The colored American., 1899-12-09


failed signally to discharge its duty to-
ward the Negro citizens, and many
loud, deep, profound, and we trust,
earnest, have been the protests entered
by our people throughout the land
against such failure, while all the
time supporters and apologlsts for the
President and the administration have
been urging what to them seemed was
sufficient excuse for this failure.
With practical unanmity it is also
agreed that the silence steadily main
tanned by the Presid snt in the face Of
all the outrages committed upon the
Negro citizen of our nation is an out
rage, or at least all agree that he should
have at least spoken and expressed
what must be the highest conscientious
sentiment OF the country condemning
such atrocities.
The colored people of Massachusetts
very pointedly call the President to task
for his silence in their open letter to
him, calling attention to the heinous-
ness Of the many Iynchings in Georgia
and the Carolinas. II asked "Did you
break this shameful silence, of shame
full months with go much as whisper
of whisper against the deep damna-
ton of such defiance of all law, human
and divine. such revulsions Of men into
beasts, and relapses Of communities
into barbarism in the various centers of
the republic, and amid the temple OF
American liberty ITSELF"
page 9.Open letter President McKin-
ley by q. P. of M.
Again comes the pecial counsellors
for the administration and the Presi'
dent, and urge, explain, and excuse
again, and insist with seeming full
soul earnestness, that "the Presidents
heart is in the right place, and he will
yet prove himself worthy of the trust
and show himselfthe friend, nay, more,
our own stalwart champion, and with
much eclat and confidence, it is urged
we have but to turn to the Presidents
inaugural ad dress, and there we will find
where Mr. Mckinley stands. Read it,
they say, and thou wilt drink Of the
stream of pure water, that will refresh
thee and restore thy buoyancy and make
again strong thy taith, even as strong
as ours be, Notwithstanding that we
have q monthly draught OF political pap
that makes and keeps our faith strength
ened Read again his words at his
Inauguration, aad tell me how canst
thou doubt, even in the least"
The President will speak again we
are told. Yes he will, and how thank
ful we are that the days are so few
when he,will speak, when throughout
our loved land, We will read other
words Of his Words spoken in manly
manner with splendid diction, formed
into sentences that will tempt many to
commit them to memory, and treasure
them as we treasure words that We
heard 10 the long ago, like the tress-
ured words our mother spoke when
che held Us on her knees; but what
then wheE he has spoken? Will we for
the simple speaking, forgive all; for
get all.
The writer recalls the former speak
ing OF Mckinley, and was told Of a
man who upon going into his house
out OF the cold, much depressed with
the many cares of other peoples
troubles, when his wife sprang upon a
chair, and demanded three hearty
cheers for President Mckinley. "Cheers
for what?" he asked, "Listen, here,
here, here!" she said, as she read from
a newspaper she held in her hands,
'With hands uplifted to heaven and in
clear, full meaning voice and express
sion the President said, the constituted
authorities must be cheerfully and
vigorously upheld. Lynchings must
not be tolerated in great and civil
lized country like the United States;
courts, not mobs, must execute the
penalties OF the law, the preservation
of public order, the right of discussion,
the integrity of courts, and the orderly
administration Of justice must continue
forever the rock Of safety upon which
government securely rests.'"
"Ah well, we had better not rejoice
too much just yet" said the man OF
cares. "Let US wait and see just how
much the Preiident will do to enforce
his declaration, how far he will 60 to
bring about that which he insists
must be-"
The man of cares is waiting yet and
SO are all of us. Now then, can we ex-
pect else but to wait on again after be
has spoken this second time.
1t will be answered. there was nothing
the President could have done. He has
no authority to interfere in matters that
are the concern of the state, such as the
protection of life, and the preservation |
e