The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-07-19

n,srory OF the negro In this country has
been as peculiar as is his condition It has
been subject OF discussion from the year
of his Introduction In 1920, without his CON
sent, until the present time, and all legislation
since his residence has been enacted against
him without his leave or approval. The negro
has always been loyal to this country ana
has been fighting its battles from 1778 on
Boston: Common until the present time. and
the race feels that 1t has q right to expect
the same recognition and protection from the
state and the federal government accorded
to other citizens under like circumstances.
The battles for liberty never go backward.
and as valuable as were the truths OF the
Declaration of Independence, the emancIpa-
lon proclamation was necessary to give It
emphasis and give liberty to the slave.
Since the emancipation Of the slaves and the
adoption of the three war amendments to the
Federal Constitution considerable progress has
been made in the intellectual, moral social
and material condition of the Afro American,
and in this effort they have had the substan-
tfal sympathy, assistance and encourage
and still retain it, of by far majority Of
the American citizenship; antagonism to us
as a man and citizen having been and
being confined to a small but insistent, per-
sistent and resourceful minority of our fellow
citizens. &H4 @s ta:5sis&.$s w ~
Progress in Education
The Importance Of education has always
been appreciated. and the illiteracy Of the
race has been steadily reduced, and a new
thirst for education created, until to-day there
are upward of 300 colleges and academies es-
tablished in this country for the scholastic
education of the negro, and more than 5000
students are taking their courses. Besides
N;hools with $4,000 teachers and $1,000 900
pupils Certainly this should be regarded as
sufficient evidence of our desire to obtain
proper intellectual equipment for the high
duties of American citizenship. l.; z.s'"F !
The church has gone side by side with the
school In the work Of uplifting the people.
and as consequence more than one-half Of
our people are members of some church, and
give support and encouragement to its enter
prses. These churches have aided wonder
fully in the making of good citizenship, and
people who serve God and love their neigh
Dor cannot be a menace to good government or
good morals. t9r#a* Er. ~ 500 t+E sE%
AS much as education and religion are neces-
sary, we advise the race to encourage and fos-
ter business enterprises, for the vast OF
money earned and spent annually by members
of the race, If judiciously handled, could be-
come a mighty lever in making for the race
| that bettermeent in its condition which wins
for them the respect and confidence Of man
kind. The congested population in many Of the
large cities of the country and the failure to
take sup large tracts Of unoccupied lands, sug-
gest that our people, in changing residence,
take up these lands and establish colonies, as
has been done in some sections, and not emf
crate to the large cities where conditions are
not favorable to the improvement of the race
along moral and healthful lines. A homeless
people is thriftless people, and to that end
every good citizen should endeavor to earn his
own home and to make 1t comfortable as
his means and condition will allow, and make
this home his castle, which should have and
deserve his. defense and protection. Many
friends have given the race encouragement by
giving its members employment in Industrial
and commercial lines, for which are pro-
toundly grateful, and without which we could
not have made the advancement that has been
ours to achieve, and Of which we are proud
Protest Against Disfra mel isem emit.
Despite the progress made along all lines. and
the removal of objections to the exercise Of the
franchise on account of the acquisition of edu-
cation and alth, the disposition to. dsfran-
chlse the race by legislative or constitutional
enactments seems to be on the increase in some
sections Of our country. This Is indeed poor
encouragement for the sacrifices we have
made in the equipping Of ourselves for good
citlzensh1p. We do not object to any reason
able qualification for the exercise of the suf-
rage, but We do insist that the requirements