Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-10-26
BISHOP HOODS J j, y ! \ v !
Let All Colored Citizens Com
slider Well His Able
Arguments.

tsst tAI = uAACAAVSSs6e
When I was set apart to the ottice o.
bishop, the then senior bishop, J. j.
Clinton, took me aside and told me that
it would not be well for me to continue,
to take an active part in politics. !
have tried to follow his advice, but
have had sometimes the experience OF
which Bishop Moore once complained.
Some one said that he as Q bishop
ought not to NEEDLE with politics.
The bishop said the trouble was that
politics would not let him alone. When
politics quit bothering him, he would
quit bothering with politics. In this
year Of grace politics seems to have
much to do with the bishops. Several
have found It necessary to deny the
statement that they have become DEM
ocrats. So far as know no public.
statement to that effect has been made
respecting myself. But as l have tray.
eled, attending tony episcopal duties,
I have learned that a report has been
circulated that Bishop Hood has turned
Democrat. And have found my peo-S
pie much excited over 1t. do not
blame them for the feeling manifested.
for the negro who forsakes the inter-
est of his people at this time deserves
their contempt. They are not ignorant
respecting political conditions, as some
profess to think. They understand the
situation and know how to vote. Mel
Their are they Indifferent, as some
would make believe. 1t is true that
large numbers in some sections failed
to vote, but 1t was not the result. Of ,in-
difference, but because they We're not
permitted to register. There never has
been time in which they were more
anxious to vote, and If they had been
permitted to do 50 ninety-nine out Of
every hundred would have voted
against the amendment
The multitudes which are now ieav-
ing North Carolina, many Of them at a
great sacrifice Of property, is an indis-
putable evidence of the widespread
discomfort. The Democratic party Is
responsible for every enactment for the
oppression of the negro, from the pas
sage Of the fugitive slave law, the sum
of all villainies, enacted about so years
ago, down to the latest act Of disfran-
chisement here in North Carolina. It
has also opposed in the national con
gress every measure proposed in the in-.
terest of the negro race With this rec
ord in view how any self respecting ned
gro can be an honest Democrat is 4a
mystery beyond my comprehension
No Democrat in North Carolina VI n
knows me would believe me sincere &
pretended it. should lose their I
spect as well as my own. Besides thi4 "a
do my own thinking, and there is no.
an important plank in the Democratic
platform to which could honestly
subscribe. believe in protection to
American industries. The tendency Of
the Democratic doctrine Is toward freG9
trade, to which am unalterably op-
posed. | believe in a dollar worth 100
cents. The tendency of the Democrat !
ic policy is toward dollar worth only
about II cents. know they claim that
by legislation they can make Al cents
worth of silver equal to 100 cents, but
do not care for metal dollar which
needs that Kind Of help to make 1t go.
want the standard Of value to rest
upon a dollar which stands upon its
own merit. The gold dollar is such and
therefore is the universal standard Of
values. believe in expansion. which
was once q Democratic doctrine when
an outlet for the extension of slavery
was desired, but even in that a falling
from grace is now witnessed. 4 might
mention other points of difference, but
think this sufficient to show that I
could not be an honest Democrat even
If had a grievance against the oppo-
site party, which have not. :
do not care to deal in personalities, n
hence need not say much aboutlLI
candidates. But I may remark ths
] have seen nothing to change my ven
high opinion Of President NIcKinlesl
He has certainly done as we'll by NJ
people as>any president we have ey
had, and much better than some u
have been held in higher esteem,
leaders of the negro race. In my q ID
ion, he has done more for the mate IN
development Of the nation than rkiysS
president we have had since lsSi
foundation of the government.
haps it may be said that he has ha S
better opportunity than any. Adj
ting that, It still remains that he SS
been fully equal to his great OF,
tunity. Even his opponents praise
Chinese policy. Buthow could he ha
had hand In that important mate
If he had scuttled out of the Philippe
Islands, us some claim he should lid
done? I think 1t must be admit
that the delegations of the powera
the world at Picking owe their sal
ton to the wisdom of Mckinley. ~
without the base Of operation he III:
In the east he would have been powsst
less and could only bave viewed vii
horror. q fearful tragedy at a great di
tance. This nation eniOyS a rcSDekt