The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-07

o.
day of the Afro-American council was
marked chiefly by the presentation of
resolutions embodying an address to
the country at large on the race prob
lem. After it's adoption the convention
adjourned sine die.
The address in part, is as follows:
We recognize with pleasure the
friendly relation that has existed be.
tween the best people of the white race
and our own, and we sincerely desire
that nothing may be permitted to mar
this relation. We are confident that
no one who notes carefully the signs Of
the times can fail to discover that in
f1uences are at work in nearly every
part of the land, to accomplish tbs very
end. Who can fail to see that the negro
is being held up to public gaze as the
most Objectionable and undesirable citi.
zen that treads American soil? The ig-
nOrant vicious, criminal classes are
pointed to as the types and products Of
the race, rather than those who are
the output of the negro's best endeavors
for race development and upl:ft. We
declare this kind of measurement to
be unfair to any people.
'As to mob violence 1t is gratifying
to note that for the past year or two
the number of victims shows a decided
decrease; and while all these Were not
members of our race, the vast majo
ty was. Notwithstanding this fact, We
should not feel called upon to discuss
the matter at this time, were u not
that while the number of victims is
decreasing. the variety of proyocations
which lead up to this act of violence,
is growing more and more insignificant
and numerous. 1t is not an unusual
thing to read of negroes being lynched
for impudence, refusing to obey, strik-
ing a white man, etc. Now We submit
that lynching for any cause is destruc-
tive of any law is demOralizing but to
subject persons accused Of-even guilty
of, such trivial offences to unlawful
punishishment and death, is to make
the negro the marked man of the ma
ton; for him to suffer violence for
such causes will eventually involve
many of our best people. In some sec
tions Of the country, it means death
for negro to attempt to protect the
females of his family. We ask in all
sincerity:
'Is this American? Is it right" Such
actions indicate a tendency to anarchy,
and anarchy for the negro will termi-
nate in anarchy for all men.
The number Of those Of our race
Whs are now accused Of the nameless
crime against women is so small, COM
pared with the whole number THAI it is
scarcely necessary to discuss this as a
distinct outcome. Yet we make no
plea for any man who may be proved
guilty of this crime. Our plea is for
law and for the protection of the .nno-
cent.
1T is now clearly evident that the
purpose of those who first started os-
tensibly to disfranchise the ignorant ne
gro has been brOadened and strength
ened. Their purpose now includes almost
all negroes. In certain of the states
| this result has already been achieved
and thousands Of qualified men are de-
MED positively and absolutely the right
| to vote. In such states taxation with
| out representation prevails as truly as
| ever it did when England held control
over the American colonies. We make
| no objection to the disfranChisament of
! the ignorant negro. provided the same
| classes of the other race are similarly
| dealt with. Our contention is not for
| special but equal privileges.
| J. Madison Vance of New Orleans
| who has had charge of the legal de-
| portsment of the council reported that
] during the last year the department
| had looked after the interest OF the re-
| groes and in every case whera his
rights had been trampled on the de-
partment had taken it up.
! J. c. Napier. of Nashville. Tenn. ir
| an address said:
| What the negroes want to do n this
| country. is to make friends with the
! people. Passing laws will not bring
! about the desired result. I would fee
! better away from home if I knew that
! | had the respect Of my neighbors who
| We're willing to protect my family dur
! ing my absence. then I would with 81
! army a thousand miles away willing e
! fight for my rights. These young mer
| who come from Boston with their high
! nations of life. with their blood thirsty
speeches would make it better by visit
! ing the south. knowing something G
the condition Of their people anC
! preaching to them a gospel Of peace.
COnferrinE on Haywood Case.