The Washington bee., 1908-03-14

selfish deeds, but acts that have been
of untold benefit to the Negro race
as whole
If the perpetuation of the Wash
ington Bee was his only achievement
it would alone outshine any deed ac-
comphshed by any of the other can
didates, or for that matter by them
all combined.
The Bee is not only our sole pro-
lection in the courts of public opin-
ion in the District of Columbia and
vicinity, but it is the recognized or
gan of the Negro race of America,
and its sting is often felt in places
where the drones fear to tread.
But l intend not to recount the
deeds here, for we as thouhgtful
men will familiarize ourselves with
the records of all and draw our con-
cluSions accordingly.
Let us prove that we are not in
CRATES If a man leads us in the
times of peace, let US answer his
call in times of war He has t0''ed
! for us while others slept, SO ;
, not have him say of us, as Cardinal
Wolsey once said, Il would that !
had served my God with half the
zeal | have served my king"
But gratitude alone does not suf-
flee as a reason for his election, for
his fitness for the honor must be
considered
Sergeant Jasper replaced the Am
erican flag upon Fort Moultrie after
It had been battered down by the on
slaught of the British guns, and that,
too, while the shot and she'll were
flying thick and fast.
Though he was honored he could
not be placed in command of sol
diers, for he was incapable of lead
ership; but, gentleman, in Mr.. Chase
we have a man who not only stood
in the thickest of the fray and did
the fighting, but also is he a man
capable of leadership in its broadest
sense.
He is we'll in touch with the at
fairs of the nation in all respects; !;
on all questions of national import
ance he has ideas that are brilliant
that emanate from a trained intel
iect. With that keen legal foresight
he is not only capable of represent
! ing the Negro race, but the whole
people.
His prominence has brought him
in contact with men of affairs; his
counsel is often sought and his ad-
vice frequently taken in matters Of
powerful moment.
His intellectual qualifications to-
gether with his vast knowledge of
prominent men and national ques-
tions is the second reason we should
send him as our delegate to the con-
vention to meet in June.
You might say that others know
some men of prominence and can
possibly learn something of national
affairs, but the gravity of the occa-
sion does not admit of experiments.
! Only the true and the tried should
/ be entrusted with the message that
we must and will send to the people
of these United States. We are not
infallible, we are liable to mistakes;
and for that reason we should not
experiment, for fear of mistakes to
choose the wrong man at this par
ticular time will no doubt retard the
progress of the Negro race for pos
sibly fifty years. We have a mes
sage to send, a message that the Am
erican people must receive and must
heed, and Twe must put it in the hands
of a messenger who fears not the
enemy, but who will break through
their lines and place the message
where it will reach its destination.
These shackles must be loOSened,
the cause of right must prevail, the
Republican party must speak in no
uncertain tones, and it behoOves US
to send a MAN, so that if the en-
emy is so fortified that our message
cannot reach the American people,
he can return to us and tell us the
reason why, and tell the Republican
party the results of their folly.
On the strength of his statement
the New York Times has already
warned the Republican party and ere
the battle is DER he will be heard
in many quarters.
So, our third reason is that the
gravity of the occasion calls for a
man of the type of Mr.. Chase.
Every interest that can possibly be
benefited by representation in that
convention is working day and night
to send its best men to uphold their
cause The Lily Whites, the Trusts,
the Bankers, the Railroads, in fact