The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-02-14
CALL OF NATIONAL POLITICAL
SUFFRAGE CONFERENCE OF
COLORED AMERICANS.

SOLOhGO FAh GhlNF NO
The positive and VIGOROUSLY hostile |
attitude of the government of our re-
public toward it's citizens of color I'M
der the present Republican admins
tration and the approach of the party |
nominating conventions in this year
1908 produce a crisis for one-eighth |
of the citizenship of these United |
States of America. The open alliance
between the President and the multi |
fiers of the Constitution in the South
constitutes the most fragrant collu-
sion between a Republican President
and the Southern Democrats since
the emancipation of the American
slaves As years ago, save in the case
Of Andrew Johnson at the close of the
Civil War or of Rutherford B. Hayes
at the close of the Reconstruction. But
it has remained for the present chief
executive of the United States to pre-
scribe in official documents an inferior
grade of education for one class of
citizens, and to thus officially brand
that class as concealers of criminals
and as rapists, while the defaming and
discharging in disgrace of more than
a hundred soldiers, all colOred, with
out a trial or chance to be heard in
their own defense is a denial of JUS
tice and constitutional rights visited
upon colored citizens unprecedented
in our country's history. The placing
of the nations sanction upon the seq
regation of citizens for and because
Of color in public travel but completes
the Federal maltreatment Of the col
ored citizens under the present Re-
publican administration leaving him
stripped of rights, branded and in con-
tempt.
In view of these unusual and eX-
traordinary conditions, in view of the
attempt of the present Czarocratic re-
gime to perpetuate itself in power in
imperial fashion, in view of the open
candidacy for the Republican party's
nomination for the presidency of one
who in his official position as a cabin
ct officer has in public speech in the
South condOned their disfranchise-
ment of citizens for color in admitted
violation of the federal constitution,
and who has supinely endorsed in toto
the brutal and autocratic discharge
of cOlored soldiers without trial
by executive decree, you as one
of class which almost from ne
cessity has for two generations by its
solid support and with loyalty that
sacrifices friends, the chance to make
terms with the enemy and even life
itself, kept the Republican party al
most continuously in power, but one
who is free from party obligation, are
invited to a National Conference OF
colored men, and of avowed friends
to be held in the City of Philadelphia
Pa, on the 18th day of April, 1908, tt
counsel together as to the wises
course to be pursued politically by
the colOred citizens of the country
especially those unrobbed of the bal
lot who are willing to use this weapon
for the rights and liberties of theil
class, under the present abnormal con
dition of affairs
This conference will have specia
reference to what demands shall b.
made of political parties as to the ma
tional platform and most particular!
to what candidates for the presiden
tial nomination most deserve the sup
mort of the colored voters. Pleas
come prepared to make a stand 70
equal rights and for constitutional lib
erty for all in these United State
without regard to race, color or creed
(Signed)
ALEXANDER WALTERS,
President of the Afro-American Cour
Gil
WILLIAM H. SCOTT,
President of the Suffrage League O
; Boston and vicinity.
. WILLIAM MONROE TROTTEF
President of the New England Const
tuition and Suffrage League.
SARDON CHAPEL NOTES.
n Master Luther A. Dowell son {