The colored American., 1903-02-14

anteeS to him in common with other
citizens. 1t does not recognize a
privileged class it is the exponent
Of that pure democracy which finds
expression in the preamble to the De
claratlon of independence, and in the
heartsbeats of every honest American
who loves justice and equality.
If this is to be a government of
the people by the people and for the
people, then Gov. Terrell's interpreta-
tiCn of constitutional liberty is as
narrow as the confines of his state
of Georgia, and he manIfestly needs a
new baptism in true Americanism.
Such eioquence as the Georgia Gov
ernor INDUCED in is wasted,
when it does not ring true on ques-
tiOns of right, justice, and humanity.
1t was an eloquent and guardedly
worded appeal to the passions of the
white race, in which he forgot to re-
member the constitution of the Negro
to the glory and greatness of the white
race.
Mr.. James H. Hayes of Virginia
whose recent utteranceS before the
AfrC-American Council meeting held in
Washington a short time ago, is COM
ing in for a good deal of denunciatiOn
and abuse from Negroes who seem to
be frightened to death because what he
did not say has excited unfaVOrable
comment in the South. Negroes are
like a barometer, and a good many of
us are like Judas Iscariot in all except
we do not &C out and hang ourselves.
after we have made assess of ourselves.
| It is a great pity we haven't the cOur-
%,1-@ 70.
after our cowardly attempts to throw
down a brave man like Hayes who has
the manliness and the daring to look
the devil OF prejudice and oppression
| in the face and tell him he's deUu.
| Mr.. Hayes did not say the things he
! is reported to have, and by the lying
press agents, who are IN the conspiracy
| against us. He did say and l endorse
every word of 1T: Il am not
an anarchist, l do not believe in kill
| ing anybody, yet if necessary stand up
for your rights and be killed for
| standing up. But the depressing,
| shooting, numbering, burning, lynch
| ing. Jim Growing, and disfranchising
of the Negro will breed a race of Nat.
Turner's, and the sword and torch will
devastate and dissolve the South
There isn't a manly Negro from
Maine to Texas who will not endorse
this utterance, and there isn't one of
us who has had the iron in our hearts
who does not feel that he was justified
IN making that declaration. 1t con-
contains no threat, it Is at once a
warning and an appeal for justice and
fairness. 1t is no more incendiary or
revolutionary than was Patrick
Henry's impassioned "Glve me liberty
or give me DEATH The Negro who is
not willing to die for liberty, to defend
his home and his honor from the as
saults of irresponsible mobs is not
worthy to have liberty, and he deserves
all the bad treatment of which he
complains under his breath.
White men the world over admire
a fighter, they admire courage and
have respect for manhood that insists
on being respected, but they hate
cravens and boothcks and cringing,
crawling creatures, who turn the other
cheek and apologize for being Negroes
John Mitchell'S bravery in Virginia
has done more to inspire respect for
Negroes in that state than all the
apolCgetic and conservative utterances
of the Negroes in that state on the race
question. The white thugs of Vir-
g1nia have been brought to a realiza-
| ton of the fact that John Mitchell will