The broad ax., 1908-05-09
THE MAJORITY OF AFRo-AMERIcANs ARE so POLITE
ALLY BLIND THAT THEY CANNOT COMPREHEND
THE TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS

More and more II is being made
plain to the American Negro that in
his case at least eternal vigilance is
the price Of liberty" Fever since the
days when Rutherford B. Hayes aban-
doned the Southern Negro to South
ern white marauders and assassins.
the real attitude Of the Republican
party toward the Negro has grown
I steadily worse, notwithstanding the
| fact that the Negro has been the prin-
cipal means of keeping that party
alive. To be sure, Negroes have been
appointed and even elected to office
by Republican once holders and vo-
ters; but at no time since the intelli-
gence and training of TIE black man
warranted It has the Republican party
accorded the race the tenth part of
the representation in ONCE to which
the races support Of that party's can't
dates has clearly entitled US.
Base migrate as the Republican
party is to its overly faithful Colored
supporters In the matter of ONCE
holding, our just grievance in this par
ticular is. by comparison, one OF the
minor complaints which the more in
telligent Of the unpurchasable Negroes
are now in large numbers planning
unitedly to resent Excepting for the
second Cleveland administration no
other political party has had at any
one time uncontrolled power in ma
tional legislation and the executive
department Of the government since
the suppression OF the rebellion and
during by far the greater part OF the
post-bellum era what the Republican
party really wanted to do. within con-
stitutional limitations. II has had I'M
restrained power to do. What result
has accrued to the Negro by repeated
ly supporting. practically unanimous
ly. this party in congressional and
presidential contests? A long series
OF insults and rebuffs. the most brazen
and singing ingratitude, and q long
line Of betrayals to the enemy. When,
since the days Of Hayes. has the
South, In any OF It's reactionary issues
directly violating both the spirit and
the letter Of the constitution-when
has the South in any such issue met
anywhere near the real and active
opposition by the federal government
which that government controlled by
Republicans, has had II In its power
TO offer? Why does Negro slavery
exist today In Mississippi, Arkansas
and other Southern states? and Why
has this institution. which the consti-
tuition gives the national government
plenary power to suppress. continued
to flourish through successive Repub-
lican Administrations Why. under
an Overwhelmingly Republican ma
tional regime, can the South. with
impupity and BY the most open and
blatant confessions. practice nullih-
cation Of the constitution, provided, Of
course. the crime is one having the
Negro only as fits direct object?
One OF the latest and most direct
and express concessions to Southern
and robbery Is contained
In Roosevelt's letter to the Interstate
Commerce Commission with reference
to the determinations 80 shamefulIy
practiced on every Southern railroad.
The presidents letter Is the emptiest |
kind Of sophistry. It's chief element
Of danger lies In its clever insidious-
hess. There are millions Of self-re-
Specting Negroes In this country who
know and fully realize the fact that
there is no honor connected with rid
ng. eating or associating. with any
nan or woman because he or she Il
Ehita Whenever sL-A q Negro feels
IGNORED by any such occurrence the
ceiling Of honor proceeds from his
recognition e highs order OF intailI-
renee. freedom from prsjudics against
Ae Negro. a1d noble ana lofty char
Ictsr On the part Of the white man
= woman n question; and. hspAe.