The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-23
Secretary Addresses Kentuck- ians on General Issues
 of the Day
PRAISES NEGRO'S PROGRESS
 AND ABILITY AS CITIZEN
General Appeal Is Made to Democrats to Turn Republican and Break Up Southern Democracy as the
 Browning Glory of Ted.

Lexington. Ky, August 22-With dis cussion of the race problem, general po- liteal issues from the southern stand point and an appeal to Kentuckians and other southerners to come to the aid of tn republican party in support of those principles which he believed they favored, Secretary of War William II. Taft today opened the republican state campaign in tiLs city Calling attention to what he called the souths lack of representation in the councils of the nation, he declared that this was true because one single issue has made it the perpetual tail of the democratic party so that, however small the northern head, it wags that tail The south has permitted the shad- ows Of an issue that circumstances ought long ago to have removed from political controversy to bind it's solidty to the democratic party, no matter what prin- ciples or candidates that party has adopted" :"
 ,ae called attention to the prosperity of Kentuckys developing industries and
 
 lelief that many Kentuckians who favor ed protective tariff had blindly voted the democratic ticket because of the feel ing on the race issue
 Then, taking up the race question, he sad:
 T am not a pessmist with respect to the race question. l am conVinceu thao if is working itself out and l am con vinced that nothing has so much con tributed 10 it's gradual solution as the ,h,rtaanth fourteenth and fifteenth amendments.
 Prooress of Negro Race.
 .I shall not stop to give you the sta tlstics showing the great progress tna' has been. made by the negro race Ill tne soutb in literacy in the enormous m .reaes in the farm holdings by coloreu mon and the great proportion or the
 ,,,.ieultnre of the south that they carry on. We are apt to forget thls real lin movement in the diatrbes that we occa- sionally hear from men wno seem " have a lack of sympathy with the PIos ress of the colored race ana "ho ',9 themselves in denunciation Of the en.n ,S ,.ace an account of 6 comparatively small oriminaI class that formed the dregs ot the southern population oe
 After mentioning the various means ol aisfra ncbising voters, declaring that suci, laws were proper, if applied wllh eaua' fairness to both white and piach, ne exnressed the hope that as the coioi eu oitizens. under the leadership of such men as Booker r. Washington would become ,esnected business members or the coiil- ,onnities in which they live ana wncn Tho. exercise independence or Juoshen.' in respect to political issues, we may pe cure that gradually the right to No 'T will be accorded them' ana they "l exercise a far more uselul lhIlueO ,nteuieent and solid members or the com ,,,,,,ftT. for the benefit of their race, thali the ignorant members of their race woulu t,a,.a exercised had they been allowed lo ,ote In this way, through deVlous w"SS' which cannot be justified or appioNo', W" may still reach a result that Will sdu with the requirement. of the feoerai roI stitution and will give to the negro eVelS ,,olitiral and economic right and Will con l,,,oat henedt upon the colored race rho negro Is necessary to the south as ,ahorer skilled and unskilled. were the ,,eoro to be withdrawn from the south the difficulties agriculture would lapor nnder can hardly be overstated.
 The Nesro's Country.
 .,rhe negro is an American. He has L.,,a no other country than this, ana have no other cuontry than lhls anu called upon to defend II, ne nays uo"n u lis life with the same freedom tnat tie white man sacrifices his. It IS our uu.y to see to it that his path is lnhue as easv as we can, and that his progress ss Q, incessant as proper encourage .,or+ can make it. His best frlehu' the one that can do most for him ana the one in many respects Who synip".n.s with him most, Is the southern "htt man. He understands his detects. Ile Lnovs his virtues. And If the negro ,asnonds to the opportunities for i'm oroyement as Booker Washington points tban, out we can be sure that ne WII ,r.ou in the estimation of his Wnlte fellow citizens of the south anu ena the great problem which mas pul ', tbe south. with it's race issues VIII oe largely solved"
 Speaking Of the nlteeh'"
 MT Taft said: - o+
 ..The fifteenth amendment does not reouire that every negro should vote All that 1t requires Is that ne shouIu not be excluded from voting because lie Is a negro. If he lacks educatloiiaI qualifications, property qualifications or any other qualifications that the state may lawfully impose as a rule Of eilgi- bility. for it's voters. then he may pc excluded. provided that every one else who lacks similar qualifications IS equally excluded.
 No Social Equality.
 "The strict enforcement of the nt- teenth amendment does not inVolVe an amalgamation of the races; has noun ing to dc with social association or equality. It does not involve so-called negro domination and to permit the question at this late day-forty years after the war-to control the votes or Intelligent men in respect of issues that are living and that affect their welfare is to indicate on their part lack or sense of proportion which I cannot think will continue to manifest itself among the voters of the south. If only under the influence of President Roose- yelt's administration some of the south ern states, including Kentucky, could be led into the republican column in accordance with the real sympathies of The yrtess of those states. 1t would be a crow n4ng glory of his administration. It will not necessarily work for the benefit of the republican party in the md. because the closeness with which he south ern states have united in sup .lt tIofa md fl.a