The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-02-23

Roosevelt Calls ON All 90 Ala In Rsisins
Black Man's standard.

Roosevelt Calls on All Co Ala in Raising
Black Man's standard.
President Roosevelt gave the fruit OF
his thought on the race problem In a
speech Monday night before the Republi-
can Club In New York City. The occa-
sion was the Lincoln dinner Of the club.
The President made n stirring appeal 10
the American love Of justice and equal
ity for n sincere effort 20 uplift the moral
and industrial standard Of the negro.
He thought desire to help up should
conquer n desire TO crush down. The
advance Of the black man meant the ad'
vance Of the white, he said. and he spe-
cially urged negroes TO work increasingly
TO eradicate shifticssncss aud crime from
among their people. He invoked the
spirit Of justice that animated Lincoln
ana used this as his text. The Presi-
dent thanked the people Of the South
and North who had aided In the war on
lynching and cited the fact that the
last three months showed a smaller num-
bcr Of lynchings than any similar period
In the last twenty years.
The Presidents speech nj the Lincoln
dinner was devoted chiefly 10 the race
problem. In the course Of his remarks
he said:
High though he U.incoln) put peace,
he put righteousness higher.
"Our effort should be TO secure TO each
man. whatever his color. equality Of OPP
portunity. equality Of treatment before
the law.
The only safe principle upon which
Americans can act In that Of all men up
not that Of some men down.
'Lazincss and shiftlcssncss. vice and
criminality Of every kind are evils more
potent for harm 20 the black race than
all the acts Of oppression Of white men
put together.
LET US be steadfast for the right; but
let ms err on the side Of generosity rather
than on the side Of vindictivcness.
II could not have such confidcht faith
In the destiny Of this mighty people II l
had IL merely as regards one portion OK
that people"
President Roosevelt prefaced his pre-
pared speech ut the Lincoln dinner by a
short cxismporaneous introduction, In
which he said that, although he was
speaking 10 fellow members Of his old
political club. what he was going TO say
would be said as an American speaking
TO good Americans. He then entered
upon his set speech. hut departed fire.
quently from the text. aud these depart
urcs constituted some Of the most inter
esting features Of the address
In speaking Of the readiness with
which people delight 10 find fault In
Z neighbors. he said
1 1T IL n good thing 10 remember that,
/ while Il IL occasionally proper 10 Join In
, mass meetings for the purpose Of call.
Ing attention TO ncighbors' shortcomings.
IL Is normally better Ia turn TO our own"
! In presenting figures showing de-
, crease In lynchinIs in the last three
months the President said:
These are striking figures aud take
a certain satisfaction In them in view Of
some Of the gloomy forcbodings Of last
summer"
Another side remark which caught the
Presidents hearers was:
/ There Is not one ~ us that does not
sometimes stumble. and shame he To US II
We do not help him up, but II he lies
down there Is no use in trying TO carry
him. il will hurt both Of us."