Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-04-23
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NCS

Loyalty to the United States ant
Stars and Stripes. with expression
for the future welfare of ten million'
OF Negro people was proclaimed b!
the National Negro Press association
I at its last session at Nashville, Tenn.
when the representatives from IN
publications, through their organiza
( tions, issued an address to the AIheri
can people.
The facts concerning the address
were given out by the corresponding
secretary, Henry A. Boyd. who states
that this address was prepared by
committee consisting of c. v. Roman
chairman, Nashville, Tenn; w. E
King Of Dallas, Tex; Joseph L. Jones
Of Cincinnati, Ohio; Emmett ]. Scot
Of Tuskegee Institute, Ala, and T. G
Stewart Of Wilberforce, Ohio. Thi:
document, which made up the repor
Of the committee, says, in part:
The National Negro Press associa
ton in convention assembled takes
this opportunity to consider the con
dition Of the country, especially in sc
far as 1t concerns the Negro.
"The student of history is alive tc
the fact that for the past fifty years
the Afro-American element has been
by law made part of the citizenry
of the republic. The National Negro
Press association believes that there
are many evidences everywhere GOV
ering every walk of life to show that
the Christian white element is doing
much to advance the civilization and
progress OF the Negro peoples.
In the fields Of journalism we are
gratified to bear witness to the grow.
Ing liberality OF large element of
the white press, not confined to any
section Of the country.
In the field of religious effort there
has been no time when white Chris.
tians showed a higher respect for the
great doctrine of the Fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man than
now. y
In the field of education we make
haste to bear testimony to the great
and growing philanthropy which is
laying itself upon the educational al
tar OF the race. There is unmistak.
able evidence that white America is
coming to the unalterable opinion that
the strength Of the nation is not in
its armies and navies and 'embattled
cities. but rather In the virtue and
Intelligence OF the people.
We call specially upon those who
are charged with the Interpretation
and enforcement Of the law to attend
It's benefits without bias to us, to the
end that the struggling millions Of the
colored race may continue to hope for
that governmental encouragement
which &hauld bs tho heritage OF the
humblest American citizen.
The strong need the restrictions of
the law and the weak need its pro.
lection. When the former lose respect
for the law and despise its restric.
lions, OF. the latter lose faith in its
fairness and doubt the justice of its
execution. then popular government is
IN danger Fitness and not race is
the only safe test for citizenship if our
country is to become in reality the
land Of the free and the home of the
brave. As we can best serve the ma
ton By faithful service to our own
cultural unity, SO the national welfare
will be best promoted by the general
acceptance Of the good old demo-
cratic doctrine Of equal and exact JUS
tice to all and special privilege to
none "
We appreciate the growing liberal.
ity Of the American press and wish to
assure It that we will not disappoint
It II 1t will only play US up empha.