a conference among themselves for the purpose of taking into
 consideration the present condition of our
 race in Alabama, the relations of the race to local politics as they now exist and the best measures for us to pursue for the ame- Iteration of that condition; and, inasmuch as you have urged upon several of us that the best interests of our race will be pro- noted, our lives, liberties and rights of
 properties best protected by the success of the democratic party in the coming August
 election, we beg herewith to submit to you the result of our conference.
 We ask not for money-we scorn it in this connection--we come not for personal aggrandizement, we come not for notorlety, we come not seeking social equality, but
 we come earnestly seeking protection and a living chance in the race of life for our peo- pie.
 We have experienced in the past, in many
 instances, acts of oppression, insult aud abuse on account of our color which, If
 known to them, the better element of the white people, we feel assured, would de-
 nounce as u D just and un merited.
 Far be it from us to knock at your doors for social equality, or 10 claim at any point, under any circumstances, anywhere, to be associated with you, but we do most earnestly request and demand equal pro- lection of our rights before the law. Notwishing to~hurden you with speciti- cations of our wrongs, we herewith submit to you, and through you to the democratic party of Alabama, the following as the re- suit of our conference:
 Whereas, I he politics and policy of gov
 ernnent of country contribute largely to
 the industrial, moral and religious develop
 ment of the people, and
 Whereas, The condition of the col ored people of this country demands
 such aid from men and parties as will help them upward in the scale of manhood and true citizsnship, and
 Whereas, The maintenance of good gov ernnent depends upon the election of good
 men, with broad and liberal views, and ex- alted ideas of the rights of man and of equal justice to all citizens before the law, and with moral courage 10 make and enforce wholesome laws, regardless Of race, color or condition placing merit and intelligent and useful citizenship as the proper standard. Therefore, we ask of any men or party seeking our support, the following things for ourselves, our women and our chil- dren:
 1. We ask that the law requiring equal and separate accom- modations on railroads be enforced, and that, in travelling, our people be freed from intrusion upon us of convicts and other disreputable characters. We ask this because, as we believe and re- | gret to say, there is not railroad company | in Alabama which regards this law, so far as it affects our race. In many places, | either no closets are provided in the sittn g l rooms at stations, or both sexes are com | peled to use the same closet.
 | 2. We ask that like punishment be given l like offenses. To send negro to the pen - | itentiary for larceny ana to acquit a white | man of murder is a license to crime. and can only result in disorder, and is a con . | stant menace 10 good order and the enforce nent cf the law.
 8. Wo ask the enactment and enforce- ment of laws protecting our poor women {, l weak in intellect, weak in undeveloped | moral force and weak in their poverty, | from the ravages of the licentious, white or black. ~ 4. Hedging ourselves at all times to do | all in our power to enforce the law and | maintain peace and order, we request that | the people of our race be protected in their HVeS ana person In the eXefclSe or our l right to labor in any position for which | our moral and mental capacities may fit us. And now say to you that we will stand l firmly by that man or party, yea, take the | rostrum in every county in Alabama for ! that man or party who will guarantee unto | us these righteous and fundamental rights | and humane protection. William Walker, Bessemer, Ala; A A Williams, Patton, Ala; L j Green, secre- | tary, Elyton, Ala; T L Jordan, Birming | ham, Ala; T W Coffee, presiding elder, chairman; " c Banton, Birming ham |, Ala, E N Thomas, Rosedale, Ala; B E Williams, T W Walker, J W White, w B Lewis, s l. Groves, B Crawford, Birming- ham, Ala; G H Hamilton, Thomas, Ala; H Warrick, Pratt City, Ala; A w Will son, Isbkooda, Ala; R Gray, North Bir- mingham, Ala.
 To that communication we have this day received the following replies BIRMINGHAM, Ala, July 28, 1884. Rev. T, w. Coffee, Chairman, Meeting of the
 Colored Ministers, Birming ghan, Ala.-
 DEAR SIR: l wish to express my sincere
 thanks for the prompt manner in which so
 large proportion of the colored ministers
 of the Birmingha district have responded
 to my request to meet ne and discuss the