The broad ax., 1908-05-23
RoossvELL. 1lLLmAn q CO.

w P'oNiSeA ePptOdCh "
ideal democracy. must necessarily be
to q large extent representative:
when We remember that human be-
ings are not yet. at least, to be as
sumed to be the generalization OF
perfection, we must rather expect.
within reasonable limits. TO encounter
governmental errors without meeting
them with drastic counter action.
But granting all this, moderation,
which Is not also supineness. on the
part OF the American Negro cannot
oppose his most bitterly denouncing
and most determinedly and unre-
mlttingly combating lawlessness. not
by those whose intellectual horizon Is
restricted by dense ignorance. penury
and oppression. but by certain per
sons who are far beyond even u re-
mote probability OF ever being over
taken by want. who have no personal
experience OF the tyranny OF which
certain OF the poorer classes com
plain, and whose remuneratiye public
positions. acquired after they had be-
come fairly well educated, bring TO
them a still larger degree OF learning.
Upon what can our public officials
base an expectation OF healthy pub
lie respect for governmental regula-
lions when they themselves furnish
such conspicuous examples OF unPun'
ished contempt for admittedly Just
and proper legal procedure? Were
ye ourselves TO accuse Ben Tillman
OF being q murderer. not only morally
but also legally under the statutes Of
Michigan. no doubt. some would be
disposed TO call us rabid. What can
such critics say against us for as
sorting the well known fact that Ben
Tillman himself said that be was a
murderer? And he said IL. not pri'
yately. but in the most public manner
10 hundreds OF people in the biggest
auditorium in the city OF Detroit. Yet
Ehaghas ever heard of Tillman. sell
ISohfessed murderer. being even aues-
toned oficiaIly as to his right to con-
tinue occupying a seat in the United
States senate? Senator Burrows. OF
Michigan. hotIy contested Senator
smoot's right to hold a seEt in the
upper house because Of a more or
less well founded suspicion that the
latter was guilty OF breaking or aoat-
ting the violation of the anti-poly-
gamy provision upon which Utahs
admission to statehood was conol-
toned. Moreover, even II Senator
smoot were guilty OF the crime al
legged against him. 1t must be ad-
mitted that he at least had the de-
cency. as Tillman had not. or refrain
ing from going around the country ad-
yertising his guilt in the most public
and brazen manner. gloating over H.
and saying that he and his accom-
plices were still committing the
crime.
Is wholesale murder less criminal
than wholesale poIygamous MARRIAGE
Al more recent contempt for the
nroDer exercise OF lawful authority,
emauating from a course still higher
IN government than q member OF the
senate. and coming from one whose
influence for III Is exceedingly strong
with thousands who turn dear ear
70 TiIlman's rawlings. Is being given
a great degree OF publicity at present
Not content with gravely wronging
three companies Of the Twenty-hith
infantry. against whom Texas
grand jury could return no inoict-
meut. Roosevelt subjects the accused
to the elaborate espionage accorded
by the national secret service depart
ment In an effort 10 unesrth some
thing. however trifing, upon which
TO base his accusations But even
these secret service experts had TO /
come empty handed, as IL were, 20
the senate investigation And now /
that the most searching investigation
has failed to reveal q single fact in |
support Of Roosevelt's mere assump-
ton; now that the Foraker bill for !
rightinE the wrong done these limo
ceut men is pending. does Roosevelt |
exhibit moral courage ana manlinsss
enough to prOffer assistance! IDstead
OF doing SO, he gives out one Of tae
most censurAbly Anarchistie utter
ances which We have heard for tome |
time. He says that whenever. the |
Foraker bill is passed he viii ignore
the dictum Of congress. He does not
question the authority Of congress to |
act I'm the matter Indeed. how en-