The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-17
NEGRO PREACHER
 TALKS POLITICS Says Race Must Break ShackIes
 With the Ballot Too LONG WITH ONE PARTY Negroes Are Advised To Vote for Men and Measures Rather Than Pc. IticaI Parties and Protest
 Against Oppression.
Too LONG WITH ONE PARTY

Washington, August 16-(speciaI. )-"Ac- cording to the spirit and the teaching of the word of God, there is no phase of bu man responsibility to which the ministry is exempted; but, to the contrary. the minister more than any other individual member of society, Is held responsible for the deeds of the people," said the Rev. S. l.. Carrothers, president of the local branch of the National Negro American Poiitical league at Galbraith A. M. E. Zion church in a sermon this morning His subject was '"rhe Duty of the Negro Ministry in the Present Political Cam paign' and he dwelt at length on the probable solution of the race problem. He said In part:
 Is there any one who holds that the minister should not advise his people with reference to their political interest? If so. l would like to ask if the negro citi- zenship is not matter of politics? Was 1t political parties that conferred the right of citizenship upon the negro of this country, or was it Sunday school con- vention, or Christian Endeavor meet ing?
 Every intelligent American citizen must admit that the negro is a creature or politics, and if 1t had not been for the great political struggle that led to the division of the country, the black man would nave been slave today. We owe much to the agitators of political opinions of the past, and our future de- bends upon the political independence of the present
 We are face to face with the most important period in the history of our race in this country. Tn 12 states in this union we are disfranchised, Jim Crowed' and subjected to insults that are almost intolerable. and the question arises: What shall we do to be saved?
 For 40 years we have been taught to confide wholly and to follow without con- troversy the republican leaders, but I regret to say that after all these years of devotion we find ourselves betrayed. de- serted, bound hand and foot, and left to the mercies of the men we have been taught were our enemies Before us to- day stands 40 years of unfaithfulness on the part of the republican leaders. Brownsville stands like smoking Sinai: lily-whitism spreads itself over the hope of the negro like the blackness of the darkness of Egypt.
 ''Thank God one star of hope still re- mains From every section of this broad land the news comes that if the negro is to break away from political slavery and to become an independent American citizen; voting for men and measures. rather than political parties,' the door of opportunity shall be open to him.
 ''The method by which MT. Taft was nominated was disgrace to American civilization, and his election will prove a curse to the spirit of our free institu- tions.
 'Is he friend to the coored citizen. and what does he stand for? He ap- proves of disfranchisement laws of the south
 Some of the negro office-holders, who thought they were leaders, have been very abusive because they have not been able to prevent discussion of the actual condition of the negro of this country.
 ''I desire to say that it is not my pur- pose to in any way increase the lack of confidence in these would-be leaders. but since they have become so officious. running around from place to place, try ing to misrepresent us to the people, de- sire to serve notice here, now and for all time to come, that I will not be swerved from my purpose by anybody in the church or out of 1t.
 Any black man who occupies a promi- nent place in this government, and who knows that his place was procured as A representative of his people, and who has failed to lift his voice or pen against the outrages heaped upon his people, Is a curse to the race, and ought to keep his mouth shut, for if he were Q member of any other race except the poor, oppressed place to light" ". G