The Washington herald., 1907-01-13
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

ed II, 600 white people in the South and
two-thirds of the people Of the North.
He had made a mess of it in Booker
Washington's case, MIR. TiIlman asserted,
and "a worse mess Of It in the Browns
vile case" He asked if the President
was willing TO live up to his own preach
ings and have his children marry men
and women OF other races. and main
tanned that the preachings Of the Presi-
dent about equality had been source OF
incalculable evil.
Nearly every Senator was In his seat
when Mr.. Tillman began. Even Republican
Senators, who were indignant over what
Mr. Tillman was saying, couldn't help
joining occasionally in the merriment
created by some Of the South Carolinian' s
free and easy comment
In beginning Mr.. Tillman likened the
situation 70 a great court. In which the
President was prosecutor as well as exc
cutioner. He said the array Of counsel
was not complete, and brought forth
laughter when he referred to the incon-
gruity Of, if not righteousness" Of, the
situation that found Senators Lodge. Cul-
bersOn. and Daniel on the same side.
o.
Il Will be put in the Record as aiding
the distinguished Senator from Ohio"
He referred 20 the fact that the Demo-
cratic Senators were aligned with the
President And he added I'VE find
the Senator from Ohio. whose ardent
Republicanism won him the title of Fire
Alarm, associated with that Democratic
Senator from the South" referring TO
HIMSELF who is supposed TO have 4
broiled niger for breakfast every morn
ing"
Uproarious laughter greeted this re-
mark. and Mr.. Foraker blushed ike a
Meteor rose. Continuing, Mr.. TiIlman
said:
I believe the negro ought TO know his
place, and ! hold that the white man is
made of a little better clay, but I4don't
want 10 see even a negro treated IN
justly"
The President. he went on, had con-
sututed himself chief prosecutor and
eXecutioner' In dealing with the Browns
vile affair. The Senator directed attention
TO the fact that one Of the Senators from
Texas had warned the War Department
that if the troops were sent there trouble
would result, and reviewed the series Of
disturbances leading Up TO the shooting
az Brownsville.
- From what I know Of the character
ssstics Of the negro-and have known him
for hfty-Eine years" Mr.. Tillman ex-
claimed. Il am certain that some Of the
negro troops did the shooting"
Understands the Negro.
Poised in heroic attitude, holding his
manuscript aIoft in his left hand. Mr..
Tillman. with dramatic effect said with
great elaboration: There is no man who
knows the American negro better than
do"
There was ripple Of laughter. in
which the negroes in the galleries shared.
Il hope the committee viii sift this
matter TO the bottom, and clear theinno-
cent negroes and punish the guilty ones.
want TO show" continued Mr. TiIlman.
that the President has exceeded his con-
stituuonal authority. I challenge any man
to show in the Articles Of War a scIntilla
Of ground 70 sustain the charges made by
the President. The conspiracy of silence
TO which the President alludes is not men
toned IN the articles. and there is nothing
20 support the charge of mutiny. and 20
can the oheuse treason is absurd"
The Senator read from the Presidents
message declaring that the respectable
negroes ought to assist in detecting the
guilty ones. Does the President think
bis words can change the nature of the
African Nj. TiIlman asked. "Wiu his
ipse dixit make the Ethiopian change his
skin or the leopard his spots? Everybody
who knows the negro knows he VIII en-
pose one of his race. II is his nature Il
inhores in the blood. And shall the poor
good negroes be brutaHy treated because
they are not able 10 overcome a race
cEaracteristic?''
Everybody knew, he continued. that If
the troops sent to Brownsville had been
white instead of c0lOred, there would
have been no Brownsville riot. The riot
was due 20 the race prejudice, pure and
simple Mr.. Iiliman read the orders is
sued by the War Department and quoted
from the Presidents action defending the.
right Of sailors-white and black-t0 enter
dance halls. restaurants, and public
places of amusement.
The negroes read those words Of the
President and felt, as the President had
told them, that the uniform was a badge
of honor said the Senator.
Would you deny that privilege to a
white soldier inquired Mr. Nelson, Of
Minnesota
I'll give a white soldier or anybody
else equal rights with every man." re-
Piled Mr. Tillman
Well why not give the same rights 10
the colored soldier" persisted Mr. Mel
son.
Because said Mr. TIIlman, raising
himself TO his fun height, his lips curling
with sheer, God Almighty made him
black instead of white daughter
You can't make a man over" After q
pause Mr.. TiIlman continued.
There are a lot Of things coursing
through your mind laddressing Senator