New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-08
UPHOLDS THE PRESIDENT
PARKER on BROWNSVILLE
Er-Judge Says Mr. RooseueIt Acted
Within His Rights.

Ex-Judge Alton b Parker. in speech at the
ninth annual dinner Of the Maryland Society, at
sherry's last night. discussed the Negro ques-
ton in the South and upheld tho contention Of
President Roosevelt that he had the constitu-
tlonal power 10 discharge the three companies OF
Negro troops Of the 25th Infantry. at Browns
Vile. Tex
The speech Of ex-Judee Parker created
genuine sensation. his reference to the Browns
Vile affair being entirely unexpected. as the
toast. The State OF New York" was assigned
10 him. His divergence from his allotted theme
however, was received with applause and cheers
and his statement that after giving careful
study to the subject he had come to the decision
that the President had only used his legal pre-
rogatiye aroused tremendous enthusiasm among
the natives Of the Orlole State
The speaker led up TO tho principal part Of
his speech with an amusing story, and an ap-
probation Of New York state and her people
Then. approaching mis- subject. he said he craved
indulgence II he would sldetrack his toast and
say something about Brownsville.
You have all heard of Brownsville" said Mr..
Parker. The President removed three COM
panIes OF Negro troops and discharged them
from the service. have read with great care
both sides OF this question. and my Judgment
is that the President had the power to dis
charge those companies.
And whether or not he did rIgh; in discharg-
ing those men ] viii not say but the evidence
probably satisfied him that the only way to get
at the fifteen or twenty men who We're guilty
Of murder or riot was 10 remove from the ser
vice all three companies.
Il have not had the evidence but if that was
the only way, if he believed that was the only
way, to get rid Of the fifteen or twenty men
who committed the outrage, believe he had the
power 10 do it, and that he was justified IN using
| that power
Assuming that he had the power what right
has the legislative or judicial branch Of the
government to interfere. any more than the
Executive has to interfere with the Legislative or
jurcial functions? The functions Of the three
branches are separate and distinct
81 strongly suspect that the fact that the Ne
| gro vote can swing Ohio, Indiana, New York and
! New Jersey either way has something to do
! with this interference. It is not the first time
that the Negroes i'm normal conditions have
been made political use OF. They used them
when they saddled upon those states to the south
| Of Maryland these people as voters. Every in
! telligent man, I think, viii admit that granting
| the franchise TO the Negro AT tho close of the
| war was mistake. as great mistake for the
! Negro as for the white man. The Negro was
| poor and not fitted 10 exercise the right Of fran
| chise. Politicians for their own selfish pur-
| poses told MIN ne was ntted to rule, to take
possession. and many well intentioned men and
! women joined in tho mistake
In speaking of the State of New York Mr.
Parker said that it had many things to boast
OF. He said that the politicians here were no
| worse than elsewhere.
The Rev. }. Nevett steele president of the
| Maryland Society, was the postmaster. He
proposed the toast The President and Army
and Navy Of the United States He reclted:
In peace war. on land or sea,
WheTeer flag he unfured,
! They make country strong and free,
The pride and envy of the world.
The other toasts and speakers were. "Oul
| Mother State" ex-Attorney General John p
Poe. of Maryland and grand-nephew of Edgar
Allan Poe; Dixie Martin w. Littleton; MARY.
land Women" A. S. Goldsborough. In tbs
course of his speech Mr.. Poe said that every
sensible man must oppose the theory of govern
| ment ownership Of railroads.
Behind the speakers table Was draped the
Maryland state flag, loaned to the society by
Mrs Donald MacLean, presldent-general of tn,
National Society Of Daughters of the Ameri& al
!