The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-28

~0S
allied and extolled the patriotism OF
the south and told how many more
soldiers "So'th China" had sent to
the Spsnish war than Massachusetts
and some of the eastern states. He
deplored the fact that the western
people did not better understand
those of the south and said they were
prejudiced. Evidencing this he re-
cited that he had been unable to buy
here a newspaper printed in any Of
the states of the cotton belt, while he
could find any number of those print
ed in the large cities Of the north.
He had now become sufficiently
warmed up to tackle the subject a
est his heart and the captain preceded
to show how a real southern gentle
man, a member of the chivalry and
~aristocracy, regards the negro. He
abused President Roosevelt for the
common decency he showed Booker
T. Washington and the recognition he
gave him as a man of intelligence
and a leader of his rae II do not
want to eat and sleep with a niger,
no matter what the other fellow
does," he roared, and raising his
hands aloft he fairly shrieked, this
is a white mans country, and, thank
God, a million Roosevelts teaching
disobedience to the laws will not
change it."
Hunger for Office was charged to
be the basis of the presidents "love
for the nigger," who the speaker said
had elected every president during the
last IL years. Ranting and bowling
the captain ragged up and down the
stage giving ~utterances to his embit-
tered hatred of the nations chief ex-
ecutive. Occasionally he would turn
to Senator Clarke and much to that
gentleman's manifest annoyance ask
him if he was not telling that which
was true. The appointment of a mig
ger woman" as postmistress of In
dianola against the protests of the
%chivalrous white men Of Mississippi
and her subsequent enforced resigna-
ton at the command of those same
devoted and loyal lovers of their
country and generators of it's laws
was held up for the delectation of the
audience, followed by the appointment
of Doctor Crum, another Niger" as
collector of the port at Charleston.
When he reached the latter appoint
ment Captain Blair evidenced that he
is not yet free of the old spirit of
know-nothingism and continues a
warm regard for the Knights of the
| Golden Circle. The people of Charles
ton were Anglo-Saxons, he said, only
q few foreigners we're there, and it
was ruled by Anglo-Saxons, who re-
volted at the idea of having any but
those of their own blood occupying
a public position of Importance and
trust. The American citizens of Teu-
| lOu1C, ddOllC anu Oil OCAO1 AoAOASh
origin or descent were ignored by the
captain, who devoted all his powers
of rhetoric and eloquence to a lauda-
ton of the men of Anglo-Saxon blood,
the others apparently being consider
ed with but little more favor than the
outcast "nigger." How they regarded
this, of course, cannot be told, but
there were many in the house who by
birth or descent owed their existence
to other strains of blood than that
which the speaker extOlled above
every other. Occupying a prominent
seat. on the stage, so close that he
could have touched the speaker had
he been so minded, was one of the
city's most respected and prominent
men whose Teutonic %parentage is well
known and who, because of the sturdy
qualities he inherited therefrom, has
the confidence and esteem of the com
munity.
To quote further from Captain
Blair's speech, possibly harangue, is
unnecessary. The samples given at
ford an excellent idea as to the whole.
Race prejudice, sectionalism and par
tisanship of the highest degree perme-
ated it and if it had any effect what
soever, judging from remarks to be
heard after it's delivery, it vas to only
make the republicans who heard it all
the more welded to the principles and
policies of their party, without lessen
ing the determination of many demo.
Gratis to vote for ~''Teddy."
BEHRENDT BROS MACHINERY
AND GENERAL IRON WORKS.
Machine, boiler and general iron