The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-09-24

DereQ Win the audTCnlStS, SOCldl1StS3O ~
communists, who threaten the peace
and prosperity Of our common coun
! try, but have always been ready anc
| more than willing to- discharge oul
duty as fcitizens in each and ever!
,, walk of life ss. 5s#:.s e =. NJ i
We therefore appeal to all patriotic
and fair-minded citizens OF all creeds
/ and nationalities to give our cause a
fair unprejudiced and patient hearing
/ and render us that Justice which we
merit at the hands Of the American
people. Do this and we do not fear
the results. .'-ra. e., i. II : q.
That we are aunalterably opposed to
the inhun1an and indiscriminate sys-
tenn Of depriving citizens of our coun-
try of life and liberty without due pro-
cess of law, and to the end that the
same be discontinued, we ask the peo-
pie of the United States, the pulpit
and the press, the state and national
legislatures, to encourage crystallza-
ton of such public sentiment and
the enactment of such laws as will
absolutely prohibit the preparation of
these outrages that blacken every
page of the history of this cOuntry's
civilization and places us in bad re-
pute at home and abroad.
-. Condemn Crime
+ We wish the American people to
understand that we join hands with
the best people Of the country in en-
phasizing our condemnation Of any
crime against the womanhood of the
land and have no sympathy for any
wretch who commits such a crime;
our appeal is in the interest of society
generally when we ask that the mob
be subordinate to the law.
In the South, because of intolerance
and race prejudice, great many OF
it's peaceful and law-abiding citizens
are denied their civil and suffrage
rights solely upon the ground OF their
color. Mean,> proscriptive, and humili-
ating legislation is continually being
made a part of the statutory laws.
Discrimination against the Afro-Amer-
lean is running riot.
In the face of the organic law of the
nation, and in bitter opposition to the
enforcement of the, thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments, to
which all of these states have pledged
allegiance; written in the constitution
by the blood of thousands of our coun-
trymen and the expenditure of billions
of treasure, in the face of the right
eousness of just cause and by the
power of might, almost an entire race
in one portion of our country is denud-
ed of every right by unjust laws OF
disfranc hisement.
Race Prejudice.
We view with alarm the rapid
spread of race prejudice in this coun-
try. For number of years an active
and aggressive campaign has been
waged, which seeks to arouse spirit
of race hatred in all sections of this
land Whatever may be the motive
actuating those engaged in this unholy
work, we wish to show our country
men that we are the innocent victims
of an unjust and an unmerited attack.
AS a race, we have striven earnestly
and patiently to enter into harmonious
relations with the life and activities OF
the nation; to prove our loyalty and
devotion to the country we love, and
to impress this nation with our sincere
desire to be identified with it's prosper
ity and to even share it's failures, it
failures must come. It should not
therefore, be a matter of surprise
when we raise our voices against
treatment that is so unwarranted. It
is as essentially true of nation as OF
an individual that true greatness and
enduring success rest upon righteous
ness. No one can wrong his brother
without injuring himself, and a com
munity in which the moral sentiment
of the people is not strong enough tc
restrain organized lawlessness is IN
danger of being engulfed. 1t is safer
to teach patriotism than to encourage
anarchy
It is better to inspire people with
hope and an ambition to become all
God has created them capable OF be-
coming than to fill them with despair
Here in this great city are assembled
the nations of the earth. The various
races of men are coming in contact
with each other. They are broadening
their sympathies. This spirit OF good
will is shown by the kindly attention
bestowed upon the Filipinos and max
ed Igorrotes and other dark races at
the Worlds Fair The only people
that are not brought within the bond
of human sympathy and good will are
the Afro-Americans; refinement ano
culture count for naught when the in
dividuaI has African blood in his
veins. Many of the Afro-Americans
are stockholders in the great Louisl:
ana Purchase Exposition, yet they are
refused at many of the public places
of accommodation.
We wish to declare that the cry OF
social equality made by those who
seek our humiliation is without the
least foundation, and those who make
this argument know that it is mere
subterfuge. These injustices should
be checked. This can be ACCOMPLISHED
only by quickened public sentiment
Appeal to Ministry.
We therefore call upon the Chris
tan ministry everywhere to lift up
their voices against this growing evil;
we ask the friends of humanity to give
their assistance to this great work
We implore the press OF the country 70
stop magnifying our vices and say
something of our virtues. We call up
on every Afro American man and Wo'
man in this broad land to teach their
children moral rectitude and the prac
tfce of thrift and economy. Let us in
spire respect for the law and condemn
those of our race whose laWless con
duct and vicious tendencies bring
shame and humiliation to the Afro.
American people. T. We now place the
case of the .Afro-American in equity
before the American people and ask
only for a fair and impartial verdict
VIM. n. Steward, Kentucky, Presi
dent. IT'LL ! j..
cvr,,e Field Adams. Illinois, Secre