The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-09-26
PLEA MADE
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platform to catch one Negro vote.
But the Grand Old Republican party
put into their platform these words OF
burning fire: THE Republican party
wrote into organic law, the declara-
tion that proclaimed the Negroes
civil and political rights, ana today
their remarkable progress and deyel-
opment in every field Of endeavor has
earned the respect Of the nation. We
therefore guarantee to the colored
citizens OF the United States full en-
ioyment OF their citizenship under
the constitution" w
With this plain and pertinent state
ment before US, we are not going to
stop ito trade horses In the middle
of the stream" And We are in a
very strong current just at the pres
emit time, and the Democratic mag,
is not at all promising as sure
means of carrying us over on the
other shore, to say nothing about get
ting on with any rapidity or safety.
1t is worse than folly to turn our
backs to the Republican party and
court disaster by voting the Demo-
cratic ticket. No. don't think that
the Negroes OF this state. or of the
United States, are going TO repudiate
the Republican party ION account OF
the mistakes of the President, or any
body else, but If the party, or poiiti-
cal house needs cleaning, we will stay
inside and help to do the cleaning.
The Republican party Is the only par
ty that has ever pushed us forward
as a people. To stand back and do
nothing will only help the enemy to
pile up their maiorities, and to ally
ourselves with any other ticket Is to
throw away our votes, and thus help
the Democrats to win. No, / do not
believe that the intelligent Negroes
of this state, or Of the United States,
will be foolish enough to cut off their
noses to spite their faces. For it
must be acknowledged, that in view
OF the propositions set forth in the
platforms of the various states of the
South, and in West Virginia in par
ticular, the only way to gain any
thing that has been lost, Is that we
must stay in the Republican ranks.
William H. Taft is man of strong
personality and his ancestral tradi-
lions and his own acts have been
those of friendliness towards us. And
with Republican President; who
stands for all that Mr.. Taft stands
for, we may always have hope, and
we may take courage. and press for
ward with determined vigor to the
attainment Of , all our Spolitical and
legal rights before the law. With
a Democratic President, everything
is possible than can lead to further
humiliation and degradation. There
is danger in putting the enemy of
Observation-Disclosures in the
saddle. 1t does not matter what
their promises may be, they have an
nouneed in advance what should be
done with the Negro, and what they
will do II given a chance. Does any
one suspect that the Democratic par
ty will not carry out their policies in
every way possible, If they get in Of
fee? Certainly they will. A vote
against William H. Taft is a vote
against our family affairs. our fire.
sides: it is a vote against our free
dom, our rights and our progress.
You will be committing both murder
and suicide. for our posterity will be
doomed. No: No! Let us stay on
board the Republican political ship
that has brought US this far on our
journey. Let US stay on board IL she
goes to pieces, we will go ashore on
the boards in her platform declaring
for a full-fledged American Negro
manhood. The determination on the
part of the Negro in this country is to
lift himself by his own bootstraps to
higher moral. Therefore, we ex-
pect the protection of the Republican
party. The Negroes of his state will
not knowingly step into the net so
carefully laid for US by the Demo-
cratic party and its allies in these
peculiar and trying times, and, there
fore, assist the enemy of our progress
to use the power given them to our
detriment. There is far more at
stake now than there ever was be-
ore. because of the adverse sentiment
stirred up by these same enemies who
are bidding and doing all they can to
secure our support. We can not az
ford to risk one inch that we have
gained. If We wish to stand for the
highest development, and the best in
terest OF our homes and families, we
must stand by the party of progress
Yes, we will stand firm within the
party that has stood by its Negroes
appointed to responsible Offices against
the bitter denunciation Of the loud
mouthed demagogues. who are the
leaders of the very party who are
seeking orr helm