Sixty-five college professors and ministers, representing a large number of Southern institutions and organizations, at the Southern Student Conference, Blue Ridge, North Carolina, have studied and discussed for ten days various aspects of the race problem in the South. As a result of their deliberations they agreed upon the following general principles and special proposals as a basis for an appeal to the Southern people.

1. It seems very essential that the people of the South should now earnestly and seriously consider the race problem. Serious at all times, the problem has become more acute by reason of conditions growing out of the war. The continued lynchings in all parts of this section, the large exodus of negroes from the South, the service rendered to the country by negro soldiers during the war, and their return to their respective communities bring to the front certain new aspects of the question. These conditions call for the utmost sanity, tact and Christian forebearance in both races. Neither the misunderstandings of people in other sections, nor the unwise and radical views and methods of extremeness in both races should interfere with the statesmanlike, constructive, Christian program.

2. Firmly convinced that lynching is unjustifiable and deplorable under any and all circumstances, we appeal to the Southern people to set themselves resolutely against this evil practice that strikes at the foundations of all civilization and national honor. We urge men in every community to organize against the possibility of such a crime. In some places organizations and propaganda, combined with the aggressive action of state and county officers, have reduced the chances for such occurrences.

3. It is our impression that the returning negro soldiers have in the main acted with becoming moderation; they should be welcomed back has having done a great service for the nation and the world and as capable of becoming real contributors to our economic and social reconstruction. Any tendency to organize secret societies for the intimidation or persecution of negroes is fraught with gravest consequences and should be aggressively resisted by state and county officers.

4. While we recognize the need for immediate action to meet the immediate situation, we realize that there is no panacea for so great a problem. Only patient, persistent work along broad Christian lines will bring about a reasonable approximate to the ideal. It is very essential that Southern white men should more thoroughly inform themselves of the real conditions--economic, social and moral--that prevail among the negroes. To this end classes should be organized in colleges, churches and business organizations to find out the actual facts in particular localities. Such study would be the improvement of living conditions and educational facilities; it would call attention to frequent injustice in our courts and to unsatisfactory transportation facilities. It would lead also to an appreciation of the progress that the Southern negroes are making in business, education and in moral ideals. Co-operation between the leaders of both races, made possible by definite organizations, would allay prejudice, dissipate rumors and make possible a spirit of genuine sympathy.

Because we have been impressed by our study and discussions we dedicate ourselves to the promulgation of these ideas through classes which we ourselves may teach and through all instrumentalities that we may be able to touch. We urge our fellow-citizens of the South to unite with us in an effort to bring about a better, permanent relationship between the races and to meet the immediate situation that may become more and more acute.