plant the foot of the ladder in a fiery
test and engirdle each round with a forest of thorns. Do this
and more, if your civilization and the highest needs of the
unborn world require it. But when, through the fire and up the
path of thorns, we climb where others climb, hurl us not back
because of a color given us from above. Let one test be unto
all men. Let the strong arm of the nation for its own good and
for the ultimate good of humanity insist upon the observance of
this principle wherever Old Glory floats. Let this be the
guiding star of your policy toward us. This grave question
settled, the vast army of Negro leaders absorbed in the
momentous work of adjusting this external problem, will be
free to turn undivided attention to the curing of those ills
that are gnawing at the vitals of the race.

"Those most interested in the internal development of the race
can render the cause so dear to their hearts no greater service
than by facilitating the adjustment of the outer relation.

"The campaign, then, is one that concerns not only the
political forces of the nation, but the moral forces as well,
since the pressing of this great wrong upon the hearts of an
inoffensive, patient and aspiring people tends to their moral
undoing, not only by the evil passions engendered, but also, as
has been pointed out, by the withdrawing of so much of the
attention of the race from internal development to the
absorbing, exacting and, in some respects, narrowing task of
battling against an alien aggression.

"From the depths of our dark night we cry unto you to save us
from the oppression inherent in the present situation and clear
the way for our higher aspirations.

"In behalf of the Negroes of the United States of America,

"ENSAL ELLWOOD."

Ensal finished the document, folded it carefully and laid it upon his
desk.

"Now Earl," he said, "let us print millions of this address and see to
it that a copy thereof gets into every American home. Furthermore, let
us see to it that it is translated into the various languages of the
civilized world that the whole thought of the human race may be
influenced in our direction. Earl, our cause is just and we must learn
to plead it acceptably. That is our problem. Eschew your plan and join
hands