The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1918-05-17

Influential colored men and women
from most OF the cities in the United
States ss . mseting i'm Atlanta addressed
the following memorial on the subject of
lynchins 10 the President, Cabinet, Con-
srsss and Governors OF the states:
During the lass thre~ decades nearly
500 American colored men, women and
children have suffered butrhery and death
IN almost every conceivable form at the
hands OF the lyncher. OF America. Last
year alone the number thus murd~rr,i
wss 222. The reported causes for such
appalling brutality run the samut from
alleged violation Of the honor OF white
women 20 disputing the word OF white
men. The fact. however. that only about
o per ceut of tness murders are reputed
% have been inflicted upon accused yio-
lstors Of womsnhood argues almost con
ciusi'sly that the desire to protect wo-
manhood 10 almost negligible among th.
so-caiIed causes Of lynchinss.
I'VE accordingly regard lynching A.
worse than Prussianism, which we are i
var 70 de~troy. Lynching 10 not . cure
Il crime, either imaginary ur real. ia
decreases latin 10 the bosseed justice OF
our so-called democratic institusions. N
w,dsns shs frishtful chssm Of unirisndly
and suspicious feeling between the races
and positively formsnss the spirit Of an
tpsshy and resentment. We are sccus
ed OF concesling criminals. Who have
concealed ths many criminals that have
mercilessly murdered these 3.OOO defence
leo men, women and children OF our
rscef- That thsss murdersrs frequently
ply their trade in broad daylight in PLAIN ]
view OF the entire classnry even does not !
facilitate thsir puniohment or dssectiun
Within lee than one year one state slon. |
has tortured and burned st the stsk.
thres colored men without even the semb- |
lance OF trial or IN effort TO apprehend
and purish the mur,isrers. In the last
instance IN entire helpless coiored popu-
lstion was marched around the firs amid |
fumes OF burning human being and put
on notice that - thss black man wss
suffering. they too, should fear 20 suffsr.
Thus the defiant Iynchinz giant stnds.
on space- While Ne are sacrificing the
oess blood Of our sons upon our nations
altar 70 heip destroy Prussisnism beyond
the seas ve call upon you 70 uss your |
high Offices 70 destroy the lynchius inst |
tuition &c our door.
MARKED OUT FOR ABUSE
1--WE ere the one group of American
people, than whom there 10 none mors
loyal, which is marked out for discrim-
instion, humiliation and sbuse. In the
great patriotic sni Humanitarian move
ments. In public carriers. in federal ser
yics. the treatment accorded ne 10 hu-
initiating, debumsnixing and rsprehen-
sible IN the extreme. This persistent
and unreasonable practice 10 bat q thrust
ct the soiored mans s~If-respsct, the OBJ
jscs being not merely 70 separate the
rsces, but 10 impress ne with the idea OF
supposed nstursl inferiority. Such de-
morxlizing Discrimination 10 not onIv
violation Of the fundamental rirht- OF
citizens of the United states. bu. the mar
-istsnt Segregation Of any element OF our
couotry's population into . separate and
distinct srcup on the cole basis OF color
n creating . condition under which thi.
nation cannot long endure.
when ve reflect upon the tsliti~-
and indisnities -e rememb~r they are
due % the fact tnst ia almost every
soutbern s.sts 90 have systematically. by
ls~ or chicsnery, hen deprived of the
right OF that very manhood suffrage
which genuine democracy would snsrsn-
- 20 svery citizen IN the republic. Thi.
propaganda II 6ching from oolored
Americans the ballot - but . supreme f.
Tort 10 re-eDslsve nc and 70 force our a.
sent %, and our importance against. any
legislation Of our opponents. To this
policy the black man does not. cannot
and will not agree. OF IL, our intolerance.
10 cumulative. Against 10 Ne shall exert
onr righteous efors until not onIy every
eligible black man but every eligible