Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-10-26
BISHOP HOODS VIEWS
let All Colored Citizens Con-
slider Well His Able
Arguments.

/ IS%% tAES uMCAtSs
When was set apart to tho Office Of
bishop, the then senior bishop, ]. j,
| Clinton, took me aside and told me that,
| 1t 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 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 have tray-
eled, attending to my episcopal duties
I have learned that report has been
circulated that Bishop Hood has turned
Democrat. And have found my peo-s
! pie much excited over it. 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. Nei-
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 were not
permitted to register. There never has
been a time In which they were more
anxious to vote, and If they had been
permitted to do SO ninety-nine out Of
every hundred would have voted
against the amendment.
The multitudes which are now leav-
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-
gresc every measure proposed in the in
terest Of the negro race. With this rec
ord in view how any self respecting nez1
gro can be an honest Democrat is 4s
mystery beyond my comprehensive u
No Democrat in North Carolina NJ H
knows me would believe me sincere 8
l pretended it. / should lose their II r
spect as well as my own. Besides thi& 4
do my own thinking, and there is no
an important plank in the Democratic
platform to which I could honestly
subscribe. I believe in protection to
American industries. The tendency Of
the Democratic doctrine is toward freGsa
trade, to which ! am unalterably op-
posed. believe in a dollar worth 100
cents. The tendency of the Democrats
ic policy is toward dollar worth only
about AZ cents. know they claim that
by legislation they can make AZ cents
worth Of silver equal to 100 cents, but
! do not care for metal dollar which
needs that kind Of help to make it go.
/ want the standard Of value to rest
upon a dollar which stands upon it's
own merit. The gold dollar is such and
therefore is the universal standard Of
values. I believe in expansion, which,
was once a Democratic doctrine when
an outlet for the extension Of slavery
was desired, but even in that a falling
from grace Is now witnessed I 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, q
hence need not say much abouttlE
candidates. But may remark the VI
have seen nothing to change my vel
high opinion of President McKinlea
lie has certainly done as well BY NJ
people as<any president we have e.
had, and much better than some "
have been held in higher esteem
leaders of the negro race. In my q
ion, he has done more for the mate ia
development of the nation than st M
president we have had since lssa
foundation of the government.
haps it may be said that he has ham
better opportunity than any. Adl
ting that, it still remains that he SSsSs
been fully equal to his great OF
tunity. Even his opponents praise y
Chinese policy. But-how could he has
had hand In that important matte
If he had scuttled out of the Philippi
Islands, rs some claim he should Id
done? l think 1t must be admit
that the delegations Of the powera
the world at Picking owe their sal
ton to the wisdom of Mckinley. AZ
without the base Of operation he LII:
In the east he would have been pow,
less and could only have viewed wi
horror q fearful tragedy alta great di
lance. This nation enjoys respect n