The Ketchikan miner., 1908-09-05

hands of mob, and terrible scenes ensued. For instance, an aged, re- spectable, law abiding. negro was standing by his cottage gate holding baby in his arms, his daughter by his side. The mob turned the corner, and without warning fell upon him. When it swept by, maddened with blood, the aged man was corpse on the street, the form ot the lifeless il
 nocent babe trampled on by the rou.
 heels of hundreds of men. The ohe crime of the man was that when Guu made some men white, he made him black. The only sin of bruised, crush ed, bleeding babyhood was that Il. laughing eyes had looked through ebony skin on the broad rich prairie. of fir ee Illinois.
 Who wrought this worky Savag, Zulus or nerveless MongoliansY Neitherr they were free American cit izens, who live in the proudest country and the grandest age the world has ever seen. Men who will decide who shall be president, men who shall say what laws shall be enacted, these formed this awful mob, It is no won- der that Springfield is bitterly asham- ed, and will leave no-stone unturned until this disgrace to her fair name is wiped out,
 How senseless is race preiua' :. America. Some start. life .. ll heritage of blood and "'.n .n. m gives them place, some 'N "n'' bered into life wh~' no eno'in ence is struggle bn. 1p. ,pa o aco;aan,. en,ss of color and rae D'e .ne a'oiuen'S them and n. 3 prejudice handicap suit Th 'e persecution is the re- ,l, r. omas Jefferson said that w., ~ were born free and equal. .e Id that they were. But never r t have they been thus classed. Tn what sense can the equality affirmed oy the Declaration of Independence be possible or desirable? What is the serious question for civilization to lace and answer? The south denies the negro political equality the north denies him industrial equality; South Airlca dep'es him social equality, while England grants him all of these, What equality should he or any s.lien race have?
 here can be one answer, the equal "y of opportunity. That is all that can be really possible, but that is everything. Equality of birth is im- possible. Men come into this world through cottage and palace, and ever will. Equality of franchise may he granted in theory, but ougha these to be granted to men regardless of fitness for it? Social equality is a purely personal matter and it is not either probable or especially desirable between opposite races. But equality of opportunity is the birthright of all That is, the equal right of any body, regardless of color, race, tongue or WCditu tO llic. lO all 6uuCaElOU, tO a trade, to chance TO work, to square deal to fair chance to be a man.
 The Springfield riots and attitude are blow at this. That is why they strike at the very heart of American ism. To condemn men because of race, to condemn the race for the sins ofsits degenerates, to rob men of the right to live and learn and work and be men because of race, nothing is more thoroughly un-American and criminal than this. Let Illinois learn: let Us learn that in America any man should have a square deal to be all that man can be: if he makes good he is worthy of all respect and honor, as men must be weighed one by one, not in crowds and races. Each man comes into the world alone, each man should have his opportunities, each rise or fall on his own merits.
 Race prejudice must go and true manhood be honored no matter what it's color or birth.