The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-04-20
RESOLUTIONS
Adopted by COlored Citizcus of Ocala
in Big Patriotic Mass Meeting
Monday Eveninu. April 16

that is now being extensively discuss
ed throughout the nation.
The peculiar position in which the
negro is Placed in this country rem
dera It a question deserving OF CT
Iteration. and one which should IL
more seriously considered by mem
bers of his own race than by others.
1t is beautifully gratifying to note
lat with only very few exceptions
where the less thoughtful and i'll
guided persons of the race in certain
sections Of the country have been IN
wise ana Incorporate in their utter
ances, the negro has shown signs O"
loyalty and is proving himself true
l&sriot.
At the very first announcement of
President Wilson's declaration of war
with Germany, there was a spontar
s0us outburst of patriotism on the
1ort OF the colored race, that ha-
Dread throughout the entire land AM
country.
From all parts of the Union Gomez
= news that the colored citizens an
offering their services to President
Wilson and to the country to uphold
the flag and TO preserve the honor and
dignity of our nation. Especially IS
tins true in the larger cities, both
north and south. where the counsel
and advice of their leaders have been
safe and sound.
Since much has been said and writ
ten with reference to the attltlde OF
the negro toward the presnt world
war. and the efforts of the German
! bieS or sYmpathiZers 10 incense the
negroes OF the south against their own
country and flag, and since no one
man or set of men have been author
! lied to speak for the race, we, the
colored citizens of the proud and pros
porous city of Ocala, here assembled
! in a special citizens mass meeting
1 do here and now express to our own
neighbors and to the world that we
are true Americans We represent a
race of ten millions of colored people
J in this country who are as loyal and
as true 20 our country's interest as
/ any other people who tread the Amer
| lean continent.
! AlthOugh it appears to us that the
negro has less inducement and the
least encoura cement of any of our
American citizens to be loyal and pa
triotic, we are none the less loyal to
our flag and we will ever remain the
same
| We are not unconscious Of the de
plorable fact that as colored citizens
in many instances our rights have
been abridged, and notwithstanding
! he fact that our own sta G legislature
has shown opposition to the passage
of a bill to authorize q bill to the for
nation of a colOred regiment by
which we may be placed in position
to assist legally and effectively in the
protectnOa of our nations glory, We
are nevertheless true to our country
Germany has sunk our vessels, muir
dered our citizens, insulted our flag
and de6ed our government. And any
effort on the part of Germany or any
other nation to induce us to turn away
from our own country, or to desert
our nag, in this the greatest conflict
of our national life, will meet witt
our sternest contempt, and will be re
scented as an insult to our race.
Notwithstanding the fact that VIZ
are in honest doubt as to whether ou'
country is willing to allow us to en-
list as soldiers upon the same basi'
that the white citizens are be- az urs
ed to enlist. we are unalterab'y fxe(
N our determination ~ stand squarell
by the president, and we are ready t
respond when assured that oar ser
vices are needed, promptly to GU
country'5 call.
AS to our love and patriotism TO
America, we invite the nations Of thu
world to accommodate themselves Il
the history Of our record III this coun
try from the days of the early con
ficts of the revolutionary war, Il
which Cryspus Attacks, a negro o
Massachusetts. was among the frs
americans to shed his blood, down u
the receat conflict of the Unite
States with Mexico, in which the ne
gro soldiers of the Ninth and Tent
cavalry fought like demons to the hor
Or and glory or our flag, and demon
strated such love and loyalty for thei
wounded and dying white officers a
has never Deen excelled by any Amel
lean citizen that erar annaared In nm