The colored American., 1903-07-11
Afro-American Council
Continued from page 5.

Ito no plea for any Hail "ho "'
u nroveu to be guilty Of this crime
w plea is for law ana LOT Ine pr
oontion of the innocent. 1t cannot Oe
tecIOdI teiod that again and again it has
uHo ou+ that innocent men have neen
eO 60. ~ death by impassioned mobs. Ii
pub pub nersons had opportunity they
0orId no doubt, prove their innocence
S,+tkie is denied them. Does 1t weak
" onr case to plead on behalf or such
snr q stay of execution? Whatever the
aima the accused is in your hdhuS
ond must be tried by your law, ana
civ ba 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 Che
Educated Negro, because he is not as
bnmble and self-forgetful IN all tnlngs
as were his fathers or what Is calio9
~tbe old Negro" This we admit, ana
vo+ wo feel it unfair to expect it OF US;
NO were born under different clrcum-
stances from those under which our
fathers were born, and breathe an en-
+IraIv different atmosphere NeVertne-
Iass we allow no man to be more po-
lite more considerate of the rights Oh
ntbare than we. We make this lead
Inc nrinciple of our daily life ana
teach it to our children as Well.
II is now clearly evident that the
nurpose of those who first started III
ostensibly to disfranchise the 1ghor
ant Negro has been broadeneo anu
strangtbened. Their purpose now IN
oiraoo almost all Negores. In certain
oP the States this result has already
haan achieved. and thousands of quail
Nod men are denied positively and aD-
soIutely the right to vote. In sucn
states taxation without representa-
ton prevails as truly as ever IL uio
when England held control over the
colonies. AS to this matter, we can
not afford it, and do not wish 10 Do
misunderstood. We make no op]ecloh
to the disfranchisement of the lgnor-
ant Negroes. provided proper proV1s-
ion be made for their education ana
provided also the same class OF tne
other races are similarly dealt with.
Onr contention is not for special but
Anual privileges. We have no desire 10
dominate, but we believe the ballot
protection to the citizen. Let tnose
who question this note the result ln
those States where the Negro has nc
influence in the selection OF the ON
Gals of his local community SIuuS
the effect on the assessment rolls ano
the Dublic schools! in the local courts
der such circumstances the dlstran
chised citizen is at the mercy OF
class of officials who themselves DO no.
always represent the best thought ano
blood of the community. Such a con
dition of affairs has given birth u
the unjust legislation now SO common
in the South. To such unjust ols
examinations we cannot be expected u
submit without a struggle, and IN oul
effort to secure and enjoy our rights a.
American citizens we invoke the sym
pathy and assistance OF all good peo
pie.
IN HANDS OF JUSTICE LOVING PEofLE'
Rut those who are in the lead IN IN
disfranchisement of the Negro DO no
stop here Their plan, now so d1stlnc'
" seen that he who runs may read,
to decitizenize him enirely by the re
peal of the war amendments TO Tn
United States Constitution. The log1
of their argument seems to be that Tn
better qualified the black man Is, IN
less he is prepared for cit1zenshlI
That is to say, since he now own
about $500, 100000 worth of propert
and every other man of the race ca
read and write, he should be deprive
of citizenship. However, We are WI
ling to leave our interests on this lin
In the bands of the justice loving pei