The Washington bee., 1907-12-28

III lllc nope VI oCStAO ~ l4iS ii7 |
manhood, curbing his ambition, wreck
ing his hopes for the future, and reduc-
ing him to that condition of serfdom
from which he was lifted in 1906 by the
brazen gun and belching cannon Of the
victorious army of the republic. We
as a race will not be re-enslayed, here
let NE say,
you. may make us a grave wherever
you will,
In the lowly plain or lofty hill;
Make it amidst earths humblest graves,
But not in the land where men are
slaves.
We need no monument proud and high
To arrest the gaze Of the passerby;
All that our yearning spirits crave
Is, bury us not in the land OF slaves
As American citizens We claim and
demand our full measure of manhood
rights in common with all other citi-
zens Of this land:
I'VE are native, to the manner born,
And labored day and night and morn;
And for this nation lost his blood
On battlefield and raging flood;
And here he means to live and stay
Until his latest dying day.
Through the blood Of a cruclhed
Christ on Golgathas Summit we as
Christians received our title deeds to
life everlasting and mansion not made
bv hands, but eternal in the heavens.
Other nations may boast Of the rec
ords of their birth, the glory of their
achievements in other lands, and the
proud and naughty Anglo-Saxon who
now tread ruthlessly upon our PROSTATE
forms may praise his history back TO
the futile barons or knights of the past
ages, but the colored American has no
traditional ancestry, no record OF the
burial ground beyond the dole Of Amer
ica. and today, by reason of his birth
and lntivity, he Is the most distinct
ivelv American that treads the soil OF
our common country and you cannot
DENY him the rights of American citi-
zensbip without peril to the republic.
AS race ten millions, paying taxes
On nine hundred million dollars worth
of property, wOrshipplng the same Ood'
warmed bv the same sun, eating the
same food, living under the same gov
ernment. and worshipping one common
Heavenly Father, why should there be
auv distinction made on account OF col
or? Upon what principle IS 1t found
ed2 II finds no sanction in the Bible,
and under the burning lights of the len
Commandments, Christ's Sermon on the
Mount. the Declaration Of American In
dependence, and the Constitution OF the
United States, this arch-hend OF hell,
known as race prejudice, can ind no
shelter to hide its ghastly form.
The Negro of this country received
| his most deadly blow and race prejudice
and colorphobia was given its creates
;mnetus bv President Roosevelt IN 1000
when bv the stroke of his pen he DIS
missed without honor two battalion:
from the American army who were th'
true.t and bravest defenders of the na-
tion's honor that ever went forth tG
battle. This cruel blow, this deadly
stroke aimed at the very heart OF tht
Neqro's pride, his manhood, and the
Drogress of the race, and the order Tor
bidding the men 70 again re-enlist ha
made wound so deep in the hearts o.
the black race in this country that /
will never be forgotten by the liberty
loving people in this country who believe
| in a square deal and exact justice t'
every man. regardless Of his color, a
long as liberty and love find a home Il
this American republic.
Ever since the birth of the repub
lie many black shadows of rebellion ant
revolution have been thrown across tn
+ pathway of the nations progress II
order to maintain our national suprem
acv and independence, the hills and val
leys OF our country have been baPtlse
= in blood and drenched III the tears q
+ widows and orphans. In all OF thes
wars since the establishing OF the gov
: ernment the Negro has been might
: factor in keeping the American ha
= afoat in the haven of respectablllty'
I the wars Of Iz75, 1872, and I848, on Ian
= and sea. in the hottest and thlckest c
E the fight, this black hero was there sic
/ bv side, and his blood commlngllng wit
;. that Of his white comrdade, he tougl
for the country that did not even re'
: ognize him as a citizen thereof.
IS In 1901, when citizens of eleven Stat
/ broke their oaths of allegiance to II
e Constitution, went off in wild rebelllc
;. and turned their guns Of treason c
n Fort Sumpter, the Negro although
le slave without a home, without gover