The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-07-25

our answer to the following ques-
tions:'
1. 1t Is hardly possible that Sena-
tor Foraker will get the Republican
nomination. Shall We show our graf
1tude to him for his conduct In the
Brownsville affair by standing by him
as our candidate? Even If he did
not get the nomination, would not
his strength thus obtained enable
him In a measure to dictate the plat
form. -
3. Do We think we can consistently
support Taft or Roosevelt?
3. Would some unusual concession
by Roosevelt at this time win you
over, provided you are hostile. And
If so, what concession?
4.What is your advice to our peo-
pie in the present situation?
AS we have repeatedly affirmed, we
hold Senator Foraker in the highest
esteem. We honor him for the man,
ly stand which he has always talk
EN- upon every question affecting our
civil and political rights and would
not count the cost in supporting him
for any Office to which he might
aspire, If there were any hope Of sue
cess. But, as the Voice states, it Is
hardly possible that Mr.. Foraker will
get the republican nomination. Why
then, pray, continue to pursue a
course which We ourselves confess
must end in defeat? Granting that
the strength obtained from the black
mans support would enable him to
dictate the platform Of the party,
what then? Have we not had plat
forms apparently stronger than Gil
bralter only to see them crumble
Of their own weight? The uninitiat-
ed expected much from the anti-dis-
plank in the Chicago
platform, but nothing came Of 1t. Re-
peated efforts of friends of the race to
jority on record as to the policy Of
the South in depriving a portion Of
it's citizens of their franchise rights
ANONYMOUSLY failed, and disfran-
goes merrily on.
We may not be able to support
Mr.. Taft or Mr.. Roosevelt consist
emily, but. If either is the choice Of
the party, we shall find that it is
policy to do so.
1t is no secret that, while the Re-
publicans may not want lis, the Dem
ocrats will not have us and there is
left only Hobson's choice. We must,
in the circumstances, take a ham
loaf or no loaf.
We did not before the Browns
vile affair attribute to the President
any other than human wisdom, and
human wisdom is liable to err.
Would it then be consistent to de-
mand an usual concession" in re-
paratiOn for an error Of judgment,
as the discharge Of the black battal-
ions seems to have been? The Advo-
cate will be satisfied, if, after the
President is convinced Of his error,
he makes whatever amends lie In
his power. If, however, the eva
dence before the Investigating COM
mittee does not prove to him the
innocence Of the Negro soldiers or
produce within his mind a doubt of
their completely in or knowledge of
the shooting up of the Texas town,
this paper will not consider that the
race has sufficient grounds from
which to hurl it's bolts of defiance.
This being the case, our advice, TO
our people in the present situation"
is to go slowly. We can not afford
to declare at a time SO far removed
from the convention that We will
support this or oppose that man.
1t is political suicide to permit our
sympathies to outrun our judgment
as a hard and fast endorsement Of
Mr.. Foraker or any other candidate
would be. TO do so might result in
our total elimination, a consumma-
ton to be avoided, even though it
makes us appear ungrateful.
H-r,Ix,c, N-r>rro a N1n <1O%aNLTNrU