The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-04
4 Temperate Tone is Adopt ed Throughout on the
 Race Issue
LYNCHINGS ARE DISCUSSED
The Spread of Mob Violence for TrIvlal offenses Means Anarchy for the country--Sensible Advice Comes
 From a Tennessee Negro.

Louisville. Wy. July s.-The closing days session of the Afro-American coun- ell was marked chiefly by the presenta- ton of resolutions embodying an address to the country at large on the race prob lem. The address on the whole Is tenn perate In tone. After It's adoption the convention adjourned sine die. 4
 The address is in part as follows:
 We recognize with pleasure the friend ly relation that has all along existed be- tween the best people of the white race and our own, and we sincerely desire that nothing may be permitted to intervene to mar this relation. still we are confident that no one who notes carefully the signs of the times can fail to discover that there are influences at work in nearly every part of the land to accomplish this very end. Who can fail to see that the negro Is being held up to public gaze as the most objectionable and undesirable citizen that treads American soilP The ignorant, vicious criminal class 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 develop ment and uplift. We declare this stand ard of measurement to be unfair to any people.
 As to Mob Violence.
 "As to mob violence. it is gratifying to note that for the past year or two, the number of victims shows a decided de- crease. and while all these were not mem bers of our race the vast majority were. But notwithstanding this fact, we should not feel called upon to discuss the mat ter at all at this time. were 1t not that although the number of victims is de- creaslng, the variety of provocatons which lead up to this act of violence is growing more and more insignificant and numerous. 1t is not an unusual thing to read these days of negroes being lyncfseG. for lmpudence, refusing to obey, striking a white man. etc. Now we submit that lynching for any cause Is destructive of law, demoralizing, but to subject persons accused of or even guilty of such trival offences as we have indicated. to unlaw- full punishment and death. is to make the negro the marked man of the nation. For him to suffer violence for such causes will eventually involve many of our best people Even as 1t is in some sections of the country. 1t means death for a ne gro to attempt to protect members of his family. We ask in all sincerity is this American? Is 1t right? Such conditions indicate clearly a tendency to anarchy; and anarchy for the negro will terminate in anarchy for all men.
 No Plea for Raplst.
 'The number of those of our race who aEe now accused of the nameless crime against woman Is so small as compared with the total number that it Is scarcely necessary to discuss this as a distinct crime Yet we desire to say that we make no plea for any man who may be proven to be guilty of this crime Our plea is for law and the protection of the inno- cent
 Tt Is now clearly evident that the pur- pose of those who first started in ostensi- bly, to disfranchlse the ignorant negro has broadened and strengthened. Their purpose now includes all negroes. Tn cer- tain of the states this result has already been achieved and the thousands of quai- fled men are denied positively and abso- lutely the right to vote. In such states taxation without representation prevails as never it did when England held control over the American colonies We make no objection to the dsfranchisement of the ignorant negro, provided the same class of the other race is similarly dealt with. Our contention is not for special. but equal privileges"
 Looked After Rights.
 J. Madison Vance of New Orleans. who has had charge of the legal department of the council. reported that during the past year. the department had looked af- ter the interests of the negroes and in every case where his rights had been trampled on. the department had taken 1t up
 J. P Napier of Nashville. in an address this morning, said
 What the negroes want to do in this country is to make friends with the peo- pie. Passing laws will not bring about the desired result. l would feel better away from home f I knew that had the re- spect of my neighbors. who were willing to protect my family during my absence. than I would with an army a thousand miles away willing to fight for my lfe These young men who come from Bos. ton with their high notions of lfe with their bloodthirsty speeches wous make 1t better by visiting the south knowing something of the conditions oi Eotr nA tt.o