The Appeal., 1899-02-11
ADDRESS TO THE NATION on,
Adopted by the National Afro-Amer-
lean Council at Waslntngton, d.
c., Dec. 80, 1895. sss. sss..

In the present condition of the race, wh.ch
IS apnormaiiy disturbed in one section of the
country and comparatively composed in the
| other three, it is easy to reach the conclu-
sion that we cannot arrive at the desired ends
wholly through any one method. There are
certain things which those of us who five
IN the South can accomplish, and certain
other things which those of us who live in the
North can accomplish. We may take differ
ent methods to reach the same ends, but the
results will be for the common advantage
In the North the work of agitation, Of pre-
test and petition and of political conduct is
Western mind needs to be constantly tagitated
upon our grievances and accurately informed
as to their nature and extent. In the South
ment can best BE determined and carried on
by the wise mehof US In the Southern states
who have done. sp much since the War OF the
rebellion to pave the way for our future
status as men and citizens in all the walks of
life. We thinksthat it is important that this
view of the matter should not be lost sight of
We must be Broad and liberal in our policy
and Interpretation of. the intentions of all
members of the race who have capacity and
probity. and wto are working for the general
good. The vast extent of our country and the
multiplicity of interests and the local preju-
dices Of any sort, outgrowing from phenom-
proper time for inevitable assimilation, makes
imperative a broad liberation among us of
wide difference of opinion as to the best ways
and means to secure the best results in given
localities, which must determine the final
result for weal(or woe,
So much of general character may be ac-
cepted without sacrificing one principle OF
manhood or citizen right, for that would be
repugnant to our sense of absolute justice,
to which we adhere without deviation or
quibble
AS a fair statement of cur convictions we
affirm it that there is no manhood or citizen
right guaranteed to us by the federal consti-
tition which we do not claim and denial of
which by state constitutions against which we
do not protest.
Passing from abstract statement of senti-
ment to concrete statement of fact we have
to congratulate ourselves that the race has
everywhere grown stronger and stronger in
all the elements of Christian morality, of
thrift and Of Intelligence. There IS no CON
tentiOn here. Friends and foes alike admit
it. Those who predicted that I'VE should starve
in condition of freedom have lived to see
us produce more and consume more than
in a condition of slavery; those who prbphe-
sled that we were incapable Of mastering the
common rudiments of education have lived
to see us, fill 200 colleges in the South with
anxious students and to supply 25,0 900 compe-
tent teachers in thef public schools OF the
South upon whose competency white super
intendents of education passed judgment;
formed into one of the strongest and most
Intelligent forces for good in the republic,
and and the high professions Of law and medicine
tives IN every considerable community in the
of their fellows.
cannot be refuted. that the Afro-Amer:can
race ds stronger and better today than, ever |
before in It's history; that it is more hopeful,
that It has larger bank deposits, owns more |
real and personal property. and lives in bet I
seorea s e1mea recenfv AZ exG9y !nre.a Bullock
York Sun, no people have ever made greater
was confidently expected and predicted that
1e would cond,t,es become dependent pauper race
ourselves self sustaining race, producing
more cotton and corn and other wealth as
reemen J. 70 the enrica11nent Of the commerce
Of in the philosophy OF the slave
Master. We appeal to the statistics of COT
on and cereal and mineral production before
Ye = have not produced all the wealth Of the
outh since the war--we have produced our
onest share produced vastly more as a free
asal, aan than we produced as q slave-and, in
ome sell H-sustaining and reliant citizens. who
mare IN the wealth We have produced and
e5oice G in u and in the strength the expansion
re-. as Dr.. David Gregg, of Bropk1vn res +
ently affirmed. among the first families and
whose VIZ past achievement and present glory.
onest sar ah aha ~ peace. We claim, by right Of
oual snare, and participation 80
y seems to us strange and unnatural that s
q q should nave to turn from the magnificent b
ecord we have made as slaves and freemen
! peace and In wa., to specific grievances
men go at the very roots OF our icitizensl,in
az % appeal from the injustice and inIlpI,
1e Justice and fairness and Christian Char.
y inherent in the heart and the sonI ~ the |
1eas 1ssz M american people. But we have to do
hristian faith and $50 years of educaainn s in 2.
g merican Law and precedent that We shall
ot appeal In vain. We have lived IN 1srEa. 4 III
ouls5 tnan those q today; We have se.n