The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-20
lMegroes IN i; aft
MASSACHUSETTS EEAGuEsEN
NoTEso FsYAs ING 10th e.
couNTRY25ATsEaRGE.5sa-

Fearins that :he negro voters
throughout the h country may lave
been misled and ill:adyise.l, the TAFT
Colored League of Massachusetts has
issued IN address to the "Colore.l Re
publicans OF Massachusetts and the
Country at Large" 1t is siene.l by
George Miller. president: w. w. Fry.
ant, secretary: William II. Lewis. II.
7. Teamoh. r. J. Smith. Samuel E..
Courtney '.and 100 Others" Among
csllcr things they say:
THE unwise. ill-ef5Ised intern.
pcrale abuse and denunciatiorS Of the
administration OF President Roosevelt
an's no response or favor and III nh.
soiniely disapproved by :. mai ,rityS nf
vel thinking colored citizens. we
cannot and we must no. forge: F. Int
President Roosevelt and his ahr.inis-
t:atlun have stood for; for ourselves
as we'll as for the Who'll. country q:
whlcb we are part. On. unfu,Ln-
nate incident of a long and illustriDus
a ADMINISTRATION shonld not 5linil orr
sense Of Justice and fair l.laf 10 ono
whose general policy towards lis as
race has been SO broa,l.nlin,led anil
generous. The president has not only
shown himself friendly ant. well dis.
::.osed towards the col',re.i citizens,
but has ende4vored in every wuy to
Inspire them. with the highest ideals
OF good citizenship. ~
THE splendid determination aud
courage with which he stOoi by DR..
Drum for collector OF The port IL
Charleston, s. c., sending his ncn:ina-
ton to the senate time and sine again
Until 1t was finally confirmed. should
not be forgotten. Another nuta bio in.
stance of his standing strairh. 10.
right and justice Is to be FOUND In the
Indianola post Office affair. where he
closed the Office rather than Surrender
the right OF woman of color to hold
that Office. The prosecution of the J.
ntrous peonage cases by district at
tnrneys under the direction of the, at
tGlney general OF the Unltc.l States Ia
directly the result OF his own initia-
Tive. He has not only appointed col
o. led men TO Offices previously hell! by
them under other administrations, but
he has really broken new Erounl In
the matter OF federal appointments by
mining colored citizens Cd high and
responsible judicial positions. notably
Judges Hewlett and Terrell, OF WASH
i1gton. D. c.. and to thu law depart.
rent Of the government. w. II. Lewis.
Mt Boston. Mass: James A. Cobb. at
Washington. D. c.. and 8. Laing VIII
liafs. OF Chicago. ILL.,; the appoint
ments of Charles w. Anderson 10 the
responsible and important o"1ce of
collector of internal revenue for the
southern district OF New York. anil tie
appointment OF Ralph w. Tyler. of Co.
lumbms. Ohio. auditor OF the navy. nre
only other notable Instances nf his
policy of treating each individual upon
his merits.
ut would seem to be unfair. unjust
and ungrnteful for our coiorcl citi-
zens because of the single Brow naville
instance 20 literally turn their bucks
npun hs good friend ms has OF c:rfed
the presidential chair since Lincoln.
We believe that the Brownsville in
cident raises no race issue The pres
itlent would have made the same order
II the individuals hal been members
OF any other race or nationality. We
deplore the a,tcmnt. persistent lat
ant and rol:y. nh the :t::rI OF certain
colorel men to make rae" issue IT
IT. We have been advisel by gentle
men who assume to speak Tor Ms OH I'LL
occasions, that In the event of the nom
ilat' -. mt In IN" event hf the. ::uEl-
inattnn OF any man for president who
Is supported by the present admins.
tration. We should oppose him to the
extent OF voting for the Democratic
nominee. Is this the part of wisdom
or common sense. In view OF the atti.
t,ide of the national Democratic party,
"'" ihoiG "llltuitills Tie altlluNE vi
the local Democrats in the southern
States with regard to all great qlles-
lions of civil and political rights which
concern ourselves ms n race?
"FIas the Democratic party offered
to restore the soldiers to the rolls of
the army? Ii so. We have not been
Informed of the fact. Does the Demo.
cratic party propose to give us more
rights and more representation in the
affairs of the government than the
Republican party has? II so, who has
promised 1t? Lincoln once said that
the middle Of the stream WAS no nlnce