The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-04-16
FOrakcr'S Address.

"WALTER s. TuOM',,.I"
F0rakcr'S Address,
Senator Foraker, Of Ohio. received
an ovation when he made an address
this afternoon before the Baltimore
| conference Of the African Methodist
Episcopal church, assembled in Me-
tropolitan church here. He was in
trOduccd by Bishop Gaines, Of Allan
ia, az our friend and our defender. :"
Nearly l 900 persons, including COL
ored ministers from several states
were present. The senator was in
tcrrupted throughout his address Of
20 minutes by applause and demon
trations Of regard. He said in the
course Of his remarks:
II spoke moment ago about this
spirit of religion. Now and then
find myself losing my religion. |
lost it when there did not appear to
be anything anybody could do about
that terrible butchery at Atlanta 4
year or two ago. | have nothing to
say against the town. Some things
have happened in some of our Ohio
towns that | would not like to hear
my religion again when ! heard Of
Brownsville. | mention that only
because it is referred to in this invi-
tation. | would not have referred
to matter so personal if it had not
been referred to me-
~ almost lost it again when ! read
IN today's newspapers Of the pro-
ceedngs had In republican con-
VentiOn held in Virginia, where it is
reported that the leaders announced,
from the chairman down, that no
colOred men need apply. do not
want to criticise my party, and II
am not criticising it. | am critics.
ing lot Of people who are misrep-
reSentlng it for the time being, and
refer to it not to condemn my par
ty, but to encourage you by saying II
hope the question that has thus been
fairly raised will be carried for set
t'ement to the national convention at
Chicago. We will then find out
whether or not tho great republican
party Of Lincoln and Grant and
Harrison and Mckinley is lily |
white party If it is, Iprcdict there
VIII be some new parties in this
country.
Il have been quarrcIing for a good
many years with our democratic |
trends down in the southern states
because they were enacting cOnsti- |
buttons with grandfather clauses in |
them and passing statutes with one |
kind and another OF prescription and
prohibition, until they had disfran-
chlSed aGOnt tWO-thirds of our col !
cred voters.
Has q Right to Quarrel
/ have got a right, after quarrel
ing with them for nearly 40 years,
to quarrel now with these great mis-
representatives Of the republican par
~ who are trying to disfranChise the
other third Now comes these lily
whites and tell us that men who are
permitted to vote by the democrats
shall not be allowed to vote when
the republicans are holding a con-
Ventlon to settle party affairs. III
not, why not?
Il disclaim all such republicans
Ihey 90 not belong to my party, and
!Wlil not belong to theirs. | am
simply an Old-faShioncd republican.
a great more concerned about human
rights than about trusts and CORPORA
lions. | think prOpe" attention
should be given to trusts and cOrpo-
rations, to the end that they be prop
erly regulated and supervised. and
tH that Twill forget al Jabout my
harm to the country but don't want
10 become SO absorbed with that du~
~ tnat lWlll forget all about my
brother who has been stripped Of his
most sacred rights of citizenship.
NOW Just d word about Browns
vile. ! said ! preferred not to speak
about that, but / will sneak q few
words on that subject, just as a mat
| ter OF Justice. / have seen it charg-
ca that ] was doing what | have done
III regard to the Brownsville case be-
cause | want the Negro vote. ! know
| dld not have to do that to get that
vote. have always had it. never
| had to ask for it. and it never enter
ed my mind that ever would have
TO ask for II. | did not have anv
| purpose with respect to votes did
not know when that started that 7
would ever need any votes Of anv
Kind, and am not sure that 7 evor
WILL certainly | am not sitting IN
nights losing sleep on any such ar.
count. took up the Brownsvi11a
matter simply because if seeuea +o
me aOhOrTent to every sense OF iua-