Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-01-26

declaration In Senator 'riiimans re-
marks. Here Il is:
1T is useless to deny that the
race question lies at the bottom OF
all this" he said
1T is equally useless to say tnat
these troops were discharged be-
cause they were Negroes. II the
Negroes had been treated the same
way as white regulars were treated
at Athens. Ohio. the civil authorities
would have arrested those believe |
TO be guilty and the matter decid ed
in the courts. In that instance the
War Department defended the reg
ulars. although they had committed
murder. and IL was declared the
/ troops were the wards OF the nation
a very proper and right position to
| take.
Why was it that the War Depart
ment did not pursue the same course
with the Negro soldiers at Browns
Vile. Texas that it did with the
white soldiers at Athens. Ohio? Is
there any further surprise then that
President Roosevelt has continually
insisted that race prejudice consti-
tuted no basis for his remarkable
action
We have heard it stated that hal
the action taken by President Roose
Welt at Brownsville applied to white
troops. nothing would have been
heard of it, This is very true. Had
the War Department made such \
recommendation. the Senators from
the various states from which the
members Of the battalion hailed
would have trailed to the White
House and the action would nave
been suspended in forty-eight hours.
Then would have followed political
sparring and the bringing OF power
ful influence to bear and the gentle
men. who had been most active in
the prosecution would have been
most obliging in their withdrawal
OF The accusations.
But I'm the case Of the poor Negro.
he had 10 howl to attract the atten-
tion OF the country and after that
was secured. ne had 90 depend upon
the factional differences in the Re
publican Party OF the Nation to
WORK out a solution Of the difficulty.
As the matter now stands. il is a
drawn battle with the colored folks
having the satisfaction OF knowing
that they have blocked the business
OF the nation for more than a monta
and attracted the attention OF the
civilized world.
One thing more has been done. !
To has shown the hollowness OF Mr.. |
Roosevelt's exploitation OF "A square /
deal" He no doubt intended to /
his adherence OF wrong |
doing and TO please the South. but |
unfortunately. he leaned too far
back and lost his balance.
Senator Tillman has injured the
Democratic Party Of the North and |
has embarrassed and handicapped |
the far-soeing Democratic leaders Of /
the South. The declaration has been /
made that ne does not represent ten |
per cent OF the white people OF tails |
section. This is a mistake. The
conditions can be better understood. |
when We state that there are two /
classes OF white people I'm this sec
sion. as radically different I'm their /
views as are those Of the two con-
tending parties.
The one represents the new South |
with all of its desires an aspirations
The other represents the Old South.
with all OF its heart burnings its
antipathy TO the Negro as a citizen
and it's hatred Of the North SEN
ator Daniel and his associates re-
present the New South. Senator
Tillman and his sympathizers repre-
sent the Old South. When Il comes
to wealth and education. the former
has the larger following. When it
comes to the masses, the latter Is
In the saddle. Senator TiumaI.
viii be soon reinforced by Gov. JET.
Davis OF Arkansas and Gov. James
X. Vardaman is longing 20 be there
10 assist both OF them. When they
stand together. the skeleton will be
Dut OF the closet, the lid will be of
he caldron and men OF tne North
viii be startled by the utterance OF
many unpleasant truths. The ghost
IF the past will arise from the grave
md the truth will be known.
In all Of these clashes, the Negro
s used only as a pretext. He is
lot the main issue. He will not
De annihilated and ne will not be
driven out of the country. He is
90 valuable an asset for such a pro-
position to be contemplated for a
moment Gagged by his predicting
he is adding six hundred
million dollars annually to the