Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-10-19
MONDAY EVENING. OCT. 10. 1908.
HAVING 6Oished his political itinerary


for the week which began in Ohio with
the music, Marching Through Georgis, "
Is an inspiration, passing through Ten
ne,see, Kentucky aud West Virginia,
Judge Taft closed his work 10 Richmond
on Saturday night. The republican
presidential candidate says he is making
these visits for the purpose Of showing
that "the south is part Of the union,
and as such is entitled to be considered
In a presidential campaign" This is q
very kind concession upon the part Of
Mr.. Taft, coming as it does forty-lhret
wears after The war. 10 some OF bic
speeches he has expressed hope OF &C.
curlng some votes In the south and we
suopose 10 Richmond be intimated that
he would accept the olive branch, II II
were offered him. Persons, now living
10 Alsxsndris, those Of good memories,
can recall that 10 the early seventies the
Oity Council elected all the officers o.
the city except the mayor. The repre-
seutatives from the Fourth ward we're 81
repubIicsns-in the Board Of Aldermen
two coIored men and in the Common
Council two colered men and two whites
the other three wards we're democratic
One of the positions to be filled by Ooun'
Gil, that of night Scsvenger, paid well,
and John A. SestoD, the colored Alder
man from the Fourth ward, nominated
Hannibal King, cOlOred, saying at the
time, "dive us this position, it Is one
that should be filed by q colored man,
and we will accept the olive branch, al
though there is something unclean on
the end of it." 10 a way Judge TsfFi
invitation to the dance Is something on
the same order, for he says he endorses
fully and unequivocally the republican
platform, and among other things thii
platform says:
The republican party has been fol
more than fifty years the consistent
friend of the American negro. We de-
clare for the enforcement in letter and
spirit of the thirteeth, fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the constitution
which we're designed for the protection
aud advancement of the negro, and we
consider all devices that have for theiI
real aim his Acknowledgement for color
alone.
Mr.. Taft will not hold out this to the
south as an olive branch, and ask us 10
a,crpt 1t Although there is something
unclesn on the end Of it," Every man
who is not hypocrite knows and admits
tast all the recent legislation In The
south regarding elections was for the pur'
pose of DISTINGUISHING the large and grow
ing number of ignorant and vic
ious blacks, aud at the same time pre-
serve the right Of suffrage to every de-
serving white mao within Its borders.
Mr.. Bryan says Judge Taft will nc;
make the same speech in the east that
he has made in the west. Neither hsi
be made speech since he reached Ten
nessee, on the same lines that he used
In Ohio in addressing meeting o.
blacks. There is, however, class o.
men in the south that sooner than see
Mr.. Bryan elected would welcome re-
duclion in southern representation in the
House OF Representatives and the cleo
torsl college, much as that would hu'
initiate their poorer, though prouder,
neighbors. This class we have always
denominated as the ''gushers" and the
"recsutsrs."