The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-01-10
For Joseph B. Foraker.
January 6.

our being asleep or lndllterent 10 Jne
political situation that confronts us
to-day. 1t is a situation that demands
our most earnest consideration, for it
is fraught with the future status of
the Negro in the political arena of
this country. BY what he does from
now until the end of the great Re
publican National Convention which
meets at Chicoga, ILL.,, June 16. he will
be measured and judged. If he fails
to demonstrate his ability to take care
of himself in a political way, then his
future as a factor in the government
is a closed book. If he fails to protect
himself by his failure to stand by his
known and tried friends, then he will
have no one to blame but himself for
being considered unworthy of the
right of self-government. If he fails
to meet the Oncoming struggle as be-
fits an intelligent, manly man capable
of rising above any sordid considera-
ton to do battle for those who have
defended and done battle for him and
his. then he is deserving of the con-
tempt which will surely come to him
for his lack of gratitude and appreci-
ton of the heroic service rendered
him in his darkest hour of helplesness.
1t is here intended to sound a note of
warning to put the Negro on his
guard against the Vaccinations which
are being brewed in the Republican
political and nomination pot to knife
the one man who had the courage to
defend the Negro soldiers against the
gross injustice perpetrated upon them
by a powerful administration. that
man is Senator Joseph B. Foraker.
He it was, so to speak, who bearded
the lion in his den.
Concerning the Presidential nomi-
nee of the Republican party this year
there. is much speculation. There is
no political seer in possession of
enough data from which to forecast
with anything like certainty the out
come of the strenuous struggle that will
be made from now on till the conven-
tion shall have decided who is winner
of the coveted honor of being the
standard-bearer of the party for the
highest Office in the gift of the Ameri-
can people. One thing, though, is GER
tain and that is the party has several
able men who are longing to lead the
Republican forces in November. In
the Imagination, each one of the as
pirants for the nomination sees him
self in the White House, the seat of
the worlds mightiest and most power
full ruler.
To be President of these United
States and its lately acquired insular
possessions, is not only the greatest
honor, but the most responsible posi-
ton that can be conferred upon any
man upon the earth; therefore, such a
man should be the embodiment of the
highest craftsmanship. He should
rise above petty animosities, narrow
ness and racial prejudice. His stock
in all Of these should not equal, much
less exceed his patriotism. He should
not countenance any form of tyranny.
He should set over against injustice
and oppression justice and protection.
He should see to it that the Door of
Hope" is kept open and a Square
deal" is given to all classes of Ameri-
can citizens as far as this within his
power lies. AS the sworn executor of
his country's laws, justice should be
meted out alike to all with special
privileges to none. He should stand
for all that is good and righteous in
the conduct of national affairs. In
short, he should be a man of the
greatest moral courage and his pa
triotism should embrace the welfare Of
all the people and should be as broad
and extensive as the boundaries of his
country. The mar who is President,
or aspires to be, should be free Of
bigotry, self-conceit, and, in fact, every
thing that would tend to cloud his
reason, warp his judgment, awaken
his prejudice, or distort his just adj
ministration of government alike to
all the people.
The opportune moment has arrived
to make a motion that the Negro of
the North, the South, the East and
the West support a man, pre-eminent-
ly fitted by the highest qualities of
craftsmanship, the Hottest sense Of
justice and the broadcast patriotism for
the nomination of the Republican par
ty for the exalted position Of Presi-
dent; a man too noble to witness a
wrong, that might set a precedent for
striking down the liberties of his
country in some far off day, without
exposing that wrong; a man who
knew the price he was likely to be
called on to pay for his defense Of
innocent men, yet moved forward