The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-30
"a JIM-CROw JOSHUA
Roosevelt Seems to Have Taken n
Great Responsibility - Talk Of
Sword an Torch-Government Of
fetal (Colored) Presides Over
Gathering where an
Speech is Made.
Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore

Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore
SUM-
washington, January 27.-Presid-nt
Roosevelt i. now confronted with a re-
| sponsibility from which he probably
would like to escape. He has invoked
| the race issue for political purposes,
! and the consequences ave been ac-
cumulating upon him. The negroes
are rallying around him. He has be-
come a Jim-Crow Joshua, n his
! Afro-partisons 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.. Roosevelt has
SO ardently %espoused, the principal
speaker, James H. Hayes, a Richmond
Mr.. Roosevelt processes to admire,
declared:
The time has come when the negro
must fight-not theoretically, not intel
~lectually. but fight with his hands. The
disfranchisement Of the children Of
Israel in Egypt has been ollowed let
ter for letter by the Acknowledgement
in the south"
And again: Il am afraid we are
anarchistic, that we are anarchists.
and l give the warning that if the OPP
preston in the south continues the ne
gro must resort to the sword and
torch, and that the southland will be-
come q land Of blood and desolation.'
Government Official Presided.
The meeting at which this speech
was made was presided over by a ne
gro government official, Cyrus Field
Adams. assistant register of the treas
ury. The speech was in support Of the
position taken by the Afro-American
Council in resolutions presenting the
negro cause" and pledging loyalty to
Mr.. Roosevelt. The same
(Adams) who presided delivered q
speech, as did the recorder of deeds or
the District Of Columbia, J. c. Dancey,
a negro appointee of Mr.. Roosevelts s,
who. was among the guests at the re-
cent White House reception.
The temper of this meeting indicates
the Interpretation put by them upon
Mr.. Roosevelt's encouragement Of the
| negroes to become good citizens"
= "Dangerous arrogance"
The president is not in Washington
today, having gone to Ohio at mid
night. Therefore it is not known yet
how far he realizes the evil spirit he
has invoked to lift him into q renOm-
ination and reelection. For political
purposes race prejudices lave been
aroused. For political purposes ne
groes are being lifted into a false posi-
ton of self-esteem which with their
Informed character becomes danger
Gus arrogance. 1t is feared that for
political reasons the president will not
have the courage TO attempt to check
the onward progress of the conflagra-
ton which. in his ignorance of the ne
gro character, he has started in order
to clear his path in politics.
, If a white official of the government
had participated in and presided over
, such an incendiary meeting he would
be subject TO dismissal from the gov
eminent service. The president refused
, to appoint q white man to a place for
r which he was selected because it was
charged that he had participated in a
meeting to consider summary punish
ment for q negro criminal. The pres
ident considers the counseling Of crime
or outlawry as itself constituting out
lawry. He is now confronted with ar
= alternative of assuming a share of re-
sponsibility for this ~incendiary meet
: ing, presided over by one of his officials
, and for others that may follow, with
al the attending consequences or OF
promptly dealing with the offending
official in accordance with the gravity
of his offense.
Might Otend Negroes.
It is understood that a demand vii
> be made for the dismissal OF the assis,
tant register Of the treasury. But pc
, Iitical considerations enter into the
matter. Some of the political advisers
of the president fear that If an ex-
. ample were made Of Adams by his
dismissal from the government service
this action would give offense to tbs
negroes. and some OF those in New
s York, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio Woult
: vote against the party. thus undolns
: all the good work" Mr.. Roosevelt ha:
D done to insure loyalty OF the negro race
. 20 the republican party.
2 40 steps have yet been taken in thu
= ! matter by the secretary Of the treas
l ury, and it could not be learned at tn
|, department today whether any wer'
in contemplation, though it was made
manifest that grave concern and per
nIeyitv were felt. J. P. NJ.