Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-10-30
COLORED CITIZENS OF NEW
ENGLAND PETITION CONGRESS

Also Ask Colorcd Race 90 Celebrate
Nationally the 5Oth AnnNcrSary
of John Browns Execution.
Al the sixth annual meeting Of the
New England Suffrage League. W.
Mr. Trotter president. held in Boston
this week. the following address was
adopted and was ratified by q mass
meeting OF over q thousand Colored
citizens
Whereas. present conditions repre-
sent serious crisis in the lives Of
American Negroes. it IS necessary
that we should consider what some
of these conditions are. and ways
and means Of meeting and overcom-
ing them. The great dangers they
represent are the lowering OF Col
orcd Americans fin the general
esteem. and The strengthening Of
public prejudice against them. Some
of these blows az the welfare OF the
American Negro are the many deci-
sious by the Supreme Court which
denied Justice 90 the NEGRO. which
may be summarized as follows. Sup
porting the Acknowledgement clauses
In the constitutions In the several
Southern states especially the Brick
house case in Virginia. supporting
the state law in Kentucky. which
made CO-cducation Of the races in
Berea College q crime the case in-
vOlving the rights OF the Browns
Vile discharged Colored soldier
which the U. S. Supreme Court re-
fused 20 consider. thus sustaining
the unjust ruling OF the United
States Circuit Court. and refusing 90
allow the 14th amendment 90 cover
lynching
President Tafts policies IN his
statement in his inaugural address
that ne would not appoint any Col
orei citizen 10 federal positions
where there was objection from the
white people. are more oppressive
20 the Negro than were Mr.. Roose-
velts policies. as are his, special eff
forts 90 comply with the demands OF
the southern oppressors Of our race
In filling hundreds OF Offices with
white men which Offices were mere
tOfore allotted 20 the Negro. His an
proval OF a lily white party fin the
South means the elimination of the
Negro Republicans. who have been
faithful 10 the party for many years.
from all its councils and finally rob
him OF the ballot This we regard
as the "unkindest cut OF all" which
gives the league occasion TO con-
graduate itself for opposing his
nomination and election and 10 re-
1oice in the fact that many Of our
race who opposed our efforts have
been convinced that our stand was
right, and that the Negro race can
no longer depend upon the Repub-
lican party 20 which it has proven
its loyalty for nearly fifty years by
voting for its candidates in dangers
where he often risked his living. his
home and even his life.
He must eventually divide his vote
with such parties as may have men
who will stand by the Federal Con
stitution including the 18th. I4th.
and 18th amendments. and who will
assist in maintaining our rights as
American citizens. We deplore the
terrible increase of lynching and mob
violence in this country. and espe-
cially in the Southern states. which
have put 20 death more than four
thousand of our race, many OF whom
have been proven innocent OF any
crime.
We call upon congress to reduce
Southern representation as required
by Sec. 2 OF the 14th amendment
and enforce the 18th amendment I'm
those states which by revised consti-
stitutions have so plainly denied the
ballot because of color. We also de-
mand that congress end national
sanction 10 Jim-crOw cars now given
by the interstate commerce commits
sion by forbidding exclusion of any
interstate passenger for color.
Words fail to express our graft
tude TO Senator Foraker for his self
sacrificing stand for justice TO the
Colored soldiers.
We urge the Colored race to cele-
brate Dec. 29th as the 5Oth ami
yersary Of the execution of John
Brown, the martyr TO freedom
cause.
Rev. A. w. Adams. Norwich
Conn; Mr.. F. S. Monroe, New Bed
ford, Mass; Mr.. f. T. Morris. Cam
bridge, Mass; Mr.. J. L. Davis. NAL
den, Mass; Mr.. ]. NJ. ArbuckIe. Cam
bridge, Mass; Rev. J. II. WUdlv
Providence. r. I.
The speakers at the evening mass
meeting which was attended by 100
people, were Bishop Alex. Walters
President OF the National Indepen-
dent Political league; DR.. AZ Nc
Kane. Rev. S. W. Smith and Rev. I
n. Wiley, OF r. J.. Rev. VIM. II
Scott, Rev. w. w. Ryan and Mr.. Il
i. Morris. Bishop Walters paid a
remarkable tribute to Editor Trotter
OF the Guardian and hts vvffa ana a.