The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1910-08-04
To colorsd Amsricans and their -
low Countryu1en.

million COlOred citizens OF the united
States are deprived of the exercise Of
the ballot, the fundamental right under
our system Of government, without
which there II for citizens neither
protection nor freedom. This rape Of
the ballot II contaminated In plain
violation Of the national costitution
which forbids denial Of the right to
vote because of race or color. The ex,
ecutive head Of the federal govern
ment within sixteen months officially
admitted this disfran chisement In in,
augural address and palliated the VIC
lation Of the federal constitution in.
stead Of declaring his purpose to en-
force the law In obedience to the oath
he had just solemnly taken. Presf
dent VIM. H. Taft even intimated the
legality of those devices for multiplying
the 18th amendment by state laws
which are as much worse than fradul-
emit practices as law is stronger than
custom. The legislative branch of tho
federal government, specifically cloth
cd with power to enforce the suffrage
articles of the constitution, has
viewed with apathy and inaction their
fragrant violation save when actively
condoning 1t by seating congressman
elected under the violation as against
contestants entitled to seats II the
federal law had been obeyed in their
districts In the South. The judicial
branch has lodged the issue In all
cases brought Involving southern dis,
franchisement laws, thus by persistent
refusal of relief strengthening tho
notification and emboldening tho
nullifiers Of the supreme law Of tho
land.
In view of the very nature Of our
republican institutions, as well AZ a
the declared reasons for our existence
as an independent government, is MOE
this condition sufficiently serious %
twelve millions of Colored Americans
to justify and necessitate a national
convention, and sufficiently alarming
to all believers In our country's do.
stiny and defenders of her democracy
and Of her fair name to compel their
sympathy and support?
But what train of evils were LET
loose upon Colored Americans with
disfranchisement! In the southern
states unequal and oppressive laws
have destroyed all their civil rights.
excluding them from public places Of
business, of accommodation, or resort,
even public parks and public libraries.
barring from state, quasi-public and
the public schools, forcing them into
separate and inferior schools, fasten-
ing upon them the public ignominy
and caste stigma Of segregation I'm
public travel, casting them even into
peonage. Tney are under the tyranny
Of taxation without representation.
Left in that hapless and helpless con
dition Of citizens without voice as 70
law-maker, law-enforcer, or law inter.
prefer. they are not only the victims
Of injustice In the courts, but, denied
all trial by court or Jury, are they the
prey Of the fiendish white mob, until
now the almost daily lynching of hu.
man beings has disgraced our country
before the civilized world.
Inevitably this race persecution In
fects the north, Color prejudice is on
the increase. Discrimination based
on color In civil rights and in
economic opportunities Is gaining
ground, Jim.crow cars have reached
the borders of the national capitol,
twice color Acknowledgement has
raised its horrid head above Mason
and Dixon's line,I while bloody race
riots and barbarous lynchings have
reached up to Illinois, even to the
home Of the martyred Lincoln.
Most harmful and portentous of all
in this crusade of race hate and color
prejudice Is the action, under the pres
ent administration, of the federal gov.
eminent itself. For the first time In
the United States president has Of
ficially proclaimed color q political
disability. BY his declaration that he
would not appoint Colored citizens to
office where white citizens objected,
he completed southern disfranchise.
ment. It IL Colored soldiers who are
the victims when for the first time q
battalion is discharged wholesale and
without trial because Of an alleged
affray with civilians, and the new de-
parture, aggravated by the failure to
establish individual guilt after trial, ID
boldly continued. That unique degre.
dalton Of free citizens, segregation BY
color in public carriers, has been
sanctioned and nationalized by q fed
eral commission, while the federal
court In support declares the right Of
even an Interstate railroad to segre'
gate Colored passengers.
Unless one-eighth Of the citizens d
the United States are 70 pc reduced
to political serfdoIn, unless our Repub'
lie Is to abandon democracy for the
caste Of color, this present trend must
be resolutely opposed. Graver crisis
In Republic could hardly be. CoIorec
Americans, rally to your own defense
From every town and city send dele
gates to this annual meeting, there "a
deliberate and organize for self-protse
tlon against this menace. And let al
true patriots of whatever race, all
friends of liberty. battle with US fol
equality Of citizenship, for true demoo
racy, that this may be In very truth
the home Of the brave and the land
of the free.
BY order Of the president. ALEX
AMBER WALTERS, WIN. MONROE
TROTTER, Corresponding Secretary;
June ~. 1910. n Cornhill. boston
Send ypar NODE a ne star ofi,cs--