The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-02-05

Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON, January 27.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt is now confronted
with a responsibility from which he
probably would like to escape. He
has invoked the race issue for politi-
cal purposes, and the consequences
have been accommodating upon him.
He has become Jim-CrOw Joshua,
and his AfrO-partisans are talking OF
taking up the sword and torch.
At a mass-meeting last night under
the auspices of the AfrO-American
Council, for the promotion OF the
cause of the negro, which Mr.. RoOse-
Welt has so ardently espoused, the
principal speaker, James II. Hayes, a
Richmond negro of the ''educated'
class. whom Mr.. Roosevelt processes
to admire declared
''The time has come when the
negro must fight-not theoretically,
not intellectually, but fight with his
hands. The disfranchisement OF the
children of Israel in Egypt has been
followed letter for letter by the dis
reimbursement in the South.
And again: II am afraid we are
anarchistic, that We are anarchists,
and / give the warning that if the
oppression in the South continues
the negro must resort to the sword
and torch. and that the Southland
will become a land OF blood and des-
| Olation.'
The meeting at which this speech
was made was presided over by a
negro Government official, Cyrus
Field Adams, assistant register OF
| the Treasury. The speech was III
support of the position taken by the
Afro-American Council in resolutions
| presenting the negro cause and
pledging loyalty to Mr.. Roosevelt.
The same office-holder (Adams) who
presided delivered Il speech, as did
| the Recorder OF Deeds OF the District
OF Columbia, }. c. Dancey, a negro
appointee OF Mr.. ROOsevelt's, who
was among the guests at the recent
| White House reception.
The temper OF this meeting indi-
Gates the Interpretation put by them
| upon Mr. Roosevelt encouragement
of the negroes to become good clti-
| ZenS.
The President is not in Washing
ton today. having gone to Ohio at
midnight. Therefore it is not known
yet how far he realizes the evil spirit
he has invoked to lift him into Il re-
nomination and reelection. FOrpO-
litical purposes race preiudiceS have
been aroused. For political purposes
negroes are being lifted into false
position OF Seli-esteem which with
their Informed character becomes
dangerous arrogance 1t is feared
that for political reasons the Presi-
dent will not have the courage to
attempt to check the onward prog
ress OF the conflagration which, in
his ignorance OF the negro character.
he has started III order to clear his
path i'll politics.
If IL white official OF the Govern
ment had participated i'll and pre-
sided over such an incendiary meet
ing he would be subject to dismissal
from tile Government service. The
President refused to appoint a white
man to place for which he was Sc
lected because it was charged that
he had participated i'll IL meeting to
consider summary punishment for a
negro criminal The President CON
siders the counseling of crime or out
lawry us itself constituting outlaw
ry. He is now confronted with an
alternative OF assuming share OF
responsibility for this incendiary
meeting, presided over by one of his
officials, and for others that may fol
low with all the attending conse
quences, or OF promptly dealing Will
the offending official i'll accordance
with the gravity of his offence.