Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-14
NEGRO APPEAL
ADOPTED BY
CONGRESS
PUBLIC DECLARATION READ
SUNDAY NIGHT AT PIEDMONT
PARK BEFORE $4,000 EN-
THUSIASTIC PEOPLE.

THUSlASIlC rEUPLE.
The pubHc declaration OF the congress
TO the world was read by Prof ]. r.
Hawkins. secretary OF education OF the
A. NJ E church. This declaration was
listened 70 attentively by the vast au-
dTence and was received with great en-
thusiasm and applause. The declaration
was framed by the board OF directors, OF
which Bishop Gaines Is president, and
was kept secret until Il was read at the
meeting Sunday night. IL Is a strong expo
meeting last night IL is a strong expo
negro race. The declaration Is as fol-
lows:
.sThe Negro Young Peoples Christian
and Educational Congress having been
called for the purpose OF considering the
moral. religious. educational and material
condition OF our people. sends its greet
fnEs to all the various types OF racial
blood and lineage which in the aggregate
constitute cur national life. We join with
you IL the hope that our nation, true 70
God and true 10 humanity, the grandest
republic upon which the sun has ever
sh0ne. shah become more and more under
the leadership OF men who fear God and
work righteousness. and TO this end,
We pledge anew our hearts devotion and
our LIES best energies.
s'Our purpose here has been 20 deal with
ali the problems which confront the re-
more especially 70 deal with those prob
lens that are ESSENTIALLY the Negroes. and
Which. in this very nature OF the case.
must be virtually solved by him While
on the one hand we have had wrongs and
grievances many on the other hand we
have had opportunities and privileges IN
Vulnerable and we are deeply convinced
that TO show ourselves worthy OF the
latter IS infinitely better than 70 permit
ourselves TO be weakened and discouraged
by the former.
whatever OF burdens we may stu have
20 bear. OF wrongs which we may still
have 20 endure. OF adjustments which
are yet 20 be made. we throw ourselves
upon the justice and fair play OF the
American people. north and south. and
declare our unreserved conviction that IN
the end Il win prevail.
consequently 20 work OF making our
selves worthy OF present opportunities
and obligations growing out Of them,
rather than 20 plead our wrongs and
grievances. we deliberately and resolutely
turn our attention
Unparalleled Growth.
The growth OF the negro since eman-
cipatiou Is unparalleled. From four and
one-half millions a generation ago we are
now ten millions. and this without the
aid OF immigration In spite Of the theo-
rists and their theories.( both before and
after emancipation. we have shown our
material growth has not been quite so
marked as our numerical growth. yet the
results are highly satisfactory and en-
couraging.
"A generation ago we came out OF bond
age without a foot OF land. without a
home. without a name. Oven the clothes
which covered our poorly-ciad bodies were
not ours. Today we have some land,
some homes and some money. Yesterday
we had nothing. today we own millions
OF acres OF land and pay taxes on prop
erty worth millions OF dollars and raise
more cotton under freedom than under
slavery. These facts show conclusively
that the negro Is frugal and industrious
and Is constantly growing into the ma
tsriaI and economic life OF the nation
Intelligent Advancement.
Many problems regarding the mental
ability OF the negro have been solved
II Is no longer q question as 20 whether
The evident purpose IN some respects 10
meet objection and answer theories is re-
sponsfble for some OF the errors IN our
educational methods which in the begin
ming were made. Now. after years Of ex-
perience. we have pleasure IN being able
20 say that our educational methods are
both practical and effective. While much
has been accomplished IN the intellectual
development OF the people, candor compels
US 70 admit that much yet remains 10
however. that more agencies are at work
for his Intellectual uplift than ever be-
fore Nearly s0.Oo0 young colored men
and women. 1Soo0 OF whom hold diplomas
have been prepared and sent forth as
Christian teachers.
THE success already achieved warrants
the hope that a better day Is beginning
10 dawn upon US. With the view OF pro-
noting our material interest and in
creasing the numbers OF opportunities
10 earn q livelihood. we earnestly recon-
mend 20 our people throughout the coun-
try that they teach their children the
dignity and value OF manual labor, and
that they give them the benefit OF an in
dustrfal education which will enable
them 10 enter the worlds industries with
as much knowledge. skill and dexterity
as members OF other races possess.
That for the purpose OF securing COM
petent men and women TO lead the race
in its struggle for greater knowledge,
purer character. better religion, nobler
manhood and wOmanhoOd, and larger
accumulation OF wealth. we must en-
courage the higher education OF our boys
and girls. That we extend our gratitude
20 al OF our friends. whether they live
in the north or in the south. I'm Europe
or IN America. for the help which they
have thus far given US IN the great work
OF uplifting our people. and judging from
the results which have already been &C
complished we feel that we can safely
assure them that whatever help they may
give US in the future will not be given
in vain. for our highest aspiration is not
that OF the anarchist 20 destroy; not
that Of the master. 10 dominate. but
rather that Of the brother 10 Cooperate
with our fellow-countryman In building
upon this continent civilization which
VIII recognize in practice as well as in
theory the fatherhoOd OF God and the
brotherhood OF man.
Moral Status.
while there Is stin room for a better
and higher moral life among US. yet I'M
mistakable evidences Of a purer home
and individual life are most gratifying.
Open concubinaEe has almost entirely
disappeared and similar immoral ten
denotes bequeathed us by the past are
happily passing away. In fixing our
moral status we ask you as a matter Of
fair play DO not judge us by our worst
as has 50 often been done. but rather by
our best While we are labOring earnest
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