The Colorado statesman., 1917-07-21
MEMORIAL PRESENTED TO GOV
ERNOR FRANK o. LOWDEN BY
CHICAGO SELECT CITIZENS
COMMITTEE.

something is radically wrong,
either in our system of govern
ment or in the conceptions of JUS
tice and Christianity of the Amer
lean people, is at the foundation
of the trouble.
The government of the United
States was founded for liberty and
justice to all people. It's soldiers
are now on the battlefront in
Europe ready to fight for a univer-
sal democracy; the Colored citi-
zens are called upon to tender
their quota, both by volunteers
and by consription, for the main
tenance of the high ideal of our
country and the protection of its
institutions, and in no emergency
have we failed to respond to our
country's call.
If the constitution of our native
land affords protection to all citi-
zens, naturalized and native born,
except citizens of African descent,
we should know it.
If the fight for a world democ-
racy means that all people should
American Negro, the world should
be made to understand the limita-
tions of its fight for freedom and
opportunity.
We are in no position to eXer-
else force. We would be reckless
and foolhardy indeed to do other
than appeal to the best conscience
of the American people and ask
that the Constitution be respected
as to all citizens alike.
In the struggle for advancement
and the betterment of the condi-
tions of the masses the Negro is
animated by the same impulses
that influence all other human be-
ings. We shall not willingly sub
init to be serfs in a land of free
men.
We shall demand, with all the
energy at our command, that the
rights of citizens be accorded us,
and that our government protect
us against all lawbreakers when
those rights are invaded.
The member of the mob who
bands with others to Triangle upon
the Constitution and the laws is
just as much traitor to his coun-
try as the Stacker and the spy in
time of war.
Such men should be dealt with
as traitors, and the heavy hand of
the law should come down upon
them; and every loyal American
should rally to the maintenance
of the law and insist upon the
swift and sure punishment of the
lawless.
We wish to voice our vigorous
protest against all influence which
tends to justify the deprivation or
curtailment of the rights of the
citizens.
We protest against the conclu-
sions of the State Council of De-
fense to the effect that citizens
should not freely travel from one
section of our country to another
in their effort to better their con-
dition and prepare for the future
of their children. If foreigners
may freely come and find a peace
full domicile in any part of the
United States, we insist that no
provision of our Constitution JUS
titles the limiting the rights of the
native born Colored citizen in the
enjoyment of such privileges.
We protest against those organ
izations which, under the pretext
of lettering the condition of the
laboring man. would violate the
sacred principles of the Constitu-
tion of the land by depriving other
citizens, through threats, intimi-
dation and violence, of the rights
that they themselves enjoy.
The time has come when all the
world should know whether our
country stands for freedom and
justice and equality for all citi-
zens, under the law, or whether
any part or class of it's citizen
ship is to be deprived of those
privileges with the sanction of the
Government-loca or national.
Twelve million Negroes await
anxiously the settlement of this
momentous question.
We are but "a drop in the
ocean" as compared to one hun
dred million citizens of America.
we can 10 HduSHu out appeal 10
the best conscience and Christian
spirit of that vast body of Ameri-
can citizens who believe in law
who believe in God-who believe
in the destiny of America-to
point the way to a greater free
dom and wider liberty to all the
peoples of the earth.
If the answer should be, that to
us alone these blessings shall be
denied, and for us must be slav-
cry and serfdom or annihilation,
we are ready for the sacrifice
for never will we, of choice, ac-
cept anything but justice.
But should that day come (and
God grant it may notD, freedom
will have perished from the face
of the earth and Christianity will
be but a mockery
The above was presented to the
Governor of Illinois recently by a
delegation consisting of leading
Colored state and city officials
and other citizens whose names