Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-11
OVATION FOR FORAKER
Ohio Senator Visits C0IOred
Church Conference.
COMPLIMENTS NEGRO RACE
Expresses His Views as to Browns.
vile Incident.
SAYS SOLDIERS DID NOT SHOOT
Assurance by Bishop Gaines That
Champion of Colored People
Can Command Votes.
COMPLIMENTS NEGRO RACE
SAYS SOLDIERS DID NOT SHOOT

Any possible doubt as to the affection
ate regard of the solored people for Sen
ator Foraker of Ohio and their unbounded
confidence in him as their friend and de-
fender was dispeiled by the tribute paid
| him on the occasion of :, visit by him, on
invitation of the presiding bishop. to the
session Of the Baltimore conference of the
NJ. f. Church. at the Metropolitan A. NJ.
E. Church. NJ street near Fifteenth street
today. Senator Foraker was rendered an
ovation. The large audience, led by the
bishop and high officers of the conference.
arose to welcome the visitor From all
over the church signs and God bless
you's' and other testimonials of sup
pressed emotion were heard.
Bishop Gaines introduced Senator For
aker as the friend and defender of our
people The senator. evidently moved by
he touching welcome rendered him. began
to tighten the situation by thanking the
bishop and conference for the privilege
accorded him of being present.
Has Been Preaching Gospel.
Il was much gratified to receive your in
vitation to come" he said. land do as the
bishop had said I must do-do what 1 was
told and exchange the compliments Of
the day. 1 am not altogether out of place
here, though. for I. too. have been preach
ing the gospel all my life. Although you
are engaged as religious men in preaching
the gospel you and l are nevertheless CO.
workers in preaching that morality which
makes for good government. The speak
er referred to that portion of Washing
tons farewell address wherein the people
were adjured to remember the great pur-
poses for which the nation had been
founded and recounting the essentials that
go to make a government that is good.
Everybody who Is a teacher OF moral.
ity" Senator Foraker continued, every
one who is teacher of religion. is also
a teacher of good government; although
do not and never can believe in a bare
code Of morality. without religion.
Senator Foraker congratulated the Bal
timore conference and its ministers and
the other ministers throughout the coun-
try on the splendid work they had done
for the uplift of the colored people In the
last forty years.
Remembers Forty Years Ago.
II remember and doubtless there are
many of you here present" he went on
to say. who remember forty years ago,
and recall the pitiably helpless condition
Of the negro race at that time. Property
they had none. indeed many of you in
stead of having property had but re-
Gently been the property Of others your
selves. But out of that condition you
have raised yourself to higher things. and
no tribute to the efforts you have made
no tribute to the deeds you have done
would be complete that did not recall the
splendid service of your church and your
worthy friend. Bishop Arnett, who have
stood up for their race and for good gov
eminent You have everything now that
a people can have, save. perhaps, some
political rights; but with the help Of God
and an awakened public conscience those
rights will come to you in good time.
You see," the senator added, Il try to
stick to my text, but before know it
lose my religion in talking to you. 1
lost it when 1 heard OF the butchery at
again when l heard of the Brownsville
affair. 1 would not have referred to that
unhappy blot II you had not insisted upon
1t. And l lost II only a few days ago
when l read of the action of the Viz
ginia republican convention at Lynch
burg that ignored the delegates of your
race. l think 1T was a shame and
don't care who knows it. / do not care
to criticise my party. but l do condemn
those who misrepresent it. The ques-
ton that was raised in that Virginia
convention will be carried for settlement
to the next national convention at Chi
cago. We will find out there whether
the party of Lincoln, Of Grant and of
MCKINNEY Is a lily Wn1L6 Ii II Is,
| assure you that there will soon be new
parties in the field. which will stand for
the rights of humanity. Religion and
that kind of politics go hand in hand.
Right to Quarrel
Il have been quarreling with my
friends of the south for forty years be-
prohibition and other heresies. If I have
1 certainly have the right now to quar-
rel with those who misrepresent the
republican party. According to the law,
| the negroes are entitled to vote in Vir-
gnia when the democrats vote, and
| they are protected in that right. Why.
when the republicans vote? ! don't be-
long to a party and will disclaim any
party that stands for such a thing. l
am an old ia shioned republican. think
more of human rights than of trusts
and corporations.
But / did not come here to make a
| speech, Indeed, ! came understanding
| that / was not to do so, but just to say
| a word or two of cheer and encourage
ment, and it is a good time to do so.
| among the thought-makers OF the negro
race.
| Being urged to do so, the speaker then
referred to the Brownsville incident.
Il have been accused Of taking the &C.
| ton L 0lQ In tndt Case W Sc sho iiSS y
vote" he remarked. Il didn't have to 90
| II. I have always had it. 1t never once
| entered into my mind that had to do IT,
| certainly have never had to ask Tor H.
| But I'm not losing sleep on that account.
| 1t seemed to me horrible that any man.
| no matter how humble he might be. could
| in this republic be stripped OF his rights,
tried and condemned without a hearing.
| merely by an executive order. l felt that
| those men had the right to be heard, ano
l thought that 1t was my duty 10 see
| that they had the chance to be heard.
Weighed the Evidence.
| You know the result 1 do not wish to
even seem to criticise the action OF my
colleagues on the committee who framed
the report. l weighed and tested care
fully and conscientiously. as have done
| for forty years as lawyer and on the
bench. all the testimony in that case. and
think am competent to know the
truthful man when I hear him. 1t Is my
| absolute belief that not man IN tnat
| entire battalion fred gun. l 90 not
Il stand for these men because they are
negroes but because they are men. In
fighting their battle I fight my own and
the battle Of mankind. The race question
does In a sense enter into the case. But
above and beyond 1t is the broader Ques'
ton that involves a constitutional right,
the right to be heard before conviction
The case involves the elemental principles
Of human liberty, and that is why take
my stand in It, My friends. I have and