The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-27

| are black. for some negroes who are ha
| ed have blond hair and blue eyes and the
| are SO fair that they can hardly be dis
tinguished from the pure whites, yet this
class OF negro Is sufferer In common
with the blackest; all that Is needed for
them to be Disseminated against is for
IL to be known that they have drop of
negro blood in their veins. Some years
ago 1t was thought that as the negroes
| became intelligent and cultured this race
preJudice would disappear, But, alas, In
some sections of the country it has only
intensified this feeling.
1.-THE passing of the Jim Crow car
laws in several Of the Southsrnt states;
| the Acknowledgement OF negroes regard :
less of qualification; the shutting out OF
them from hotels, restaurants and places
of amusement, are all manifestations OF
race hatred. We are censured ns race
for not exhibiting manly qualities and
we are considered 'impudent niggers, IL
we presume to assert our manhood. we
are truly between the upper and neither
mill stone. have come to the conclu-
sion that nothing but manly resistance
upou the part OF the Afro-Americans
them selves, will stop the atrocities. Pres
ident Mckinley and the Federal govern
msnt have shown themselves impotent
to convict the murderers of federal offic-
ials. The governors of certain states In
the South have acknowledged their ina
"ln the name OF Almighty God, what
are we 10 do but fight and die?
at Is sometimes claimed that the lead
ers of the negro race do not condemn
these crimes; that 1t mistake. There
is no set of people who so much deplore
crime of all kinds as the leaders OF our
race. Churches, conferences and associ-
ations have been passing resolutions for
years coDdemning the criminals Of our
race and have especially deprecated the
crime of rape. We have pledged ourselves
in race organizations and ecclesiastical
councils to do all In our power to improve
the morals of our people; but we are
forced to confess that the example set us
by the whiteskof Palmetto Is not OF the
most encouraging character.
alt is rather amusing to intelligent
Afro-A mericans TO read in the great
dailies and weeklies OF our country. OF
the Americans giving to the Cubans and
Filipinos an equitable and beneficent
government when they are powerless to
even secure life and liberty to their cit
izens at home.
"Ihe greatest problem Of America to-
day is not the currency question, nor her
colonial possessions, but how to avoid
the racial war ut home. You cannot for.
ever keep the negro out of his rights.
Slavery made coward of him: for $50
years he was taught to fear the white
man, but he is rapidly emerging from
such slavish fear and ere long Will con-
tend for his rights as bravely as any 9TH
er man.
cone of two things must be done in
order to avoids trouble. The negro must
be treated fairly or furnished with suffic-
lent money 10 return to the land from
whence his ancestors were stolen. 1t
would be burning shame on the boast.
ed Christian civilization of America to
be obliged to confess before the nations
of the world that she was unable to
overcome her prejudice against the negro
and therefore expatriated him.
1.-The first suggestion, that OF fair play,
Is the Just one, and If those in authority
and the press and pulpit would cease
to cater to prejudice, but speak out bold
ly for equal Justice for all American ,iti-
zeus, this could re easily accomplished.
"Ihose who speak tlippantly OF our ex-
termination will lind when that work
Is begun that all the white people OF
America will not be against the negro
any more than they were during the
Civil war.
why will not the intelligent ard
far seeing white people call halt to
these inJustices before it is too later
Have they so soon forgotten the history of
the past. 1t was the policy of ooncili
alton and the condoniDg of the sir, n,ofslav-
cry that led to the loss of so much blood
and treasure. Well did Thomas jefferson
say before the conflict in speaking of the
injustice of whites towards the black:
Il tremble for the future OF my country
when l remember that God is just.
"lhe first Sunday in June has been
set apart as day of fasting and prayer
to Almighty God for aid in this hour of
distress by the bishops of the colored Me-
| thodist churches ana ministers Of other
colored denominations throughout the
country.
1--WE appeal 30 all white ministers and
| Christians who believe in fair play to
| unite with us in our petition.