Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-07
THE NEGRO AND THE OHIO
PLATFORM.

Beware
OF entrance to a quarrel; but. being
in.
Bear't that the opposer may beware
Of thee. Shakespeare.
II the platform of the Republican
Party of Ohio is to be accepted upon
its face value. it will be seen that the
leaders in that State are thoroughly
alarmed over the detection Of the
colored vote. We have read its en-
phatic declarations with interest and
Il will be Of interest to our readers
throughout the country, for as a rule
these Ohio platforms foreshadow the
work of the National Republican
Convention. 1t reads:
In the nation we stand for those
ideals OF government which mean
justice. equality and fair dealing a.
mong men. A brave and impartial
enforcement of the lawfe@ the civil
and political rights Of the American
Negro i'm every State. believing, as
we do. that his marvellous progress
in intelligence. industry and good
citizenship has earned the respect and
encouragement OF the nation. and
that those legislative enactments
that have for their real aim his dis
reimbursement for reasons of color
are unfair. un-American and repug-
nant TO the supreme law of the land.
We favor the reduction of repre-
sentatiou in Congress and the cleo
toral college in all States of this I'm
ion where white and colored citizens
are disfranchised, to the end that
The fourteenth amendment 90 the
Constitution of The United States may
be enforcd according 20 it's letter
and spirit"
This sounds well. but how does it
conform 70 Hon. William II. Tafts
utterances in North Carolina and on
Lincoln Day in Michigan? The col
ored voter is forgiving and he can
be won over. We hardly think that
the Republicans of Ohio are any too
early in making platforms that will
attract attention and in employing
spell-bindcrs, who viii proceed to
explain their meaning
Senator Foraker and his follow
ers viii yet be heard from and #
may be that a truce will be agreed
upon that may hold at the polls.
Ohio will not 60 Republican il the
past policy of the Taft leaders is adj
hered TO. It's well for a fight with
only one antagonist but when the
fight is to be made with Democrats
on one flank and Republicans fight
ing on the other. the result will not
long DE I'm doubt. The Bucneye
State viii go Democratic by at least
10000.
However. We nope that reason
viii predominant and that judgment
viii hold sway in the land OF poll
tics and Republicanlsm The hope
TO offset Republican OBJECTIONS by
Democratic accessions may prove a.
bortive. The resembling of that eel.
ebrated order viii restore harmony
and bring peace in the land. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, upon the advice of
Hon. william III. Taft should rise 10
the dignity of the occasion and show
that he is great enough 20 do 10.
The cry. Remember Brownsville"
viii unQuestionably be a battle CITY
in the coming campaign.
The action OF the President in this
matter is indefensible and it is un-
fair 90 his loyal Negro supporters
90 force them TO face such an issue
Secretary Tafts talks on the Negro
have not helped his canvass. In the
light of an impartial analysis. they
show that so far as he is concerned
on this question. che hasn't got his
bonnet on straight"