The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-03-04
ADDRESS TO THE NATION
Adopted by the National >AfrO-Amer-
lean Council ut Washington, p.
c., Dec. 80, 1898. ~. j., r


is abnormally disturbed in one section Of the
country and comparatively composed in the
other three, it Isl 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 live
in the South can accomplish, and certain
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-
ahd tSe %
Western mind needs to be constantly agitateo,
upon our grievances and accurately informed
to r. nature ana e4de IN me
ment can best be- determined 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 or
life We think that it is important that thu
view Of the matter should not be Ices sight OF
for moment. w..
We must be broad and liberal in our policy
and Interpretation or the intentions OF all
| members of the race who have capacity ana
probity; and who are WORKING TOR the geae 4;aa
multiplicity of interests and the local preju-
dices of any sort, outgrowing from phenom-
| email ethnic differentiations which must have
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 hnal
| result for veal or woe.
| So much of general character may be ac-
cepted without sacrificing one principle or
manhood or citizen right, for tnat woui Il,I De
! repugnant to our sense of absolute justice,
! to which we adhere without deviation OF
| bubble.
| AS a fair statement Of our 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 den1al 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 mas
| everywhere grown stronger and stronger in
! all the elements of Christian moranty, OF
thrift and Of intelligence. There Is MO con.
! tention here. Friends and foes alike ADMIT
it. Those who predicted that we should starVe
in a condition of freedom have lived to see
sled that we were incapable Of mastering the
ae Ed n lion oth WIN
anxious students and to supply Z5,VVO comPe-
! tent teachers in the public schools Of the
South; upon whose competency WINK is'd supet.
while our Ignorant ministry has been trans
formed into one Of the strongest and most
intelligent forces Tor gooa IN the rep%ncGe;
and journalism have competent representa-
tives in every considerable comeaunity in the
republic, which command the respect and
We affirm it as a matter Of fact. which
cannot be refuted, that the Afro American
race is stronger and better today than ever
before in its history that II Is more hopeful
that it has larger bank deposits, owns more
real and personal property. and lives in bet
Georgia. recently expressed It in the New "
York Sum- no people have. ever made greater
progress in given length Of time. Where
we would become dependent, pauper race
in a condition or freedom, we have proved
| ourselves a self sustaining race, producing
eee TO the Of
Of the states Of the South than was ever
dreamed Of in the philosophy Of the slave
ton ana cereal ana mine9a production before
and since theNwa~ to sustain our contention.
We have, not produced all the wealth of the
Vastly
| man than we produced as a slave-and, in
stead Of becoming public charges have be
come self-sustain:ng and reliant citizens. who
rejoice in It and in the strength the expansion
and the glory of the republic. of which we
Gently ee - amed among ts s fs@iea
| In whose past achievement and present glory.
in war and in peace, we claim, by right OF
equal share and participation.
/ 1t seems to us strange and unnatural that
| we should have to turn from the magnificent
i IecOFu we nave made aS slaves and freemeD.
in peace and in war, to specific grievances
which 60 at the very roots Of our citizenship
and to appeal from the injustice and inhu.
m ma of portion Of our fellow citizens t.
ity Inherent in the heart and the soul Of the
great American people. But we have to dc
90 s i NTH 20 ys4. 81 sSsa
American law and precedent that we shall
not appeal In vain. We have lived in darker
hours than those; of today; We have seer
4 american justice and fair play 60 through
a-e aud death and devastation and come out
purified by the faith that OXIDES in the Col
again: Our optimism = 40 expansive a
American love of 1ustice and fair play And
when properly appealed to- when properly
J aroused. we do not heiieve that the world