Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-08-30
NEGRO EDITORS.
Took Manly Stand for Right and
Justice-Urge Colonization of
Negroes.
Preamble.

tion to declare the fundamental prin-
ciples which are to bring them into
closer relations with their fellowmen
and citizens OF different races, in or
der that they may cooperate. to the
best interest of each and to promote
their own pOsterity Just and equal
enjoyment of the right and privileges
guaranteed by the Constitution of
their government" the Western Ne
gro Press Association adopts the fol-
lowing Resolutions as an address to
the People.
In recent years we have noted the
growing sentiment of Northern and
Eastern jouTtals against cur people,
as evidenced by the wide publicity
given writings of Southerners, and
the flooding OF the North with notori-
ously violent agitators, who are con-
| stantly tanning the fame of prejudice
against the race. For the protection
OF our homes and the perpatua;;on OF
the suffrage guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition and preservation of the dignity
of the nation, we therefore deem 1t
the imperative duty of the voters of
our race to advocate and support only
men who will always stand out for
the defense OF manhood rights of ali
races and denouncs in no uncertain
tones the offensive ignorance that is
defiling our Hall of Con yress.
| Negro Homeseekers to the West. Il
In view of the fact that Southern
agencies sustained by the taxes of all
the people are securing foreign emf
grants for the purpose Of displacing
the Negro labor in the South, we
therefore urge our people in the south
to anticipate this movement to dis
place them, we urge them to come
West and settle upon the millions of
acres of free homestead land an
cheap farms offered by friendly cor
porations seeking their entry. Here
| they will have larger opportunities in
| securing wealth, education and all
| that goes to make a happy and con
| tented nation of people.
We view with grave concern and
alarm for the future of our country
| upon the steady encroachment and
widespread acceptance OF the imprac-
ticable ideas Of Southern agibators
which tend to promote racial STRIFE.
encourage unjust laws, and debauch
the Puritan ideals of Right, Reason
and Justice, which are imbedded in
the fundamental structure of our ma
tional commonwealth Such teachings
tend to peryert the objects and enc,
Of Christianity, cause hatred and hy-
pOcrisy In pH6liE schools 0n4 the part
of teachers and students, and brin
about complexity of unpleasantness
in every phase of daily life.
Practical Education Needed.
While there are many great needs for
the Race we represent, yet the prime
need is education in its broad and
comprehensive sense both of the hand
head and heart, and the distribution of
the fundamental principles of COM
mon, industrial and higher education
to all classes. We commend the noble
and philanthropic spirit of Mrs. Anna
Jeans. of Philadelphia, Pa, who re-
Gently donated $1,000,00O for the edu-
cation of the colored youths of the |
South.
Business Enterprise.
Accumulated wealth Is one of the |
great social forces The crying need /;
of our people is greater commercial
activities We pledge our support to
aid and assist Negroes in all lines OF |
business. The great commercial de-
velopment of our people during the
past few years has been remarkable
and phenomenal AS race we need |
more business. The white man en-
p,cys no Negro clerks, it becomes our |
duty to create and maintain business
enterprises that there rray be in
creased opportunities for our boys and |
girls. 4
Peonage.
We unhesitatingly commend the
vigorous action of the national admin
istration in dealing with the terrible |
condition of peonage existing in |
Southern states and it's effort to Grad
icate the same.
The BroWnviIle Affair.
We have the utmost confidence in |
the administration dealing justly with |
all men, yet we believe it has been
misinformed as to the facts surround |
ing the Brownsville affair; and since |
a Senatorial investi cation has found
our colorad soldiers to be innocent OF
all charges, we urge the reinstatement
of the discharged battalion.
We are not unmindful of the invalu-
able service rendered to our people
and the country by Senator Joseph |
Benson Foraker in his noble and cour
ageous defense of the army and the
Negro soldier, and we take this op-
nortunity OF expressing our apprecia-
ton of the same.
Military and Naval.
In view of the possible conflicts OF /
this government and noble services
rendered by the Negro solG. ia all
the wars ,t this nation, we call the at
ten .4on of the president Of this grea'
nation to the injustice done our peo-
aple by the officers of the government,
especially the cabinet, for which the
president is responsible. The contin-
ned rejection of young colored men at
West Point Military School and the
Annapolis Naval Academy on frivilous
excuses, thereby preventing them be-
coming officers in the army and navy,
is not only wrong, but is un-American,
In view Of this fact, Congressmen will I
not recommend our boys to these in
stitutions for the reason that justice T
is denied them. We ask for represen-
tatives in the artillery and marine
corps.
Suffrage.