The Appeal., 1899-06-24
ADDRESS TO THE NATION
Adopted by the National AfrO-Amer-
lean Council at Washington, D.
c., Dec. 80, 1898.

In the present condition of t.. race, which
is abnormally disturbed in o., section of the
country and comparatively composed IN the
other three, it is easy to mach the conclu-
wholly through any rome method. There are
certain things which tho,e Of us who live
in the South. can accomplish, and certain
North can accomplish. We may take differ
ent methods to reach th. same ends, but the
results viii be, for the s,-nmon advantage.
os[ inc Inc Nefaa ne1ion 1ne otca conduct is
essential to the cause The Northern and
Western mind 5neeoA - ~ constantly agitateo
upon our grievances and accurately IN afermed ailes
the work Of educat VA and internal develop
ment can best be Ce!ermined and carried on
by the wise men Of US in the southern states
Rebellion to pave the way for our future
status as men and citizens in all the walks OF
life. We think that it is important that this
view Of the matter shosld not be loss sight of
we must be broad saF liberal in our policy
and Interpretation ~ he intentions. of all
members Of the rac~ 80 have e. capacity .P an3 ana
good. The vast extes~. - 'ur country and the
multiplicity Of interAaar ~nd the local preju-
dices of any sort, out41oving from phenom-
proper time for inevit,-oIA assimilation, makes
Imperative broad tAA~">tion among us of
wide difference of opntA'p as to the best ways
localities, which musr '~etermine the final
So much 81 gens1: :, .rseter nyy,,a may BE- &C, G,
cepted without sacrhsAp-' one pr1nclpies ps OF OF
repugnant to our senfsa - absolute justice,
to which we adhere "dsaout deviation or
quibble.
affirm it that there 10 a. manhood or citizen
t:tion fakaa which we do no: Claim and denial Of
which by state constitutions against which VIC
Passing from abstract statement Of senti-
ment to concrete statement OF fact, we nave
to congratulate ourselves that the race mas
all the elements of Christian morality, Of
thrift and of intelligence. There is mo con.
tention here. Friends and roes anke aamlt
it. Those who predicted that we should starve
in a condition of freedom have lived to see
us produce more and consume more than
in condition of slavery; those who prophe-
common r,pdiments of education have lived
to see us fill 200 colleges in the South with
anxious students and to supply q, 600 compe-
tent teachers in the PUBLIC scho1is OF 1nnre t1e
intendents of education passed judgment;
while our ignorant ministry has been trans
formed into one OF the strongest ana ,4Hs RGsl
and the high professions of law and medicine
and journalism have competent representa-
tves IN every @ IN anS
confidence of their fellows.
cannot be refdted, that the Afro-American
before e. in its History: that it is more hopeful.
more moral, more religious. more Intelligent;
that it has larger bank deposits, owns more
real and personal property and liyes & IN bet,
Georgia, recently expressed it in the New
York Sun. no people have ever made greater
progress in a given length Of time. Where
we W " Would W become a dependent, pauper race
in condition or freedom, we nave proved
ourselves self-sustaining race. producing
freemen to the enrichment of the commerce
of the states of the South than was ever
dreamed of in the philosophy of the slave
master We appeal TO ras efore
and since the war to sustain our contention.
We have not produced all the wealth OF the
South since the s ma aaVe produces, ,ree Ger
nan than we produced as q slave-and. in
stead of becoming public charges have be-
,ome self-sustaining and reilant cltizens; VINO
'ejoice in it and in The strength the expansion
md the glory of the republic, of which We
ire, as DR.. David Gregg, of Brooklyn, re,
n whose past achievement and present glory.
n war and in peace. we claim. by right of |
lonest labor and sacrifice and devotion, CO.
'qual share and participation
We should have to turn from the magnificent |
.ecord we have made as slaves and freemen
n peace and in war. to specific grievances
md to appeal from the injustice and fnhu-
nanity of a portion Of our fellow citizens to |
he justice and fairness and Christian char |
,reat American people. But we have to do |
TO- We do it with confidence born Of |
Christian faith and 25O years Of education in ]
~ annaa1 - ~ ,,a;., va have lived IN darLar