The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-20

the Army Regulations. where the serv-
ice has not been honest and faithful
that Is. where the service does not war;
rant reenlistment.
So much for the military side of tho
case. But L wish to say something addi-
tlonal, from the standpoint OF the race
question In my message at the opening
of the Congress | DISGUST the matter OF
iynching. In 1t | gave utterance to the
adherence which all decent citizens
should fec! for the deeds OF the men Qn
almost all cases white mem who take
part In lynchings, and at the same tImo
| condemned, as all decent men of any
color should condemn, the action of those
colored men who actively or passivey
shield the colored criminal from the law
In the case of these companies we had
to deal with men who in the first place
were guilty of what was practically the
worst possible form of lynchng--for a
lynching is in its essence lawless and
murderous vengeance taken by an armed
mob for real or fancied wrongs-and win,
IN the second place covered up the crime
of lynching by standing with a vicious
solidarity to protect the criminals.
1t is of the utmost Importance to all
our people that we shall deal with each
man on his merits as a man, and not deal
with him merely as member of a given
race; that we shall judge each man by
his conduct and not his color. This is
far more important for the colored man.
More evil and sinister counsel never
was given to any people than that given
to colored men by those advisers, wheth-
er black or white. who, by apology and
conformation, encourage conduct such as
that of the three companies In question.
If the colored men elect to stand BY
criminals OF their own race because they
are OF their own race, they assuredy
lay up for themselves the most dreadful
day of reckoning. Every farslghted friend
OF the colored race IN it's efforts to strive
onward and upward. should teach first,
as the most important lesson alike to
the white man and the black, the duty az
treating the individual man strictly on
his worth as he shows IL. Any conduct
by colored people which tends to sub
stitute for this rule the rule OF standing
by and shielding an evil doer because ne
Is a member of their race, means the III
evitable degradation of the colored race
1t may and probably does mean damage
to the white race, but 1t means ruin 10
the black race.
Turnout my term of service in the
presidency L have acted on the principle
thus advanced. In the north as in The
south, | have appointed colored men of
high character to office, utterly disre-
garding the protests of those who would
have kept them out of office because they
were colored men. So far as was in my
power l have sought to secure for the
colored people all their rights under the
law. l have done all / could TO secure
them equal school training when young,
equal opportunity to earn their livelihood.
and achieve their happiness when old.
have striven to break up peonage;
have upheld the hands of those who. like
Judge Jones and Judge Speer, have warrcd
against this peonage, because | would
hold myself unfit to be President IL did
not feel the same revolt at wrong done
colored man as feel at wrong done
white man. L have condemned in IN
stlnted terms the crime of lynching per-
petrated by white men. and l should take
instant advantage OF any opportunity
whereby 1 could bring 10 justice mob
of lynchers. In precisely the same spirit
/ have now acted with reference to these
colored men who have been guilty OF
black and dastardly crime. In one policy.
as in the other, do not claim as favor,
but / challenge as a right, the support OF
every citizen of this country, whatever
his color, provided only he has in him the
spirit Of genuine and far-sIghted patriot
ism. THEODORE ROOSEVBkI.