Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-25
WORK FORTHE NEGRO
Purpose and Aim of the Afro
American Council.
TO SECURE BETTER CONDITIONS
Political and Social Influences Now
Restricting the Race.
RAILROAD DISCRIMINATION


ject and purpose of this council and the
effort to thoroughly organize the colored
people in this country have gained cur
rency. many of them misleading and false
in their view of the matter. that an au-
thoritative statement with reasons will no
doubt be welcome. First let it be under
stood that it is not political organization.
except in so far as it can be utilized as
such to secure the main end, which is the
betterment of the condition of the colored
people. That it is not a purely political
organization is verified by the fact that
women are eligible to membership and are
expected to be powerful agencies for its
work
The aim is to get for the negro in this
country a fair and honest hearing for his
cause; to appeal to the Christian hearts
and consciences of the American people
to aid him in securing justice al all times
and in all places: to combine as far as pos
Sible in an effort to render prejudice less
harmful than heretofore; in fine. to secure
all the benefits of compact organization; to
secure if possible the enactment of law
reducing the representation in the Congress
and electoral college of such states as have
by bogus constitutions sought to deprive
American citizens of constitutional rights
and at the same time enjoying representa-
ton based upon their enumeration. I his
is so grossly unfair. unjust and dishonest
that we expect 10 enlist the active aid of
the entire country outside of those who
profit by such infamous dishonesty.
4 VOiceIess Population.
From the beginning of the government
the south has had very decided advan-
tage in the matter of representation. I'm
der the compromise adopted at the forma-
ton of the Constitution the south wanted
to count all slaves a part of the popula-
ton and claimed representation in the
government upon that basis. 1t was finally
agreed to count every five slaves as three
persons, and thus the south was able to
dominate the country for years, the power
being based upon a Voiceless population.
The south is anxious to secure that advan-
tage again The question in early times
was a burning one and came near defeat
gave rise to lengthy debate that lasted
nearly two years, and it was on this ques-
ton of apportionment that Washington
sent in his first veto message. And it was
also on this question that the Senate exer-
cised its right to amend for the first time.
v i'll the people of this country submit to
be governed by Il section of the country,
whose power rests upon fraud and voice
less population? 1t remains TO be seen.
1t is not expected that much opposition
will manifest itself i'll the south to the pro-
posed adjustment. 1t is difficult to i'm
agine upon what grounds. reason or argu-
ment the southern people can justify OPP
position. If they are not disposed TO deal
fairy with the north, east and west. Oppo-
s!tion Will disclose it, and justice Will pre-
vail, anyhow. Our remedies oft in our
selves dc lie, which we ascribe to heaven"
To Watch the Appointments.
Another aim Of the council will be to look
more carefully after those exercising the
power of appointment, and oppose the pre-
ferment of men who have taken an open
stand of hostility toward us. At present
no man of sense, no matter what his feel
ings. would openly abuse the Irish. or the
Germans, or be the author of invidious
UnfTienGly legislation toward them A man
who would manifest his prejudice by in
Producing bill curtdlling or in any man
ner restricting the rights and privileges of
the colOred race would be a marked man.
His unfriendliness would be met with
declaration Of hostility and we would re-
gard it as a distinctly unfriendly act for
any party TO in any manner recognize Of
ficially that person.
Some OF the newspapers, for their own
purpose, have striven to create the impress
sion that this movement for compact or
ganization among the colored people arises
from hostility TO the present administration,
taking the ut,erances of some of Its men,
bers for their basis. But this is not true,
and what is more to the point, this admin
istration has more than two years 20 run
and, as we are seeking justice 1t is not
likely that any considerably number of the
men on the executive committee could he
induced to do such an unjust thing as to
rsEdar a verdict on the administration be-
fore all the evidence is in. Many things
that now seem doubtful may be explained
before that time. The Presidents desire
to place under federal custody the Gene
teries containing the confederate dead is
not an act OF hostility to US as a race. In
fact, it may be a decided benefit, since the
President, by winning the esteem and
friendlfness of the south may, by advice
@ nf To ant
better conditions to us, and remove obnox-
iCus restrictions upon travel and suffrage.
Railroad Rights.
1t is so clearly 70 the interest of the
southern people to do this, that there is
good reason to believe that when the blind
ness of prejudice is cured it will be done.
At present nearly every railroad from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande is either in the
hands of receiver or is non-dividend pay
ing. And why? Because no railroad in this
country one hundred miles long can subsst
on through traffic alone. Now, there are
eight millions of cOlored people in the
southland who, by invidious legislation and
unchristian prejudice, are made to assume
a hostile attitude toward the railroads, and
patronZe til m only as a dire necessity.
For all practical purposes the roads might
as well run through a desert, since the mill
lions living along their lines are not pat
rons. Railroads in some sections are in the
habit of Offering large inducements to peo-
pie to settle along their lines, and give free
transportation for all building material 20
induce settlers to build and become patrons.
But not so in this case. Nor is it strange
that nearly all the roads are bankrupt.
Neither European nor other capital will in
vest in southern railroad bonds, since the
prospect of getting dividends under such
conditions is too remote, and as the pros
perity of the railroads stimulates every
other fern of business, their injury recess
sarly produces stagnation. The south will
ultimately see this and resolve to prevent
any persons prejudice being satisfied at
the expense OF the entire community.
The English Graded System.
The solution lies in the graduated or Eng
fish system, people paying according to
their means or intelligence. those who like
eXclusivene- paying first-cass fare, others
second or third. Nine-tenths of the colored
people would take third-class because of its
cheapnesS.
All restrictive legislation being removed