The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-07-21
NEW STEP FOR THE NEGRO.
4 NATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL
 ED BY PROF ". E. B. DU BOYS

A national conference of colored men called by professor W. P. B. Du Bois of Atlanta. Ga, with representatives pre- sent from fourteen States, which met at Niagara Falls, N. Y, on July Ii, has adjourned. A national organization was formed, called '"rhe Niagara Move ment," with a general secretary, a general treasurer, and an executive, committee, composed of State secre- taries, who are in turn the heads of State committees. Various lines of work for the welfare of the colored people were mapped out and national committees were selected for each line of endeayor. A short platform adopted espousing the principles of equal edu- cational, civil, economical and political opportunities and rights, and advoeat- ing freedom of criticism, opposition to a subsidized race press, and united ef- fort to realize these ideals under wise pure and courageous leadership. Pro- lessor Du Bois was elected general sec retary, and George H. Jackson, Esq, of
 @A3tSAAAR1eAAls S's Sll LhhLo oAcLJ a pleasure trip was taken to Niagara Falls. The conference adopted the fol- lowing address to the country:
 The members of the conference. known as the Niagara movement, as- seTnbled in annual meeting at Buffalo, July Il, 12 and 1S, 1905, congratulate the Negro Americans on certain undoubted evidences, of progress in the last dec ade. particularly the increase of intelli- genee, the buying of property, the checking of crime, the uplift in home life. the advance in literature and art and the. demonstration. of constructive and executive ability in the conduct of great religious, economic and educa- tionaI institutions.
 At the same time, we believe that this class O. American citizens should protest emphatically and continually against the curtailment of their politi- cal rights. We believe in manhood suf- frage; we, believe that no man is so good, intelligent or wealthy as to be in- trusted wholly with the welfare of his neighbor. % :
 We believe, also, in protest against the eurtailment of our civil rights. All American citizens have the right to equal treatment in places of public en- tertainnent according to their behavior and deserts.
 We especially complain against the denial of equal opportunities to us in economic life: in the rural districts of the South this amounts to peonage and
 virtual slavery; all over the south 1t tends to crush labor and small business enterprie; and everywhere American prejudice, helped often by iniquitious laws, is making it more difficult for Negro Americans to earn a descent liv- ing, We demand upright judges in courts, jurtes selected without discrimination on account Of color, and the same measure of punishment and the same efforts at reformation for black as for white offenders. We need orphanages and sarm schools for dependent child lren, juvenile reformatories for delin-
 quents, and the abolition of the dehu- nanizing convict-lease system .--....
 We note with alarm the evident re- progression in this land; of sound pub lie opinion on the subject of manhood rights, republican government, and hu- man brotherhood, and we pray God that this nation will not degenerate in- to a mob of boosters and oppressors but rather will return to the faith oe the fathers that all men were created free land equal, with certain inallenable rights.
 We plead for health-for the oppor- tunity to live In decent houses and To- caltties, for chance to rear our child ren in physical and moral cleanliness. We hold up for public execration the conduct of two opposite classes of men; the practice among employers of im- porting ignorant negro-American la borers in emergencies, and then afford ing them neither protection nor perma- nent employment; and the practice of
 labor unions of prescribing and boycott ting and op ting and expressing thous- ands of their fellow toilers, simply be- cause they are black.
 We refuse to allow the impression to remain ttat the negro-American as- sents to inferiority, is submissive under oppression and apologetic before insults. Through helplessness we may submit, but the voice of protest of ten million Americans must never cease to assail the ears of their fellows, so long as America is unjust.
 Any discrimination based simply on race or color is barbarous, we care not how hallowed 1t be by custom, ex- pedieney, or prejudice. Differences made on account of ignorance, in- morality, poverty, or disease may be legitimate methods Of reform, and against them we hame no words of pro- test discriminations based simply and solely on physical peculiarities, place of birth, color of skin, are relics of that unreasoning human savagery of which the world is and ought to be thoroughly ashamed.
 We protest against the Jim Crow car, since its effect is and must be to make us pay first-class fare for third-class accommodations, render us open to in suits and discomforts, and to cruelty Wantonly our manhood, womanhood, and self-respect.
 We regret that this. nation has never seen fit adequately to reward the black soldiers who in it's five wars have defended their country with their blood and wat bava heep sUcfama fica1lv