The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-04-25
The National Afro-Ameriean Council
ADDRESS TO THE COUNTRY.

It is evident to the thoughtful among
us that we are passing through one OF tne
most critical periods OF our our mmeateiy
concern the liberty and well being OF one
eighth of the United States and scarcely
to less degree the whole populat1o1l VI 'tie nc
country are pressing for treatment as
never before. The recorded experience o.
mankind teaches that in public matters
the equality Of each is, the surest guar
members of society. If it be true that the
country can not endure half free and
half slave it follows as a necessary corol-
With safety be divided, in nearly equal
parts into voters and nOn-voters:
A Systematic effort has been maugu u =
ated on the part Of the SCUM "Illci f mas
chise from the Afro Americans OF tnat
| section and their reduction to- position
Of absolute subserviency in al! the rela,
| lions of life. Even college graduates ana
men Of business and wealth have been
denied the right OF franchise. 1t mas oeell
! openly declared by some o2 ~: iIost
PROMINENT leaders OF the Sonem s ne +h 10
new constitutions to disfrar chise as many
| Afro Americans as possible and lea AZ
every Caucasian in fun possession OF n nnt
! only has the o-American been dis
| franchised but also that, a very large
| number Of Caucasians, who previous to
! the adoption Of these constitutions par
| ticipated in elections, have ceased to reg
ister and vote, and thus tho very founda-
tions of republican institutions have been
rendered insecure.
rights on the ground that the right or
suffrage which is the rasis of the 1n ;1i
vidual soyereignty OF the Am m nf a. GU
gregate sovereignty, of the whole body
polite. has been conferred upon its c1tl-
zens by the Federal Government. The
powers of the Federal Government were
not conferred by single state but by all
of the states, therefore the National Coy
eminent can enforce the provisions of the
Constitution.
We heartily commend the Afro-Ameri
cans of Virginia. Alabama, Louisiana,
and other states, who are seeking redress
through the courts of the land ana we
pledge them our moral and financial sup
We denounce the mob murders now so
prevalent in this country. .: "
We call the attention of the country to
a condition of service on many farms in
a number of the Southern states resem-
bling very much the old peOnage system
and in violation of the Thirteenth Amend
ment to the Federal Constitution, and ask
for legislation looking to the remedylng OF
the evil. tr .-
We submit our protest against the un-
fair practices in the transportation of
passengers in Southern states, discrim
mating unjustly against Afro Americans;
requiring of them the highest rates for
travel and providing in return the poorest
woke the exercise Of the powers of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. by
that tribunal, to prevent discriminat tons
in rates and accommodations against in
ter-state passengers. 81. - g. - 49,,
+ We appeal to the Congress of the Unit
ed States. for favorable action upon the
several measures now pending therein for
the appointment of a commission to in.
quire into the condition Of the Afro
Americans of the country. IA
We heartily endorse the deliverances of
President Roosevelt with references to
the fitness for appointment to Office, and.
the attitude of the Federal Government
toward all of its citizens regardless of
race Or color. He has impaired new life
and syigor to the e-honored principles
and traditions of human rights and has
given hope and inspiration to a people
struggling heroically beneath the burden
of hate and prescription. We commend
Theodore Roosevelt to the affection and
confidence of our people regardless Nof
party af1iliation S g Vi
ALEXANDER WALTER!5.E
i5t34: Chairman Executive Committee.
CYRUS FIELD ADAMS,
s3ss5f ecretary. D
WILLIAM A sPLET GER
Acting President National Afro american
81 Council.