The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-16
TAFT TALKS IN
NEGRO CHURCH
The Republican Candidate Ex-
presses Sympathy for COL
Ored Voters.
INHERITED FROM FATHER
FUTURE HAS MUCH IN STORE
FOR THE RACE.

Cincinnati, Sept. 15.-This, the fifty-first
anniversary of Mr.. Tafts BIRTH proved to
be the busiest day he has had since his
arrival here a week ago He delivered an
address tonight TO su audience of minis
ters, composing the Ohio conference of
the African Methodist Episcopal church.
the first speech of his campaign TO ne
sroes The address was not political, but
gave clear outline of the sympathetic
understanding and feeling entertained for
the struggles of the race possessed by the
candidate.
The candidate was escorted from the
Taft residence to Allen temple in the
evening by party Of the clereynien He
PECAN his address by commenting on his
familiarity with the temple and the con-
eTegation. He was there. he said, for the
purpose of expressing his sympathy with
the negro race in its struggle for better
things.
An Inherited Love.
"A sympathy" he said (which | have
had from the time | was a small boy for
l inherited II from my father Alphonse
Tart. than whom the colOred race never
had a better friend"
This interest Mr.. Taft said. had been
stimulated through his experience in the
Philippine islands. He reviewed the strug-
gle of the race from the time OF slavery.
III had made the most progress in agri-
cultural pursuits and il in this line
ne believed they should continue, al
though he spent considerable time in his
comment on the value of education. which
he said, had increased from to 80 per
cent In the past forty years. The edu-
cation 10 be most sought for by the negro
race, he said was primarily the rudi-
ments Of knowledge combined with indus
trial training. This should be supple
mented BY higher education for more
limited number. to furnish well-rounded
ministers. doctors. teachers and lawyers.
When Prejudice Would Cease.
1T win be greatly easier for him Cthe
negro to secure his civil and political
rights wnen he becomes useful to the
community and a source of profit 10 many
members of it, Prejudice against the race
fails away most rapidly when there are
pecuniary reasons fer its disappearance"
The candidate said he had not always
been In favor OF higher education for
members OF the negro race. but after
tull consideration OF the needs Of the race,
! am convinced that 7 was In error
On the subject Of race prejudice and
mob violence, Mr.. Taft said
II don't know that the race bitterness
IS any stronger today than It ever was
For a length of time II seems to be alto
Esther abated and then there will be an
outbreak. q mob viii be formed develop
ing the most fiendish cruelty. manifest
ling Itself IN the blindest and most unreal
'Sorahie assaults upon perfectly innocent
people simply because of their color. IL
Is only fair to say that such british ex-
hibitions are not confined To any one sec
ton.
No Accounting for Mob Spirit.
1t Is Impossible to read accounts of
this sort Witt1It having ones blood boil
with irdlgnptior that there can reside in
the human breast such a savage AMI
heastls impulse and motive But we must
remember two things. First. that in spite
Of our education and refinement and pro-
eTcss toward Christian ideals, we still re
tain In our nature great deal of the
original animal. and second. that the spirit
OF n mob seems to be different spirit
from that Of the individuals making il
up, and to disclose a more insensate and
inhuman state 81 impulses Than il would
bers.
''The best remedy. and the necessary
tration Of our criminal laws. and the hold
ing TO strict account the officers of the
lgw who do not use all means to prevent
and suppress such outbreaks.
Condemned by Mr.. Taft.
II cannot too strongly condemn the at
titude OF those public men who in their
discussions of the negro question, use
language calculated 10 arouse in the ig-
norant a deep contempt for the negro
race. and an altogether unfriendly atti-
sponsible for much of the feeling that
n,anifests itself in the contumely heaped
upon the negro at times and the actual
cruelty exhibited toward him. On the
other hand. I believe sincerely that all
through the south very mUch better feel
ing is growing among many classes of
citizens toward the negro
Saying he realized the heart thsobs of
the negro. he added;
''Rut in spite OF ALL" he said, BE Of good
chcer-the future is brighter. for him and
Is more in his hands than ever. While
the negro Is the ward OF the nation. in
the sense that the nation brought him
here against his Will, and mrst now deal
with the problems that his presence pre-
SCENTS and solve them justly. fairly AMI
charitably. he Is not thereby relieved from
the burden of resnonsibilitv that he must
assume TO win his way I'm the community
of industry and thrift TO a place where
he becomes too valuable pait Of society
for his depreciators TO ignore his rights
and well-earned position
Mr.. Taft's speech was warmly received
! and many OF his periods roundly ap-
plauded