The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-04
Branch Of National Body Is
sues Timely Memorial.
SEES DANGER IN INJUSTICE

National Equal Rights league sends
out the following memorial to the PEG.
pie, Of the United States. The league
pledges loyalty to the government and
asks that colored Americans be pro-
tectel IN their legal and civil rights
along with other loyal citizens Of the
American republic.
The league in its memorial says:
"When this European war began the
world involuntarily speculated wheth-
er the Irish would be loyal and the
Russian Jews because Of the denial
Of home rule by England and Of civil
and political rights by Russia. As the
United States of America enters this
awful war the world speculates wheth-
er Americans Of color will be loyal be-
cause OF the denial of rights to a ma
jority Of them.
"Since colored Americans in the past
have offered their lives In every way
for the country, If Germany Is seek
ing to induce them to revolt it but
proves how notorious is their proscrip-
ton.
III this nation, knowing the active
loyalty of the Americans in the past,
believes this alleged plotting could sue
coed 1t shows that the government and
people believe that colored Americans
are most un;ustly treated. The Bos.
ton branch Of the National Equal
Rights league, meeting when the coun-
try is at war, realizing its responsible
ty as branch Of the only nation wide
organization formed by and Of and led
by colored citizens to oppose race and
color discrimination, declares false all
charges Of disloyalty.
"Colored Americans would be less
than human If they did not feel bitter
ly every bar from employment, from
public accommodation, because Of our
race and color. Deep is the resent
ment against enforced segregation by
city, state or the federal government
whether in the civil or military serv-
ice. But we have no thought of taking
1t has been to save the government
from rebellion. This work Of our IA.
theirs We shall not destroy. There IS
not gold enough in all the treasures
of the nations Of the earth to corrupt
US. for it is not a question Of money.
but Of equality Of rights.
Let neither white nor colored Amer
leans seek to deny the truths Of hu-
man nature. Soldiers OF democracies
fight better than soldiers Of autocra-
cies. The same men fight better if in
time Of peace they can sell their labor
in the open market than If denied work
because Of race; fight better If public
accommodation in peace depends on
conduct and the price than If it is de-
MED for color; fight more eagerly If in
peace encouraged by possession Of a
free mans ballot than If represented
by its denial; fight with more heart If
in peace they have court protection
than If their very race means possible
murder by the mob.
ITO the national government which
calls US all to war, to our fellow Amer
leans Of every race variety, We would
appeal in the name Of fair play, of
justice and humanity. We are all citi.
zens Of common country.
There is need no longer Of subjec-
ton Of Americans to the race preju-
dices of fellow Americans. In the pres
ence Of a common danger and O. COM
mon obligation, with war devastat-
ing Europe caused by racial clannish.
ness and racial hatred, under Almighty
God let the United States Of America
and the people thereof give up race
prescription and persecution at home.
Let the door Of the workshop, the
school, the college, the civil service, the
army, the navy, the military school,
the naval school now and henceforth
open alike to every citizen of the re.
public without regard to race and with.
out distinction of color. Let the right
to travel. to vote, to have court pro-
lection be free, without barrier or de-
NAL.
"Give Mr.. President and all our gov.
errors, the same encouragement for
volunteering or enlisting to white, ia
brown, to yellow, to black, Ameri.
cans all, by vouchsafng the same free
chance to enlist. to rise on merit, and
on return home the same right to civil
service and to civil rights without bar
or segregation.
Now is the time for all in authority
to declare for the abolition of all racial
determinations and prescriptions and
for all to Join in our unhyphenated
Americanism for victory under the IA
vor Of the God Of all mankind"
E. r. Morris, Cambridge; Major Yves
ley J. Furlone, Melrose; William H.
Scott. Woburn; William Monroe Trot.
ter, Boston; Mrs. Eveline Sport, Cam.
bridge; A. W. Whaley, Mrs. Mamie
Bray. William D. Brigham, Mrs. NJ.
Cravath, Simpson Everett, Rev. ]. w.
Hill, Mrs. A. Morse, William Still, Mrs.
Mary Elliott, Cambridge; c. J. Wright.
ESQ.,. Mrs. Lucy Hunter, Cambridge;
Mrs. A. Morse. Mrs. II. G. He'll, com.
mittee on memorial.