The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-10-17

DDS of enforcing the law and the con
certed action among certain classes
to rob them of their rights of citizen
ship has made it evident that some
action must be taken to stay the muir
derous onslaughts of the Negrophobist
and to devise means by which their
civil and political rights, guaranteed
them by the laws of the land, shall be
secure.
Public spirited citizens of Chicago
supported by other sections OF the
state, took the matter in hand and or
ganized the Equal Rights and Pro
tective League of Illinois,
The first session of the League con-
vened at Springfield last Monday at
10 a. m. This being the initial meet
ing, the attendance was far in excess
of what was expected, there being
nearly 100 delegates present. Hon. John
G. Jones, president Of the League,
called the meeting to order, and after
prayer by Rev. Smith, of Springfield
the secretary. L. B. Anderson, OF chi
cago called the roll of delegates. Att
er the roll call, and some other pre-
liminary business, Chairman Jones de-
livered the opening address.
The chairman in his address paid
his respects to those southern fire
eaters of the pitchfork Tillman stripe,
who claim that the Afro American has
made no progress since his emancipa.
ton. He gave statistics showing what
the Afro-American has done in the
matter of accommodating wealth, in &C.
curing education and the progress
he has made along professional lines.
The showing was highly compliment.
ary to a people whom the vicious and
dishonorable Tillman, Graves ct al.
claim have made no progress in the
last thirty years. Mr.. Jones vigorous
ly denounced Booker T. Washington,
and claimed that his methods were
tending to the injury instead OF the
betterment of the condition OF the
race. The address was strong and
vigorous defense of the race, and
scathing rebuke to those men who,
after years of robbery and abuse OF
a people now seek to check their pro-
gress and deprive them of the rights
guaranteed by the constitution. 1t
was at once made evident, however,
that his, reference to Mr.. Washington
QIu uOL u00L Will IAC uAe&AAAAOuS "P
prevail of the delegates.
After the presidents address varl-
Gus committees were appointed, and
other routine business attended to.
The following open letter to the
League from Hon. Cyrus Field Adams,
assistant register of the United States
treasury, was read and met with a
hearty reception:
Chicago, ILL.,, October 10, 1908.
To the Officers and Members of the
Illinois Civil Rights Protective
League, to be held at Springfield,
October II.
Gentlemen: Regretting that cir
cumstances over which 1 have no con-
troll will prevent me from attending
the meeting next Monday, l feel, as
member of the Illinois Civil Rights Pro-
tective League, that our organization
has an imperative duty to perform.
In the present crisis in the history
of the race, when our enemies are
bending every energy in an infamous
attempt to deprive the Afro-American
of all his political and civil rights, 1t
is the duty of the Afro-Americans OF
Illinois to speak in no uncertain tones
against the aggressions OF those VINO
would decitizenize men because OF race
or color.
respectfully suggest that in the adj
dress to the public we should:
1. Resent the idea that this is
"white mans country" By right OF
birth and intense loyalty to the flag,
the Afro-American claims his share OF
American citizenship, and the Federal
constitution specifically places all or
it's citizens on equality before the law.
2. Declare our belief that the state
ments of those who claim that the
Caucasian race, which constitutes but
one-fourth of the total population OF
the globe, has been especially ordained
by God to rule all other races is equiv
alent to blasphemy.
3. Combat the idea that the grant
ing of suffrage to the race was a mis-
take. and that it has proved a failure.
We should affirm our belief in manhood
suffrage without any educational or
property qualifications whatever, and
contend that the law-abiding man OF
good character, who does his duty as
a citizen and risks his life in defense
of the flag, should not be deprived OF
the ballot because he is poor and can
not read or write. * H..
4. Refuse to consider the PROPOSE
ton that we relinquish any OF the
political or civil rights we now pos
sess. We should make every eftort 10
retain those we have and regain those
which have been lost. Denial OF these
rights has worked irresistibly for the
derial or abridgment of all the related
rights of citizenship, because vote
less man, of truth, has no right Whlch
any one is bound to respect. :"
5. Dispute the proposition that the
Afro.American should be limited to IN
dustrial education. There should pe
a thorough training of head, heart ana
hand.
6. Declare that in a republic there
car be but one kind. of citizen, hence
deny the right Of the government
general. state or local-to discriml-
nate in any way between citizens Dy
the enactment Of any law which specl-
fes that the Afro-American must pc
separated from or treated differently
from the great body of citizens
Z. Challenge the statements ofsSIlli-
man, Graves e. Co, that the AFRO