The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-09-02
RESOLUTIONS.


RESOLUTIONS.
The Afro-American council in con-
vention assembled, recognizing the grave
crisis which this country has reached
and desiring, with all good citizens, the
highest welfare of this our common
fatherland, recommends and Endorses the
following resolutions: '""
Resolved, That it is the duty of the
United States government to see that the
life and property of it's citizens are not
taken from them without due process OF
law, and to this end we shall tsolemnly
demand such national and constitutional
legislation as shall at least secure as
great protection from mob violence to
American citizens as is today afforded
citizens of foreign countries resident
here We affirm that the widespread
crime of lynching and intimidating per-
sons accused of lawbreaking, without af-
fording them judge, jury or legal trial, is
an aoffense against civilization which de-
mands punishment, and we believe that
it lies in the power of congress to en-
act such repressive legislation as shall
prevent justice in America from becom-
ing byword and a mockery. 49,
Resolved, That we deeply deplore the
prevalence of crime in this land. AL
though we do not believe crime among us
is more usual than might justly be ex-
pected under the circumstances yet we
recognize the necessity of making it far
less frequent than it is, and we heartily
condemn the thief, the despoiler OF
homes and the degrader Of womanhood,
be he white or black, high or low.
Resolved, That the attitude of trades
unions and nearly all forms of organized
labor toward Afro-American working
men is both shortsighted and cruel The
divine right to work ought not to be
taken from a people who have already
had so many rights stripped from them.
We recommend that a committee be ap-
pointed to wait upon the labor leaders
and the National Industrial commission
and seek by every effort to bring about
between white and Afro-American labor
ers that spirit of fraternity and coop
Grafton which is to the best interests OF
both.
Resolved, That we are heartily grieved
that the president of United States and
those in authority have not from time tt
to time used their high station to voice
the best conscience of the nation In re.
gard to mob violence and the fair treat
ment of justly deserving men. 1t is not
right that American citizens should be
despoiled of life and liberty while the
nation looks silently on, or that soldiers
who, with conspicuous bravery, Offer
their lives for the country should have
missal from the army.
Resolved, That we especially recon
mend that Afro-Americans enter into
business life and seek to become fac
tors in the industrial development o;
America, and this council desires espe
cially to extend to mechanics, merchant:
and inventors all possible aid and en-
couragement.
Resolved That the determination oil
some persons to base the right of suf
frage in the South on race rather thar
on intelligence and property is dangerous
and un-American and bound to bear bit
ter fruit in the future, and we sincerely
trust that the good sense of the nation
and, the wisdom of it's officers of justice
will prevent the further progress of this
fatal plan. t +EAs&
Resolved, That since we and ou1
fathers and our fathers fathers were
born on American soil, have taught an6
bled for American liberty and have toll
ed for American wealth, it is just ani
proper that we should enjoy the rights
and share the duties of American citi
zens, and we declare it to be our un
alterable resolution to strive by al
power and manly means to vindicate
our privileges and fulfill our duties right
here in the land of our birth.