Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-03-26
diagnosing The
SITUATION.
Arraying the COlOred Brother
Against Taft and
Roosevelt.
Ex-congressman George H. White, Col.
ored, Formerly Of This District, But
Now a Resident Lawyer of Philadel-
phia, Issues an Open Letter to His
Race In This State.

Race In This State.
The following circular letter, which
is certainly well written, true IN It's
chronicles as to the white men who
have fattened on his race in politics in
the past. and have so quickly forsaken
it in it's travail OF disfranchisement, is
going the rounds at this time and is
significant of the temper of the race
leaders toward the GO. p. in this State.
1t is evident hath colored brothers.
arrayed in determined purpose against
the Roosevelt-Taft combine, and in the
contesting delegations that are being
marshalled for Chicago there is a deep
game OF politics.
If the anti-Taft forces in the North
can gather enough strength to control
the temporary organization of the ma
t1onal convention, and thereby secure
the committee on credentials, every
negro contesting delegation from the
South will be seated and Foraker will
be nominated.
The ARGUS may be wrong in this de-
duction. but-well, no matter! The
Democratic nominee is going to be the
next president.
The letter in question is as follows:
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Prof. w. S. Hagans,
Go1dsboro, N. G.
Mr. DEAR MR.. HAGANs:-
I am addressing this open letter to
the colored people Of North Carolina
through you. AS q former resident OF
this State and one stilldeeply interested
in the welfare of our people, 1 have
watched with pain and great concern
their seeming apathy and indifference as
to their political condition since their
disfranchisement ten years ago.
We, as a race, constitute about ons
ninth of the entire population OF this
country, and for our own political and
civil rights as well as the future welfare
of our posterity, we should be keenly
alive to every interest and cons1dera-
ton that affects the American people.
Ill q 1OpuO41O "AOAo ONN
sovereign, in that his vote makes the
rulers of the republic-tbe Legislators
who make the laws and the officers who
execute and construe the laws-no
should be content to rest satisfied where
that boon has been taken away from
him.
doubt very much that the recent
constitutional amendments and the
laws enacted Hereunder in North Car
DINA would stand the test of the courts,
if the pleadings were properly drawn
and intelligently presented; yet a least
12O, 900 voters have sbeen affected by
the change in the organic laws of the
State remain silent,iiand no effort has
been made to regain their lost rights OF
the coloredl citizens, either by them
selves or their erstwhile white Rsso-
ciates. Gratitude should prompt those
whom we rescued from Eobscurity. in
Significance, to at least STOW some de-
gree of friendship to the black man
Who has sacrificed his entire political
welfare for their elevation.
From the day Of our enfranchisement
in North Carolina, We blindly followed
our white political leaders, faithfully
doing their bidding with scant return
In the way of recognition from them,
only to be turned down, disowned and
disfranchisedSin our own household by
these ingrates, when we could no longer
serve their political ends. They now
ignore us and refuse US admission into
the councils oti h party that we have
loved and served SO faithtully-the
party of Lincoln and Grant-thep party
that once stood for liberty, manhood,
suffrage, equal political and civil rights
before the law, but, alas, today in North
Carolina there is only the name, the
substance has fed.
It has been my privilege to attend
two or three county conventions since
/ came into the State, and b spectacle
presented was one that I never expected
to see in North Carolina. In fact, as !
see it, there is no Republican party in
this State, except as it lies dormant in
the inactivities of the colored brother.
There is what should beproperly called
q "Lily White Bureau"of oficeseekers
and oficeholdersiiwho have banded
themselves together to control the Fed
eral patronage Gin the State, and from
appearances have nc desire for the per-
Detuation or to increase the numbers OF
the Republican party. Their politics
is only ''of6ce deep and dollar wide."
We have a few white Republicans left
in the State with whom we will gladly
co-nnarate. while they remain true to