Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-10-23
WHY i AM A NEGRO DEMOCRAT.


tening to correct II by helping m!
southern white democratic friends Il
take II away from me as soon as pos
sible.
do not believe in anybody that be-
lieves in me, therefore do not be-
lieve In the republican party. That i
was born to abolish slavery and e
make @ man OF me Is Of no concern
whatsoever, as do not want to me q
man and never did.
That Lincoln died martyrs death
because of his advocacy Of my cause
makes me think that Lincoln was a
fool and a crank; did not deserve it!
That the last state in the union, a
good democratic state, Oklahoma, has
accorded me "jim crow" treatment in
Its schools, at Its telephones, on Its
railroads and in many other Of Its pub
lie places Is immaterial, as the demo-
Gratis always did know what was best
for my welfare! As these good dem
ocrats of Oklahoma also saw to il that
l virtually lost my right to vote shall
ever pray for their political supremacy!
| am proud Of the democratic party.
II has written into the democratic plat
form of West Virginia a plank pledged
to prevent the Negro from evermore
being a political factor in that state !;
why should not feel that have put
my trust in proper hands-the good old
democratic party?
am a Negro democrat because |
prefer the shotgun policies Of demo-
cratic South Carolina, to the liberal
spirit of republican Ohio where the bal
lot Is sacredly safeguarded for all men,
black or white.
am a Negro democrat because the
18th and 18th amendments to the ma
tonal constitution are republican in
struments, and | oppose their contin-
ued operation because my democratic
allies cannot gain absolute control OF
the country's affairs while these amend
ments are the law of the land. What
would happen TO me should these laws
ever become lost to us has never been
considered by me-being Negro
democrat am not expected to see the
serious side Of any matter involving
the best interests of my race!
As Negro democrat l revere Till
man, who SCOTS at my ambitions and
who travels the country over adverts-
ing me as beast and unfit for cvili
zation.
As a Negro democrat regard For
aker as a perennial joke. Nor am !
grateful to him for his 40 years of
service for me either on the field Of
battle or In the halls of state. What
do | care for his soldierly courage or
his statesmanly eloquence; neither
was sincere. The fact that he is one
Of the nations greatest republicans
makes the evidence Of his insincerity
manifest.
As a Negro democrat let me have
silent part in the company Of such dis
tinguished patriots as John Sharpe
Williams and Gov. Vardaman of Mis-
sissippi, famous in the annals of their
party as sleepless sentinels at the
door of hope-not however to permit
the entrance of the Negro thereto,
but to deny him admission to the
realm of opportunity and the joyful
expectancy of soon-to-be realized
heritage of blessings such as all other
citizens enjoy and appreciate. ! ad-
mire their style of democracy! don't
want to be citizen: want to be
Negro democrat.
As a Negro democrat my political
gods are Hoke Smith of Georgia, and
the noble Jeff Davis of Arkansas. One
the god of mob-law, the other chief
priest of riot. They are the Negroes
friend. Atlanta's bloody harvest of a
few months ago is an enduring mark
of Hoke Smiths love for his colored
brother. The genial Davis is almost
persuaded that he might some day
substitute Negroes for mules as beasts
of burden on his Arkansas plantation.
Could be other than democrat hav-
ing such dear friends as these?
A Negro democrat-yes, and proud
of it!
will vote for Bryan because he is
backed by nv friends from the solid
South. I will vote for him because
if elected he will be bound to con-
duct his administration in harmony
with the wishes Of his solid southern
constituency. will vote for him be-
cause he, as the great American COM
moner, has never during his political
career taken stand on a question of
human rights when the Negro was a
factor in it. l shall commend his al
titude by my vote because his is pure
ly democratic doctrine.
l will oppose Vim. H. Taft because
he has absorbed his splendid political
proportions from generations of liber-
ty loving and liberty conserving for
bears, and because he believes that
the continuation of my citizenship
privileges is an important issue of this
campaign. l oppose him because he
intends that l shall have every right
under the law permitted to any Amer
lean, and Is not afraid to 60 before
the people with his views. 1 further
oppose him because he is the standard
bearer of the republican party in this
national campaign and ! am a Negro
democrat.
In short l am opposed to everything
trade marked republican party. ! am
opposed to every benefcent law passed
by it, either in nation or in state, for
my well-being and elevation. | am op-
posed to it because it has wiped out,
whenever in power, every law vicious
in principle to my interest instigated
and passed by democratic lawmakers,
my friends and benefactors.
desire to be Sim crowed," dis
franchised, repudiated as citizen Of
the republic and in every particular
made target for democratic ridicule
and abuse. l do not want to be pa
triotic, nor grateful, nor thoughtful of
the future of my race; therefore /
make plain the reasons why am A
NEGRO DEMOCRAT.
WHdT In OLD SOL DER THINKS