The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-30

Washington, January 26.-The exec
utive committee of the National Afro
American council in session here today,
passed a resolution urging confirmation
by the senat of the nomination Of Dr.
w. D. Crum, to be collector Of GUS
an address to the country on the race
question in general.
The address in part is as follows:
ut is evident TO the thoughtful among
US that We are passing through one OF
the most critical periods Of our ex-s-
tence in this country. Questions that
well being of one-eighth Of the popula-
ton of the United States and scarcely
to a less degree the whole population
of the country are pressing for treat
meat as never before. A systematic
effort has been inaugurated on the part
of the south. which has for its object
the withdrawal of the franchise from
the Afro-Americans of thai section md
their reduction to u position Of abSO-
lutte subserviency IN all the relations
of life. 1t has been openly declared b!
some of the most prominent leaders OF
the south that it was the OF
the trainers of the new constitutions to
disfranchise as many Afro-Americans
as possible and leave every Caucasian
in full possession of the suffrage. The
- g 80 80 lo@o +I~ ~o- l hos 81 n
Afro-American been DISTINGUISHED, but
also a very large number of ~Caucasiohs,
who previous to the adoption Of these
constitutions participated in elections
have ceased TO register and to vote.
w contend for our constitutional
rights on the ground that the right Of
suffrage has been conferred upon It's
citizens by the federal government.
w heartily ommend the Afro
Americans of Virginia. Alabama. Louis
lana and other states, who are seeking
redress through the courts of the land
II we pledge them our moral and fl
pancial ppOr
we denounce the mob murder now
so prevalent in this country.
I'VE call the attention of the country
to a condition of service on manV farms
in a numbe of the southern states re-
Sembling very much the old peouag7
system and ask for legislation looking
to the remedying of the evil
wv submit our protest against the
unfair practice in the TRANSFORMATION OF
passengers in Southern states. dIScrim-
mating unjustly against the Afro
Americans: requiring of them the high
est rates for travel and provide in re-
turn the poorest accommodations in
carriage; and we invoke the exercise
of the powers of the interstate COM
merce commission by that tribunal, to
prevent discrimination in rates and &C
cnmmodations against Interstate pas
sengerS
w appeal to congress for favorable
action upon one Of the several meas
ures now pending therein for the ap-
pointment OF a commission 20 inquire
into the condition Of the AIro-Ameri-
cans of the country.
w heartily endorse the deliverances
of President Roosevelt with reference
to the fitness of appointment to office
and the attitude of the federal gov
eminent toward all Of it's citizens. re-
gardless of race or color. He has i'm
parted new life and vigor to the time
honored principles and traditions OF
human rights. and has given hope and
inspiration to a people struggling he
roically beneath the burden and pro
scription. We commend Theodore
Roosevelt to the affection and conf
dence of our people regardless of party
Affiliations"