1141

[152]

Page 1.

849 Morris Avenue,
New York City, July 25, 191

T0 THE EDITOR OF THE WORLD:-
Dear Sir:-

Since your paper has made itself the fearless champion
of the oppressed without respect to race, creed or color, I ask to be
permitted, through your great medium, to seriously call the attention
of the American people to the oppressive conditions this Country has
long continued with complacency upon my race, and to point out that
it is absolutely necessary to the peace, honor and hishest develope-
ment of America that these conditions be righted.

After serving this country for nearly two hundred and
fifty years as a chattle slave, and now after nearly sixty years of
the abolition of chattle slavery and the adoption of the fifteenth
amendment, giving him all the rights of citizenship, and it being
acknowledged that he has measured up to the highest test of citizen-
ship, the colored man finds himself beset at the North with indust-
rial slavery and at the South with political slavery. A subject with-
out elective representation in any legislative branch or without a
position of honor or emolument in the government, a subject for lynch
law and every indignity that can be afforded a human being. Notwith-
standing these conditions, there never was a time when his patriotism
and loyalty to America was in question.

Now, these are plain questions of humanity, justice
and honor which ought to be paramount for consideration. For like the
colored man, America cannot reach her highest developement and useful-
ness as a nation while these conditions exist.

83825