The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-02-07
THE APPRAIx NATIONAL AFRO llERICA1 NEWsPl AZ
sPEcIAl,..
The National Afro merican Council.

The Executive COmmltte of the Ma
tional Afro-American Council held its
regular semf-annual meeting at Lin
coin Memorial Church, Washington,
b. c., Monday, January Is, 1903, Bish-
OBJ A. Walters, Chairman, presiding.
It was decided to hold the next an
nual meeting of the National Afro
American Council at louisville, KY,
July z, 1903. The arrangements for
the meeting are in the hands of a COM
mittee of which William II. Steward,
ESQ, editor of The American Baptist,
Louisville, KY, is chairman. Disfran-
chisement is to be the paramount
theme for discussion. Each person
on the program will be limited to
twenty minutes, and all speeches must
be in manuscript. @
Monday night public meeting was
held Acting President William A..
Pledger, OF Georgia, presiding. Ad-
dresses were delivered by Rev. George
w. Lee, H. l.. Johnson, Esq, Hon John
| C. Dancy, James H. Hayes, Esq, ex-
Gov. P. B. S. Pinchback and Bishop
Walters. A musical and literary pro-
gram was rendered by prominent local
artists. j.. ~ =. T.. ~ III
tanned inaccurate and misleading re-
ports of this meeting. Some of the
statements given out were ridiculous
for instance the story that the Exec
utive Committee planned an "office
trust" to pass upon the fitness OF
Afro-American applicants for public
Office. No such scheme was ever
even limited at a meeting of the Exec
utive Committee. The National Afro
American Council is not in. the office
brokerage business. It's central
thought is the uplifting and develop
ment of the Afro-American people.
The National AfrO-American Council
stands for law. and order. The battle
of the race must be fought in the
arena OF public opinion, with skill,
courage and intelligence, and must
be persistently waged until healthy
public sentiment is created, which will
accord God-given rights to every man
of every race.
The Committee adopted the follow
ing address to the country:
ADDRESS TO THE COUNTRY.
It is evident to the thoughtful among
us that we are passing through one of the
most critical periods of our existence in
this country. Questions that Immediately
concern the liberty and we'll being of one
eighth of the United States and scarcely
to less degree the Whole population OF the
never before. The recorded experience of
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 necessary corol-
Nd Of yfs+1 nm
with safety be divided, in nearly equal
parts. into voters and nOn-vOters.
A systematic effort has been inaugur-
ated on the part Ct the South ui which th has
chise from the Afro Americans Of that
section, and their reduction to position
of absolute subserviency in all the rela-
lions of life. Even college graduates and
men of business and wealth have been
denied the right of franchise. It has been
openly declared by some OF the most
prominent leaders Of tn the South tast lit 1t
new constitutions to disfranchise as many
Afro-Americans as possible and leave
every Caucasian in full possession Of the
suffrage. The effect has been that not
only has the Afro American been dis
franchised but also that a very large
number of Caucasians, who previous to
the adoption of these constitutions par
lister and vote, and thus the very founda-
tons Of republican institutions have been
rendered insecure. - -
We contend for our constitutional
rights on the ground that the right Of
suffrage which is the basis of the indi-
vidual sovereignty of the American citi-
gregate sovereignty of the whole body
polite, has been conferred upon it's 9iti-
zens by the Federal Government. The
powers of the Federal Government were
not conferred by a single state but by all
of the states, therefore the National Gov
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 and we
pledge them our moral and financial sup
port.
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
1nent to the Federal Constitution, and ask
for legislation looking to the remedying of
the evil.
We submit our protest against the I'M
far in the OF
mating unjustly against Afro Americans;
requiring of them the highest rates for
travel and providing in return the poorest.
accommodations in carriage; and we in
woke the exercise Of the powers of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. by
that tribunal, to prevent dlscrlmlna tons
in rates and accommodations against in
ter-state passengers.
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.
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 it's citizens, regardless of
and vigor to the honored principles
and traditions of human rights, and has
given hope and inspiration to people
struggling @heroicalty beneath the burden
OF hate and prescription. We commend
Theodore Roosevelt to the affection and
confidence Of our people regardless of
party utilization. 49, .@..
ALEXANDER WALTERS, -
Chairman Executive Committee.
CYRUS FIELD ADAMS,