The colored American., 1903-07-18
A Timely Address.
Continued from page 1


crime Yet we desire to say that we
make no plea for any man who may
be proven to be guilty OF this CRIME
orr plea is for law and for the pro
lection of the innocent. 1t cannoL De
denied that again and again II mas
come out that innocent men nave peen
put to death by impassioned moDs. IL
such persons had opportunity they
could. no doubt, prove their innocence,
hntthis is denied them Does 1t weak
en- our case to plead on behalf OF such
for a stav of execution? Whatever the
crime the accused is in your hands
and must be tried by your law, and
surely he could not be more completely
at your mercy.
NEED NOT BE so HUMBLE.
We are not unmindful of the fact
that fault is found with the Negro, the
educated Negro, because he is not as
humble and self-forgetful In all things
as were his fathers or what is called
"thG old Negro" This we admit, and
vet we feel it unfair to expect it of US;
we were born under different circum-
stances from those under which ouI
fathers we're born, and breathe an en-
tireIy different atmosphere. NeVerthe
less, we allow no man to be more po
lite. more considerate of the rights o.
others than we We make this lead
ing principle or our udlly 1Io aAo
teach it to our children as well.
1t is now clearly evident that the
purpose of those who first started in
ostensibly to disfranchise the ignor
ant Negro has been brOadened an0
strengthened. Their purpose now In
cludes almost all Negores. In certain
of the States this result has already
been achieved, and thousands of quail
flied men are denied positively and alb
soluteiy the right to vote In such
States taxation without representa-
tion prevails as truly as ever 1t dld
when England held control over the
colonies. AS to this matter, we can
not afford it. and do not wish to be
miSl,- c stood. We make no objection
to the disfranci i;isement of the, ignor
ant Negroes, provided proper prOV1s
ion be made for their education and
provided also the same class of the
other races are similarly dealt with.
Our contention is not for special but
equal privileges. We have no desire to
dominate, bat we believe the ballot a
protection to the citizen. Let those
who question this note the result in
those States where the Negro has no
influence in the selection of the Off
cials CT his local community study
the effect on the assessment rolls and
the public schOolsi in the local courts
and the press of the community. On
der such circumstances the disfran-
chiSed citizen is at the mercy OF a
class of officials who themselves do not
always represent the best thought and
blood Of the community. Such a con-
dition of affairs has given birth to
the unjust legislation now so common
In the South. To such unjust dis
ordinations we cannot be expected to
submit without a struggle, and in our
effort to secure and enjoy our rights as
American citizens we invoke the SYM
pathy and assistance OF all good peO-
pie.
IN HANDS OF JUSTICE LOVING PEOPLE
But those who are in the lead in the
disfranchisement of the Negro do not
stop here. Their plan, now so distinct
ly seen that he who runs may read, is
to decitizenize him enirely by the re-
peal of the war amendments to the
United States Constitution. The logic
of their argument seems to be that the !!
better qualified the black man is, the
less he is prepared for citizenship.
That is to say, since he now owns
about $500, 100000 worth of property
and every other man of the race can
read and write, he should be deprived
of citizenship. However, we are will
ling to leave our interests on this line