The broad ax., 1904-10-22
Thomas Jefferson Was tho Fret
president to Dine With a
Negro in the White House
Vice President Richard NJ. John-
sons Wife Was a .Colored
Woman.

Whenever some Of the gentlemen
who are posing as the leaders of tn,
Democratic party in certain section,
OF this country will cease their rail
ing against the Negro - wheneye,
they and the Negro will take the time
to familiarize themselves with the fol
lowing historical works, namely, Mrs
Sarah Randolph's Life of Thoma:
Jefferson" Johnson's School History
OF the Negro Race In America" HenrJ
Wilson's Rise and FAN of the Slave
Power" Horace Greeley's Great
American Conflict" James G. Blaine's
Twenty Years in Congress-" Cooper's
history OF the Political Parties and
Their Platforms" George w. JuIIan's
Political Recollections," James Free
man clafk's history of the amt,
Slavery Movement" and similar
works, they will learn that Thomas
Jefferson, the father Of true Democ.
Iacy, was the first President of the
United States to dine with a Negro
in the White House: that BENJAMIN
Banneka, astronomer, mathmemati-
clan, author and publisher Of one of
the first almanacs IN America. who
could master the arts and the sciences
and could speak i've different Ian
guages, who assisted the commission
ers to survey and map ont the Dis
trlct Of Columbia, was the Negro
whom Mr. Jefferson invited by letter
to come and enjoy his hospitality at
the white House; that Mr. BannekA
accepted the invitation, and he broke
bread with the first Democratic Presi-
dent; that on his return to his home
near Baltimore, Nd, he, according to
his promise, sent Mr. Jefferson copy
Of his almanac, and a letter pleading
for better treatment Of the people OF
African descent In the United States,
That Mr.. JEFFERSON priced the almanac
so highly that he sent 1t to Monsieur
de Cordorat, secretary of the Academy
Of Sciences at Paris, and member Of
the Phflanthropic Society. That the
original letters which passed between
those distinguished men are still In
a high state of preservation.
The small-bore politicians-those
who are expanding much Of their en-
ergy and precious time in condemn
ing President Roosevelt for informal
" lunching with q colored man in
the White House, must from necessf-
ty condemn Thomas Jefferson for do
ing the same thing, and they and the
Negro will also learn that the slavery
question did not assume q national
aspect until 1885 or 1910. That the
leaders of the Federal party, which In
time merged into the Wing party,
which was finally absorbed or swal-
lowed up by the Republican party
did not regard slavery as an immoral
institution. That the Democratic par
ty. under the leadership Of Thomas
Jefferson, at that time, and for many
years thereafter, contained more able
leaders and statesmen who were bit
terry opposed to the advancement OF
slavery than any other political party.
II was Thomas Jefferson who de-
.lared while speaking against the con-
tinuance of slavery in the Continental
Congress- that 'The chief character
site of this age, as it was the chieI |
Of Plato's, is the strug-
lie for what we call the rights Of man
n other times the thing insisted on |
vas that men should do what
vas right as something due to a
higher authority. Now demand Is Tor
That is called their rights as some
hing due to themselves, and among
hese Is q right to liberty, meaning
he utmost possible freedom OF every
nan consistent with the freedom OF
theirs and the abolition OF eEry
ind of authority Of one man
yer another. It is with this view that ,
re intend to introduce popular SUI
rage that we give every one vote =
r aim at giving it. as the highest
Official perfection" In conclusion ne
eclared 'aThat nothing is more GER
afnly written in the book OF rate
han that the Negro shall be free!
George Mason. virginian. and one
the great fathers Of the Democratic
artv followed Thomas Jefferson. ana
uring the course Of his speech ne
that 'more than four cen
mics before the Christian era Aict
amas, q pupil Of Gorgias' taught