Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-19


kEARNEY. Neb.. July Ito the Editor
of The Bee: Everyday in looking over your
valuable paper, after scanning the current
events on the front page and looking at
the editorials and base ball scores. l turn
hastily over to your letter box, eagerly
hoping to see from the trenehart pen Of
some of Omaha's leading colored citizens
an indignant denial OF the reports sent
broadcast all over the country that the
colored people are almost a unit against
Taft because Of that ever to be deplored
Brownsville affair.
l am not going to presume to Judge OF
the fairness or unfairness OF che presidents
action, because It is entirely unnecessary
with the great mass Of reading and lntelli-
gent colored people who keep abreast of
the times and think for themselves; who are
not to be deluded by the too transparent
hypocritical interest displayed by inter-
ested politicians who are now as ever try
ing to gather the easily Influenced vote by
bringing one issue prominently to the front
while hiding some other. For myself, per-
sonally, / would for curiosity's sake like
to see the colored man who would vote
against Taft. Roosevelt's understudy. thai
has ever read the Vardaman Of MisslssIpnl
Interview in the Denver Post, or Tlilman's
denunciation of the colored race, and other
prominent leaders OF the democratic party.
Now, as l said before, l am presuminR
to speak only for myself, we'll believing
that the great majority of our people think
likewise. Against w. J. Bryan, as a man.
l have not a word to say, for in his private
life l believe him to be a Christian gentle
man, but, alas, in his public life there IN
as vast 4 difference between Roosevelt and
Bryan as there was between Richard
COpur-na-IfOn and the Mpbap,0.,aa c.
din. Methinks, reader, that a little study
Of the characters just mentioned will show
many traits Of Richards in our own Theo-
dore's-courage and bulldog tenacity OF
purpose, generous and courteous to those
he deemed his interiors. ever ready to do
battle in behalf Of the wronged and on
pressed, and while our twentieth centurv
civilization has eliminated the necessity OF
organising a crusade to rescue the HOW
Land from the infidels, there are as MANY
wronged and oppressed people needing a
champion, fully armed, and with all the
attributes OF the knightly lion heart. +,
fight their battles.
In looking back along the years s,nce
this country first threw off the English
yoke and asserted independence, reading
the many distinguished names that adorn
our scroll of presidents from Washington
" the pTesehI lHle, tell me, thinking coll
ored man, who among them all treated thu
race more honestly and generously than
President ROOSEVELT The one pre-eminent
thing for you and 1 to consider now. is. do
you think that a man such as 1 have inst
described, would indorse a man that was
not fully In accord with him, pledged to
fulfill his policies and pursue his course
toward all men. irrespective of race or
creed? No, a thousand times no. He would
not IL he could, and he could not IL bs
would, and / for one Of the 100000 or 9.OOo-
600 colored people in the United States, am
willing to vote for Taft simply on the
strength OF Roosevelt Endorsement, for 7
fully believe he must be a big-hearted
brainy man to win and hold the esteem of
such a man as ~everybody's president.
In conclusion, let me say to my colored
fellow citizens that the least we can do to
show our appreciation OF the man now I'm
authority at Washington is to work hard
and earnestly, individually and collectively
for w. H.. Taft. his preferred successor.
1t comes hard for the CONQUERED
to sing the praises of the conqueror, for the
weak to eulogize the strong, but l think
that all thinking colored people will be a
unit In their wishes for the long life ana
happiness of Theodore Roosevelt, for he.
like Richard, is the best and noblest OF his
race. A. +. LEWIS.