Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-28

toral educational or property quail
fications. And / do not understand
that the intelligent colored men of
the country object TO the passage
and enforcement OF such a law, but
they do object and have a right 60
object. TO the partial enforcement OF
such law in such a way as to ex-
clude the ineligible black men and
allow TO vote the white men who are
equally ignorant and ineligible"
Secretary Taft is correct In his
statement that the intelligent oolored
men of the Negro race do not object
to bona-fide educational qualihca-
ton, il applied to all alike and yet
III is In many respects a very unsat-
isfactory mode and method OF deter
mining the suffrage qualification in
this section of the country. II gives
often the hayward. but educated son
white and black. the right 20 legis-
late, while the intelligent. interest
producing parents of both races are
denied access to the polls. In many
instances among colored people
these men are high;, cultured old
time servants for so1t..e.. aristocrats
and in many otner instances. they
have given their best service to the
salvation and betterment of the
country.
The intelligent colored men Of the
country do object though to the lilly
white policy, if not Of the admin
.istration per Sc. certainly by its
most ardent admirers and support
.ers- COlored men Of intelligence, ed
.ucation and money are now being as
absolutely disfranchised in Republi-
can mass-meetings in the Southland
as they are by the Democratic Party
at the polls Ii would seem then
that the panacea for our ills has abb
solutely no effect upon the very men
charged with the PRONUNCIATION of
Republican principles.
Secretary Taft said further:
- s.. srsssrs
But. my friends. am an optimist
and as I have already said I regard
the signs in the South. changing from
one method in respect to elections 20
another, as an indication that I'm the
near future there will be a steady
improvement toward a more and
more equal and impartial enforce
ment Of these electoral laws. II
think so because Il is the part of
political and economical wisdom.
The property and educational quail
hcauons make utterly impossible a
return 20 the abuses which many
Southerners profess TO fear. The so
called Negro domination is nothing
out dream and nightmare Of the
past The Fifteenth Amendment.
while ia the past Il may not have
accomplished all That its authors in
1enued II should has i'm IL this ines
unable benefit TO the Negro race
mat IL likes a restriction upon state
election laws that may be temporar-
lily violated but can never be re
moved"
.asss; s,ssl,s.r s.s-sSss,g Svx.rss.
Secretary Taft is right. in this Is
our hope for the future. The time
will come when an impartial Supreme
Court viii meet the issue and render
iar-reaching decisions. Many lead
ers in the South see and know this
and We frequently hear the demand
Cor repeal OF these Amendments
But 10 insist upon the re-
peal OF any one OF them viii
produce crisis, in which the Negroes
OF this country will hardly be worst
ed. Judging by his language. we
would guage Secretary Taft as an
opportunist. rather than as a cham
pion OF great principles. He winks at
the violations OF constitutional law
and directly condones them. We are
puzzled 20 know how his Chief. Pres
ident Roosevelt can see dire disaster
in the autocracy of the Trusts and
can see but little evil in the elimina-
ton OF life. liberty and the pursuit
or happiness OF thousands OF black
men, who have not only fought for
the nation, but whose labor TO-DAY
adds millions OF dollars to its ma
terial wealth and financial prosperity. |
Secretary Taft continued:
However the opponent OF equal |
political rights 10 the Negro may
turn and twist. whatever devices he |
may invent 10 give a specious ap-l
pearance OF legality TO laws intended |
TO exclude the Metro because Of his |
race or color. he will find his purpose
thwarted by the broad and generous |
scope or the language of the amend |
ment- The amendment is the meas |
ure or lawfulness toward which aUl
good movements and all progress in
the south must necessarily tend |
what the Negro and his friends de-
nand is equality of enforcement OIL
the law under the Constitution. and
toward that end | feel convinced
that all the influence of Industrial |
progress In the South and the closer
union between the sections peces-
sarily are making.
This then is the plea of the dis
Secretary of War. He is |
able in arguing abstract rights. but
pueriIe in enforcing vital principles
He has stated fact that is all the
more powerful because it is ipevita-