The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-07

why we are here, and I say that we are here.a my friends, because, God reigns and Republican principles still prevail in the Republican party of Alabama.
 stood i' for pa human rights Ra and nd property rights, and when a party departs from the principles which gave it sirth, they wander off into the darkness Of despair We have a living example of what 1t is for a party to depart from It's principles, in that much respected, ancient rum known as the Democratic party, 'Though lost to sight, to memory dear.
 Not Here for Roosevelt.
 Now I will tell you what we are not here for. We are not here for the pur- pose of furthering the political interest of Theodore Roosevelt, because, my friends, his interests are strong enough 10 take care of themselves. and because he will be nominated without the vote or Alabama just as he will be elected with out the votes of Alabama. When ne, Tn the exercise of the prerogative granted to him under the Constitution Of the United States. saw proper to appoint a few colored men--fewer, indeed, than the great Mckinley appointed to offfce-the cry went up that he was looking out for negro delegates. Is there man wlthin the hearing of my voice who doubts that so far as the present organization Is con- cerned: had he recognized the present Republican State Executive Committee and their unRepublican methods, that there would not be one breath of oppo- sition to him today from those sources. But he was actuated by greater prin- ciple than that. he does not need nor IS he looking for delegates.
 But there is one thing that the Presi- dent desires above all else, and that ls' that the Republican party shall remain true to the principles upon which 1t was founded That much. as the representa- tive of this great Republic. he has the right to insist upon. and he would DC false to his oath of office did ne do
 Negro Should Hold Office.
 Now they say that a negro ought not to hold office, and there are some men in high places who say that the negro shall not hold office in the Southern States, My friends, this does not voice the sentiment of the great conservative people of Alabama. and. standing hcre in my beloved State which l love next to my heart, want to say that those sentiments coming from men high In au- thorjty do not voice the sentiment oi the conservative people of this country and. to prove it. I will state some facts with reference to the city of Huntsville | that enlightened, cultured city which was | the cradle of the first Alabama Consti- | tuition. There we have two coloreo AT det men. and we have had two colored Al dermen for more than twelve or ntteer years past They sit in the Coun$ Chamber with white Democrats. and yt' we have never heard that incident com mented upon or criticised from any
 source. In the recent election but few days ago, it became the duty ot tn'
 Board of Aldermen in the city of Hunts vile, composed of seven white Democrats and two colored men, to select regis trar to register voters in ward where | the proportion was forty-five white people | to sixteen colored people, and they se | lected as their registrar colored mar | who was a former appointee of Presi | dent Harrison and was the Receiver ol Public Moneys in the city of Huntsville | When the time came to select inspectors l of election to hold the election in tha
 ward, this board of seven white Demo crats and two colored men selected ont white man and two colored men to holt | that election; when they came to se lecting the returning officer to return the vote in that ward, they selected coloret