Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-12-20


ss.a,. VINO take part IN iynchings. ana
~ the same time I Condemned. AZ AL
decent men Of any color should con-
denim. the action sf those colorcd men
who actively or passively shield tne
colorsd criminal from the law. In the
case OF thcse companies we had 20 deaf
with men Who IN the first place were
guilty ~ what was practically tho
worst possible form OF lynchlpg-for
iynching Is In Its essence iawless and
murderous vengeance taken by an
armed mob for real or fancied
wronKs-and who In the second place
covered up the crime OF lynching by
standing with vicious solidarity 20
protect tho criminals.
II In OF the utmost importance 20 all
our people that we shall deal with each
man on his merits as a man. and not
deal With him merely an n member OF
given race; that we shall Judge eaah
man by his conduct and not HIS COLI
This In important for the white rnax.
and II IN far more important for the
colored man. More evil and sinister
counsel never was given 20 any people
than that given 10 colored men By
those advisers. whether black or white
who. by apology and conformation, en-
courage conduct such as that OF the
three companies In question. N the
colored men elect 10 stand by criminals
OF their own race because they are OF
their own race. they assuredly lay up
for themselves the most dreadful day
Of reckoning. Every fnrsighted friend
Of the cSi0red race In It's efforts 10
strive onward and upward. should
teach first, as the most important les
son. alike 90 the white man and the
black. the duty Of treating the individ-
ual strictly on his worth as he shows
AZ hrr
which tends 20 substitute for this rule
the rule OF standing by and shielding
an evil does because he II a member OF
their race, means the inevitable degra-
dalton OF the colored race II may and
probably does mean damage 20 the
white race but Il means ruin Go the
black race
Throughout my term OF service in the
presidency | have acted on the prin-
ciple thus advocated. In the north a.
in the south I have appointed c0lored
men Of high character 20 office. utterly
disregarding the protests ~ those who
would have kept them oct % office
because they were colored men. SO far
as was In my power. l have sought 20
secure for the colorcd people all their
rights under the law. I have done all
l could 90 secure them equal school
training when young. equal opportunity
TO earn their lNcnnop1, anu hcuieNt
their happiness when old. I have striv-
en- 10 break up peonage; have upheld
the hands Of those who. like Judge
Jones and Judge Speer. have wazfed
against this peonage. because I sd
hold myself unfit 10 be president
did not. feel the same revolt at
wrong done a colored man as feel NJ
wrong done a white man. l have con-
demned IN unstinted terms the crime
OF lynching perpetrated by white men,
and should take instant advantage Of
any opportunity whereby could bring
10 Justice a mob of lynchera. In pre-
cisely the same spirit have now acted
with reference TO these colored men
who have been guilty OF n black and
dastardiy crime. In one policy. az IN
the other. I do not claim as favor.
but challenge as right. tho support
OF every citizen % this country, what
ever his color. provided only he has IN
him the spirit OF genuine and far
sighted patriotism.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.