Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-09-15
BISHOP TURNER AND Mr.. BRYAN

Bishop II NJ. TURNER, OF Atlanta,
Ga is one of the leading and one of
the most influential churchmen in tbi
country.
His devotion to the interests Of his
people is upquestioned. He has long
advocated the emigration Of the race
to Africa.
In view OF all OF these facts. the Bish-
ops utterances causot be ignored or
howled down. He is quoted as follows
"I am not O Democrat, never have
been one, and never expect to be, and
1 have no intention OF stumping the
country for Mr.. BRYAN. / dislike Mr..
MCKINLEY and the altitude which he
has assumed toward the n gro. and /
intend to vote for Mr.. BRYAN in the be-
lief that any change is better than
none."
When the distinguished churchmsn
says he is not Democrat, we believe
that he speaks truly. When he says
that he dislikes Nh. hoKINLsS's atti-
tude towards the Negro, ne voices the
opinion OF every sslf-r, oecting indie
pendent citizen of color in the United
States.
This is because he left the bed roe
principles OF the d sclsration OF Iude-
pendencs aud reeog ,nizsd caste and
race pref adice in THE Republic. This
is one OF the things which he stood
sworn not to do. He had no right 60
enquire whether civil official or army
| officer was Negro or o white man be.
fore he recommended his promotion.
Merit and ability alone sh ,uld have
been bis guides. But BIsHoP TURNKR
to use the well. kaovu xpression pre-
fers to ''swsp the devil for the Wits b. %
or better still the switch for the de-
viii"
4 Mr.. BRYAN holds out 40 star OF hope
for the Negro in this country but prom
Uses every thing to the brown man in
the Philippines. He hss carefully a.
voided ali references TO the questions
which have arisen in this country. On.
~ once has he stumbled tquarely upon
the issue and only once has he lodged
away from it like q frightened deer
What else does this report of hit
speech made at the University Of Chi
cago show?
Zone auditor, when the speaker, talk
ing of the disposition of the PHILIPPINES
invsighed against q system which
would permiI one class 80 rule snoth
er, asked: "How about tn situatior
in North CarolinA?" Instantly tn,
speaker replied: LET the race ques.
tion which has Drought US so much
trouble be q warning to you MT tc
bring another race question into thi
country and we do not have to 60 {.
| N orth Carolina, either. for we have /
right here in Illinois and in Ohio"
Mr.. BRYAN has won the reputation o
meeting evsry issue squarely whicl
presented itself, how has he met thi
onei
His policy and that OF Mr. MoKN
LEY's is identical. He would leave tn
South alone in its 5loodthirstiness. III
would permit the anarchy of the Sout
to spread to the North and West 9
that we may continue to witness scene
OF lawlessn ess and blooa-sh In I'LL
NoIs, INDIANA, and OHIO. What excus
then has Bishop TURNER for his SUP
. port of Mr.. BRYAN
When he does so, he yields up one {
the greatest principles for which "
contend.
We had no part in his nomination fc
we were barred from the Democrat
. primaries which sent delegates to non
mate him.
= We are called upon then to assist
electing o candidate in whose nominl
tion we were permitted to take no par
But BISHOP TURNER SAYS further:
n "This is no new change in heart wit
q me. For sixteen years ! have bee
q cooling toward the Republican part!
n ever since the decision of the Suprem
d Court which practically held that th
. Negro had no civil rights. From thl
ii date to this the decisions of the 8
,r preme Court have been against the N
"a gro where a question of his political {
"a civil rights was involved. have hear
a. of one instance where the 6upren
ID Court held in the case or o Negro fro
m Texas that he was entitled to trial
e. q jury of his peers; that is, one COZ
1e posed at least partly of Negroes, but
o. have not verified this.
o. The supreme COURT has practical
e. ldecitizeniEed the Negro aud has null
. fed the amendments to the Constit
"a tion."
n. We agree with all that he1ssys co
al cerning the Supreme court OF the q
o. tied States. Across its Chamber doc
ne is invisibly written, "The Negro. w
al enters here. leaves hope behind"
Its decisions have recognized cast,
an stirred up prejudice and turned
q ? large body of American citisens on
TO another class with the privilege
annihilAka their riRhta and HinlS