Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-07
Mcponatd's Answer.

Terrell, Tex, Feb. Z. 1908.
Fellow Republicans: There IS q
world of political wisdom in this: The
South lost her liberty in a long chain
OF right reasoning from wrong prin
ciples. and there is real discrimina-
ton in saying that a majority OF the
people Of this section are strongly
possessed of the spirit OF liberty. but
not the principles. for at the time
they are determined not to be slaves
themselves and political serfs, they
employ their power TO enslave. pre-
scribe and encompass the rights
privileges. and liberties OF all black
men because they are black IL so
happens that the first public politi
cal speech l ever made 1 attempted
TO defend the history and the record
Of the Republican party. / did this
partly for two reasons: First, ! had
read a little Of the history OF this
country; and. second. I felt indebted
20 the Republican party for the lib
erty / then enjoyed. and whether J
was right or wrong in my conclu-
sion. / know that ingratitude is the
blacklist OF crimes. while gratitude is
a virtue. A man WIS will tell the
truth about the Republican or for
that matter any political party
should be regarded as a good citizen.
and for one about the Republican
party l intend TO ten just as near the
truth as ! can. Most history con
sists IN giving the details of things
that never happened: most political
biography Is usually a lie. coming
from the lips of nattery. or Islander
coming from the mouth OF malice
and whatever man or political party
that stands for equal rights. and hui
man liberties will in their turn be-
attacked and maliciously slandeTcd
Whatever man or party that attacks
Injustice. malice and hate will find
that there is eull one weapon left in
the arsenal OF the natiOn-slander
Aside from feeling that / was in
debted 20 the Republican party OF
the COS. I have voted with this party
for more weighty reasons. IL IS sup.
posed 20 have stood for human rights.
industrial and commercial develop
ment, protection 10 the American
citizen, laborcr and CAPITALIST
10 was supposed 20 stand for
equal civil rights 20 all. the peace aud
happiness OF an citizens. be they
white or black. yellow or red. This
is the cardinal principle and record
OF the Republican party OF the COS
This. and more. OF the kind were the
great reasons for my acting with and
voting an endorsement OF the Re
publican party. / would not have
you overlook the important fact that
after all. men make parties. Parties
cannot make men, as / shall attempt
20 show or point out later on. The
question may be asked. IS not tn
Republican party OF 1908 standing
for the same tenets for which tue
Republican party of the cos. the eos
or even the SOS stOod2 The name
OF the party Is the same; IL, in re.
mote way. impresses people with the
idea that IL does, but the real fact Is
that the Republican party OF 1905
sustains no affinity TO the Republican
party OF the COS. the 70s, or even
of the SOS only in name
Democratic Party,
The Democratic party to-day is the
same IN principles. policies and pur-
poses as il was in the COS, the 70s
or even the SOS; it is the one party
that never changes, and this is why the
Negro citizen always confrOnts a
political condition rather than a
political problem. Deep down in my
heart / wish the Democratic party
was flexible. The adage, Wise men
change often. fools never change. +"
affects the Democratic party not a lit
tie bit. not in the least IL has
sacrificed every vantage. every hope.
every possibility or / might say
every probability OF becoming the
governing and controlling party Of
this mighty nation, because OF it's
failure and refusal to stand for the
rights. privileges and liberties OF all
I people be they black or white. The
stand that this party takes makes IL
next TO impossible for Republican
electors 10 rebuke the acts of certain
men who misuse and crush the grand
/ and lofty principles OF the Republican
| party under foot The stand this
/ party takes precludes millions OF
! voters who feel and know that the
| teachings. history, traditions and
| principles OF the Republican party of
| the COS. OF the 70's and OF the SOS
are being perverted, disgraced and
| slandered. That the good people OF
the Southland, cultured, refined aud
learned, permit themselves 10 stand
in such a position is passing strange
and beyond the comprehension of all
intelligent men, whether white or
black. In the South We have many
able men. We have scholarly men
men well versed in the science OF
government, learned in law; we have
men capable of guiding the republic
and directing the affairs of the old
ship of state. but they are tied hand
and foot to the history. records, ten
cts and traditions of the Democratic
party. and these men have not the
courage to reorganize the Demo
| cratic marty and chanOa f4a btcfor,