Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-02-06
THE. TORCH AND SWORD.
(By Jim Hayes,)

| Jim Hayes il the Richmond Negro
lawyer who MI. John s. Wise is asso
ciated with in the cases brought fol
testing the validity of the Virginii
Constitution. Hayes has been t.
Washington attending meeting Of biz
race and has made speech. We copy
from the Washington Post of Jan. q
the following report of that meeting
At mass meeting of cOlored people
at Lincoln Memorial Church, at s
clock last night, under the auspice s
OF the Afro American Council, prOmi
nent speakers of the negro race made
addresses upon the question of dis
reimbursement in the Southern States.
and considerable feeling was manifest.
ed. Cyrus Field Adams, assistant
register of the Treasury, presided.
James III. Hayes of Richmond, the
attorney who has been retained by
the colored people of Virginia to test
the dlSfranchisement laws of that
State, delivered speech in which he
declared that the negro has now reach
ed the limit of his endurance, and ad-
vOcated the sword and torch as a
means for the negro to maintain bis
manhood. His remarks were received
with great enthusiasm.
The Washington Post reporter was
on the ground and that paper usually
gets things right, especially things of
as much Importance s the meetings
OF anarchists. The Post gives the fol
lowing quotations from that speech.
Hayes said:
There is nothing in Virginia for
the negro but degradation. unless the
negroes make firm stand, contend
for their rights, and. if necessary, die
for them. l am not an anarchist. and
l don t mean to go out and kill any
BODY. but to let somebody else kill
you.
IN egroes are leaving the State of
V Virginia because of the treatment they
Ire receiving. What we want to do
8 to start something, and keep it up
Until the white people stop something.
We dom intend to be oppressed any
Onger. We don't intend to be crushed, |
am afraid we are anarchistic, that
We are anarchists, that l give the
warming that if this oppression in the |
'OuIh continues the negro must resort |
o The sword and torch, and tuat the |
southland will become land of blood |
nd desOlatiOn.''
The report of this incendiary meet
ng went over the land. All the lead
Dg newspapers commented on it,
here was general feeling of disgust
yer it coupled with the general dis.
ust also over the methods adopted by
resident Roosevelt relative to negro
quality. The Coliseum Club of New
rleans, telegraphed Hayes as follows
New Orleans, La, Jan. %. h
The Coliseum Club will give Niger I
ayes $3, 600 and transportation to t
ew Orleans if be will deliver in our t
all bis speech verbatim as delivered 1
efore Afro American council in Wash ,
lgton on the 26th. 6
Coliseum Club.
Hayes seeing too late what be had |
me, has now begun lying. He has 3
lien back upon the only resource left [
m and that is to say be was not cor {
city reported. This is the favorite
vice OF people who make blunders,
atr pas as the French call them.
nd pda0S, as We call them. =
The trouble with Hayes is that Mr..
has been hobnobbing with
race in way to make fools Of the ir
aker ones. Mr. Wise hrs been hay 81
heart to heart talks with Hayes, g
d has himself made speech or two 9,
written letter or two much in az
same vein. This certainly led "
yes to think he really amounted I'd
something. and having these senti- w
nts boiling in him saw the favora- M
opportunity near his friend, the
in the negro heaven Wash Sr
ton, so he simply boiled over, that
IL. He has greatly injured himself
bis race, but he is not wholly to ne
me. White men cause these un. e! -.
utterances, and the white men in afr
case were Roosevelt and Wise. tn,