Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-18
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
The platform as adopted by the
Democratic National Convention at
Denver. Colorado is a strong docu-
ment and guaged by the past record
of its acknowledged leader. &c is a
conservative deliverance from a body
of men. VINO seem now 20 be adjust
ing their political sails with the idea
OF retaining the protesting elements
I'm the Party and the purpose of bring
ing to their support the disgruntled
elements On the Republican Party.
or course the colored people are
most deeply interested in that por-
tlon OF tho platform that specifically
refers TO them. In this respect they
will find abundant information for
their disappointment. Relative to
the attitude OF that party towards
the colored men in this country. the
platform is silent.
The inference IS though that the
Democratic Party. even as reorgan-
lied under the mastery leadership
Of Hon. William j. Bryan Is ready AID
willing 20 promote the emigration OF
the colored people 90 other shores.
II all OF the Negroes will go either
to England. Germany. France. Spain
Portugal. Russia. Greece. Denmark.
Switzerland. Turkey or any other
country OF the old world. all Of the
rights and privileges vouchsafed any
other citizen Of the United States will
be accorded 10 them, for here is the
language Of the platform:
I'VE pledge ourselves to insist up
on the just and lawful protection of
our citizens at home and abroad, and
90 use all proper methods to secure
for them whether native born OF
naturalized and without distinction
Of race or creed. the equal protec-
ton Of law and the enjoyment of all
rights and privileges open TO them
under our treaty the right Of travel
and sojourn Is denied TO American
citizens, or recognition is withheld
from American passports by any coun
tries on the ground OF race or creed
we favor prompt negotiations with
the governments of such countries
20 secure the removal Of these un-
Just determinations.
Ninety-five per cent OF the colored
people of this country are within the
radius of Democratic control That
they get the equal protection of the
laws is more a joke than a reality
We have been blessed with a corp oil
Democratic Governors, most Of whom
have made an effort to protect al
men, charged with crime. regardless
of race or color. This plank in tn,
platform is silent though upon the
question OF political rights and ever
in its most liberal sense cannot b,
/ construed 70 make any promises con
corning them.
To this extent, it is radically a
variance with the strong plank in
serted in the Republican platform
/ considered from the standpoint o
words rather than from the arena o
performances, the Republican plat
from has the Democratic platform, s
far as it relates TO the citizen of color
beat a mile" yes, five miles; yes
ten miles and then we might ad
that the difference is as far apart a
the poles
The Democrats in their conventio
assembled were willing to grant ii
dependence to the Filipinos, VIII
fought against the government an
! yet deny equal political rights to tn
Negroes in this country, who fougf
for it. Here is the plank upon ths
phase of the situation:
eve favor an immediate deciar;
Z tion of the nations purpose to re,
= ognize the independence of the Phi
! ippine Islands as soon as a stab
government can be established, sue
, Independence to be guaranteed by y
! as we guarantee the independence I