The Detroit times., 1908-09-26

race prejudice TO accomplish his main
purpose
Il have no way OF proving what
was in my mind except by referring
10 the records. Any one who reads
that will fail TO find a sentence or a
word TO justify any such statement rs
MIR. Taft makes
I'm view OF Judge Taft's state
ment. | trust | may be allowed to re-
peat what | have said a number of
times. that in this whole matter
had no revenges TO seek or personal
ends 10 serve. but was anxious TO see
that common justice was done TO the
representatives of a whole and loyal
race. every one OF whom is by nature
"A Republican. The colored voters are
known To be more or less displeased
with the action OF the Republican
party in not passing some relief meas
ure for these soldiers. and many OF
them have signified purpose to vote
against Judge Taft. because OF his Of
cial relation TO the matter.
Much work has been done TO
overcome this trouble and To induce
the colored Republican voters OF the
country -staad-hy- party with
which thye have always affiliated.
nd now comes the president and
publishes Judge -Tafl,s- letter con.
tanning his unfortunate reference 10
this unfortunate case.
Rubbing a Sore.
What does he mean? Does any.
body imagine that the president Ia
unable to see that Ell Is rubbing a
sore when he should have brought
a plaster. Does he imagine, or can
anybody suppose that the Republi'
can colored voters OF this country
can be brought 10 the support or
Judge Taft by parading in these
closing days OF the campaign Judge
Taft's belittling OF their chief griev-
ance by mentioning II as an incidental
matter which has been seized upon
and magnifed using In this without
scrupple. blind race prejudice. and
then adding the charge that all this Is
done only to 'embarrass the admins
tration' OF President Roosevelt
"can IL be possible that the presi.
dent wants to defeat Judge Taft? That
cannot be. and yet he could hardly
do any other one thing better eaieu-
lated to lose him votes, for no self
respecting Negro reading what Judge
Taft says in this letter and adding IL
to all that has gone before. can vote
for him without feeling that he Is MAX
Ina a qerater sacrifice than most men,
white or black, are willing to mako.
In any event, the presidents ac-
/ ton and comments are wrong TO-
ward the party AT critical hour or
\ the campaign OF an unworthy purpose
| in connection with matter that every
colored man who has any pride or
race holds highest value and In deep
est appreciation. What Judge Taft
/ says in his letter Is the equivalent
| OF an assertion that the colored people
OF thee ountry who have been gratified
| by what was done In the Brownsville
matter have simply been hoodwinked
/ by the designing selfishness. This Is
/ bad enough. but the president makes
II worse when he says:
90 the entire agitation over
| Brownville was In large part not
genuine agitation on behalf of the col.
ored men at all. but merely one phase
OF the effort by the representatives
OF certain law.defying corporations to
bring discredit upon the administra-
, ton. because TX was seeking TO cut
out the evils connected. not only with
! the corrupt use OF wealth. but especial
! ly with the corrupt alliance between
certain business men OF large fortunes
and certain politicians OF great office.
More Than r. RS Claim.
! In other words. the BROWNSVILLE
proceeding was not only all Judge
! Taft said IL was, but in addition to
being designing and selfish, II was
prompted by the representatives of
! law.defying corporations to bring
discredit upon the administration OF
its policy with respect 10 them This
Is worse than the presidents claim
that the panic of last October was pre-
cipitated by lot Of rich men In Wall
St, who wanted 10 bankrupt them.
selves and the whole country that they
might discredit him: and worse even
than the story that these same men
raised fund Of $4,000, 900 with which
to prevent him from naming his
chosen successor.
Il happen TO know better than any
body else can know, that there Is not
the slightest ground for such a charge.
Ii Is invention, pure and simple, and
judging by the frequency with which
the president is bringing the matter
to the front. born OF that disquiet
which comes to the conscience when
there Is consciousness OF having dore
a great wrong.
Except only the Brownsville mat
ter, the rate bill and the joint state.
hood l voted for all the measures
the president enumerated among the
achievements of his administration
and some OF them / was In charge
OF on the floor OF the senate when
they were passed.
Il have said enough, hope. to
justify my course both as to the rate
bill and as to Brownsville, and II is
not necessary that l should say any
thing In justification. Of my course
with respect to Joint TO the national
Republican platform upon which Mr.
TAFT stands. one plank of which de-
clares In favor Of the separate state
hood for New Mexico and Arizona.
Hasn't Hit at @. o. p.
IF in making this defense | have
said anything that will work the
slightest injury to the Republican
party. I shall regret it, but | shall al
ways feel that those VINO have no
consideration for me. my family or
good name..bat= would gloatlngly re.
joice II they could accomplish the
shame and humiliation they have at