Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/541

Rh state and local. The state organizations are subordinate to the national, and the local leagues are subordinate to the state. The object of the national league is the same as that of local and state leagues, only the national is pledged to support the local and state leagues in any way whetever in the carrying out of the principles set forth in Article II of the constitution for local leagues heretofore quoted. The means for accomplishing the ends of Article II is sufficiently provided for in Section 3 of the constitution.

The great and pleasing feature of the whole league is expressed in Sections 4 and 5. "A peaceable and lawful method" is to be pursued in contending for the objects outlined. It was argued by many that the league would be construed as an organized effort among the Afro-Americans for physical warfare. This idea is completely obliterated in the light of Section 4,—so much so, that the evil-designing papers which are always ready to question any thing planned for the good of the Afro-American, have not dared to raise such an issue. It was also argued by many that the purpose was to strengthen this or the other political power. This, Section 5 of the Constitution clearly settles.

Again, this section is strongly supported by the constitution of the national league, Article XIV, Sections 1, 2, and 3, which read thus: "This league is a non-partisan body, and any officer or member of the executive board attempting to use the league for individual purposes shall be expelled."

"Any officer or member of the league being elected to any political office, or appointed to the same, shall resign the office held by him in the league."

"The work of the convention was strongly indorsed by all of the white papers of Chicago, save The Tribune, also The New York Sun and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. By the Afro-American press the league was indorsed unanimously. We append a few of the comments: