Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-07-06

( subjected, rather than the handicaps
. which now meet US on every hand.
There Is a bright side to this
question and in our judgment the
men who drafted this remarkable
document missed 2 golden opportun
ity in failing to call attention to the
productive power OF the industrious
Negroes of this country and the great
wealth that they have accumulated
during the last decade OF its exist
ence. Tt win not do now TO sing
the song OF the dying swan. for the
greater portion of as are now get
tins ready to live.
5 we are making a life and death
struggle down here. both for finance
and for earthly existence. but we
wish the whole truth told We be-
lieye that the agitator has his place.
lie should use statistical facts in
dealing with this question. To fail
SO TO do gives the occasion a polit-
icai flavor with no redecming trait
90 apologize for it's existence.
While we do not agree VITA DIT.
Booker T. Washington in many of
mis- theories and policies. &c does
not seem wise or prudent to unmer-
cifuny assail him. He has made
mistakes and he is still making them
bat our expression of disapproval
should be voiced in words of sober
ness and good Judgment. done with
O feeling of regret and q hope of "a
change for the future.
What is true OF DIR. Washington.
is equally so of DR.. W. Il. Council
and host of widely known and i'm
nuential leaders OF the race But
what is the use q giving advice a.
long these lines2 When the boys
warm up. mature good Judgment
goes TO the winds, so 90 speak.
4 IL this is true Of colored leaders.
what must be said OF the disun-
guished occupant of the White
House? Theodore Roosevelt has the
, ear of the civilized world. His die
tum will weigh against a million OF
men in this country That is why
we have urged him 10 do us Justice,
for when he does us an injustice,
the door is barred against MS for
ever and he alone can open IT, He
certainly wounded deeply every col
ored person fin the United States
when ne nullided the basic princi-
pie Of this republic In furnishing 167
colored soldiers without a trial.
s We have opposed HIS dictum in
this respect and we expect to do it
20 che end Of the chapter To
threaten him is TO invite a fight
that can have but one ending. We
are ready for the sacrifice so far as
we are concerned. but we would
like TO feel as we receive the death
wound at the Presidents hands that
we have violated no rule OF leEiti-
mate debate or caused any of our
antagonists 90 think auEht else OF
us than that Of an open. manly, gen
tlemanly foe.
There is one thing certain and
that is the colored people Of this
country are aroused on the discharge
OF Companies B. c., and ID Of the
25th Infantry as never before and IL
will be an issue for years 20 come.
Senator Foraker has been In the
limeught in this contest and Is un-
questionably the fayorite with the
average citizen Of color. The effort
to humIlate him Is not based wholly
and solely on his attitude with re-
gard to this question for he and
President Roosevelt had reached the
parting OF the ways" Ions before
this iu-advised action was taken 10y
the Chief Executive Of the nation.
Conservative action in public
meetings viii bring the best returns
now. Radical declarations arouse
some but they anger many others.
They furnish our enemies much
ammunition TO bring about our own
lundoing. Sun. the National Afro
American Council is performing it's
mission and If il makes mistakes, il
is not because it has no patriotic,
/ self-sacrifcing leader at its head.
Bishop Walters is the logical leader
Of the movement and he has our best
wishes for his continued success and
prosperity.