Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14
Negroes and Democracy.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
I have read with much interest and care
several articles that appeared in your paper
recently in relation to the negro The pre-
ponderance of the arguments set forth in
said articles seemed to place the negro as
something to be legislated for, something
to be legislated against. l am of opinion
that no special legislation is needed for the
negro at this time. Since the adoption of
the amendments to the Constitution Of the
United States the negro must be man, and
stand or fall with those amendments. The
constitutional amendments of the states of
Louisiana and North Carolina recently
adopted must and will be passed upon by
the Supreme Court of the United States,
and the court, l think, will decide them to
violate the Constitution of the United States.
The remedy for IN attempted modification
of the federal Constitution must rest some
where, either in the legislative, executive or
Judicial branch of the government. But my
colOred democratic friends cannot induce me
to believe that this remedy will be found,
or, If found, enforced, if the demopopocratfc
candidate Is elected. What words of encour-
agement has the democratic party as now
constituted held out to the negro? That
party believes in the consent Of the gov
erned for the Filipinos, thousands of miles
away. 1t is forever reaffirming the Decla-
ration of Independence, that all men are
created equal and are endowed with certain
inalienable rights, among them life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness Yet we ne
groes of America must be governed with
out our consent, and the rights guaranteed
to us by the Constitution of the United
States, both civil and political are one by
one being taken away. Bishop III. NJ. Tur-
ner, senior bishop of the A. NJ. E. Church,
signifies his intention of voting for Mr..
Bryan this fall. | have been a communI-
cant of the A. NJ. E. Church, and have tried
in my weak way to follow the teachings of
the senior bishop as to the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sins of the world but
l cannot follow the bishop into the demo-
cratic fold as a sheep before the shearer
and lamb to be slaughtered dumb and
openeth not my mouth. | have been taught
If there be two evils choose the lesser. The
bishop acknowledges that this administration
has appointed few negroes to office-given
out few loaves and fishes. Some loaf is
far better than no loaf at all. If given by a
republican administration, but the other
side has not even promised the crumbs that
may fall from the democratic table. Presi-
dent Mckinley in his letter Of acceptance
says. few words of encouragement to the
negro. VIII Mr.. Bryan say as much?
JACOB b. ASKINS.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
1t must be apparent to the most unob-
servant that the bad advice given by some
of the soi-disant leaders of the colored
people is bearing abundant fruit among a
certain class of that numerous body Of our
population. That advice, in a nutshell has
been: Stand up for your rights; don't take
anything from white man, but hit him."
The want of just discrimina ton has led
many to assume that license Is the same as
right In the short space of two weeks
1 have noticed In The Star no less than
eleven arrests for disorderly conduct on the
street cars by the class alluded to- The
most reasonable request on the part of duly
authorized agents Is not only resented but
these roughs go out of their way to make
trouble for officials and cause unpleasant
scenes in public. 1t is an unfortunate con-
dition, daily growing worse, and now might
be an opportune time for sensible colored
men to come forward to try to influence the
ignorant and vicious, else there can be but
one result to plain, downward course
ORDER.