in America consisted of many parts, having a social, civil, political, and ecclesiastical character; that it withstood many shocks of awakened reason, with the greatest composure; and that its leaden mace still holds sway over the public mind; that the despotic system of the crafty chieftains of race-prejudice is artfully constructed, and great abuses are perpetrated by the lowest in its ranks. They earnestly plead for that national progressive justice, which will insure the African citizen's civil right to the exemption from industrial discrimination of strikes, boycotts, and class-labor, on account of color and previous condition. The ever-present discouragement of this antagonism prevails throughout all workshops, North, East, and West. For its warrant of authority, it has the example of, and is fostered by, the mighty precedents set for the defeat of civil equality, by constructions subversive of the letter and spirit of the Fourteenth Amendment. The laws on which its living progress and organic development depend cannot be violated without retarding the advance of our race. Industrial progress is made up of an ever-changing tissue of relations. It must be permitted to have all the benign influence evolved from new conditions, and must grow as a part of the warp and woof of current events. If its thread is unravelled and segregated the economic value of our race energies must, in the eternal nature of things, become atrophied.
In the present condition of affairs every door of industrial aspiration and advancement is barred against the African citizen. He can lease no house but in the vicinity of moral asphyxia. He pays the highest rent, yet receives the lowest wages. He is not admitted to learn trades in which skilled laborers are employed. If he applies to workshops, he is abruptly notified that "no colored man need apply." He has not the opportunity for self-respecting means of education. Civil right is denied him especially throughout the workshops of the North, East, and West. In short, he is debarred industrial progress, without regard to the question of his fitness. His development is confined to servile occupations.
He can neither be a carpenter, type-setter, machinist, mason, or blacksmith, nor can he grow skilful in any of the multitude of manual arts. He is in these respects upon terms of civil equality with no other race. He is
