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pokey and wisdom dictate the practical denial to us of our rights. What has been done in North and South Carolina and in Louisiana and Texas could and we think should be done in the State of Alabama.

Again we consider ourselves wronged in being deprived places and positions under the city government. We do not ask for nor expect any offices which we are not qualified to fill. But we believe that our half of the police force of the city could be appointed from the colored people without prejudice to the interests of the city, and to the greatest possible benefits to our people. We are not desirous that a mere mocking should be made by the appointment of a few men with a view to appease the mass of our people. There are still on the force many men who are openly avowed enemies of the government. But while we believe that out political position and legal rights and our qualifications are such as to warrant our expectation of such appointments we have still other reasons.
We are very poor. [[strikethrough]]We[[strikethrough]] Our political action has in many instances deprived us of employment caused the loss of our patronage and distressed us in many