The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-01-23
PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL
NEGRO PRESS ASSOCIATION
Officials Of the Organization Issue op-
tlmistio Declaration Of Principles.

Declaring its loyalty to the dag
and the constitution Of the United
States and setting forth plans for the
moral uplift Of its people, the Ne
tional Negro Press association has
taken definite action in setting forth
many plans for the betterment Of the
race throughout the country which
will be furthered at the midwinter
session, which has been called to meet
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13 and IL,
In Nashville. Tenn. ~
This splendid Organization has been
able to inaugurate many reforms and
to help thousands Of its race. It is
its plan to get at the true condition of
the colored people in the United States
and to report and expose all crime.
To assist in this 1t has asked all city,
county and state officials to cooperate
in recognizing Its Official card and its
metal membership badge.
Long steps toward the alleviation Of
many embarrassing conditions are al
ready made. In making this call for a
midwinter session the organization has
sent forth an address to the country.
The address, brief. but explicit, was
authorized by the national body, which
convened in Philadelphia last August.
Il says:
In this nftieth year since Lincoln's IA
nous emancipation proclamation the Ma
tional Negro Press association enunciates
the following platform Of principles for
the announcement Of the colored people
and the good Of the American nation:
We believe with the founders Of this
government that there are INALIEN-
ABLE RIGHTS which are the natural
dover Of every human being born into
the nation and Of civilization In best ad-
vanced by these rights remaining the
property OF the legitimate owners.
CIVILIZATION makes every man his broth
ers keeper (protector). but no man his
brothers owner. Whenever the accident
OF race. nationality. position. power. color
or other physical condition enables one
individual, race or nation to ignore or
usurp the inalienable rights Of another
individual, race or nation the equilibrium
Of civilization is disturbed and the prog
ress Of humanity interrupted. Justice can
only come to man when man II just. Lib
erty II for all or for none.
The fate Of America and the Negro are
inextricably bound together. The Negro
race seeks no other country.
We call upon our people to use all their
powers to meet the ideals Of civilization
and the obligations Of American citizen
ship.
Race cannot be substituted for fitness az
q qualification for citizenship II the land
In to remain bright with freedoms holy
light"
We believe not only In the separation Of
church and state. but that a mans in
alienable right to earn his bread should
not be confused with the privilege Of his
neighbors table Men cannot be patriotic
fellow citizens without personal fellow
ship.
Finally, we ask for our people only
square deal. a mans chance to meet civ
ilisation's demands Of manhood. We think
the American people should be willing to
grant as q minimum Of Justice what Abra-
ham Lincoln asked for the colored race
"All 1 ask for the Negro Is that II you
do not like him. let him alone. II God
gave him but little that little let him en-
joy.'
John II. Murphy. president. Baltimore:
n. Barnett Dodson. chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee. New York; Henry Al
len Boyd. corresponding secretary, Nash
villa Tenn.