The Washington herald., 1908-06-09
auots Ohio Platform.

IeNt number three is from the recent
Ohio State convention. where resolutions
again were adopted along a similar line:
in fact. practically Identical, following a
magnificent introduction. telling what a
fine man the negro is and what a valuable
citizen.
Friends. you can easily understand
these texts. The fourteenth amendment
gave you the right 10 vote. and the IF
teenth declared that this right should be
maintained regardless OF race and color.
II was thus the war OF 1861 20 1865 ended.
Before Il the negro race had been in the
lowest possible condition, that OF slavery.
One OF the greatest issues Of the war was
the freedom OF the negro.
Then. when this had been accom-
plished. the white man turns about, and
gives him the right Of suffrage, without
his even asking for It. Mind you. the
cOloTed man did not ask for the privilege
OF voting II was thrust upon him. How
ever, he was grateful for IL. The case is
altered thereby. II was not the same as
II he had fought and plead Tor the right
OF a ballot. Congress gave II 20 him, and
volunteered by the fifteenth amendment
70 protect him In the right
only q handful OF you are here to-
AAHHAf nAA gNu AF NENAAA AAHAN lAAAAA ~
0O0,OO0. There are still many. many white
men In this country who believe and Will
fight for the fifteenth amendment. And
so / say again, it's up 10 you and your
people In the next six months, whether
or not you continue 10 remain IN the free
and full rights which the Constitution has
granted you. The issue OF the fight is
not so much who shall be President as II
IS what are going 10 be the principles OF
the Republican party.
Gather together your strongest forces
and demand OF the convention in Chicago
next week that they put into the plat
form. not that old trick plank, but a
positive declaration that Il Is the inten-
tion OF the Republican party 10 stand by
and enforce not only the fourteenth
amendment, but also the fifteenth amend
ment. and every other amendment, as il
should be.
Thrown Down" by Party.
THE colored man has never asked any
thing unreasonable under the fifteenth
amendment. Up 20 now they have made
no complaint that the party did not en-
force q. The negro has only tried. under
the very wise advice Of the great Booker
7. Washington. TO do two things-to edu-
cate himself, and then 70 acquire money
and property with which 10 maintain his
rights Few men with the means at their
command are far more powerful than
many without H. He has not complained.
because he has been granted the proper
privileges IN the past He was permitted
TO attend the Republican caucuses and
conventions. and he was allowed 10 en-
list in the army to fight FOR his country.
Privilege number one has now been taken
away by the Southern Republicans, who
have driven the negro out. and up 10 the
time Of the affair at Brownsville they had
been treated as any other enlisted soldier.
"Colored men, viii you do your duty?
II you will YOU must do Ii at once. You
cannot go into the Chicago convention,
save that few who, l regret 20 say, were
bought 20 cover appearances. A negro
can be bought the same as a white man.
In that respect I acknowledge the politi-
cal equality OF all men, white or colored.
ASK Direct Question"
ASK the Chicago convention the direct
question; Are you going TO inforce the
fifteenth amendment? II not, then we
feel at liberty to sever all allegiance. and
vote for whom we please Perhaps you
might get it out OF the Democratic party.
Who can tell what might be gained. II
they were conciliated bit 10 heal the
wounds of the past years Of negro devo-
ton TO Repubhcanism."
Following Senator Chandler. Rev.
George w Lee. of the Vermont Avenue
Baptist Church, addressed the gathering.
which, by this time. had become very en-
thusiastic and demonstrative in their ap-
proval OF the spirit Of the meeting.
A set Of resolutions was presented and
unanimously adopted by the meeting. in
which an appeal was made TO the Re
publican convention TO incorporate in the
platform a plank pledging support Of the
fifteenth amendment, disapproval ex-
pressed Of the action of attempting to
eliminate entirely the negro from the con-
vention, and urging 10 al negro voters
in the country TO stand by the nomina-
ton for President Of Joseph B. Foraker.
OF Ohio