Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
PUTS PLAIN WORDS
BEFORE HIS RACE
AFR 0-AMERICAN DISCUSSES
PARTY DECEIT
Why Have Not the Republicans GlVer
Ex-SlaVes Political Freedom
and Redress of Grlev-
ances?

terday voiced the feeling or many OF
his race when he stated why the mass
of the colored voters will turn to the
Democrats this year for relief:
'By a careful search of conditions in
this country" said Mr.. Gaines, ''I find |
that our distressing situation Is
brought about principally by moving
the political landmarks set by the
fathers and founders of the Republican
party.
"They had inscribed upon their face
these words: Government by the peo-
pie, of the people and for the people.
Legislation for the masses with spe-
cial privileges to none has been
changed cunningly by this latter-day
Republicanism to read legislation for
the classes with position and wealth
guaranteed.
''Ingratitude is the greatest curse
that can be laid at the feet of any
race or nation. The Republican party
reiterates it's claim of freeing us from
the slavery of the body. But has 1t
forgotten that we are political slaves?
Why Not Freedom?
"Why has not the Republican party
given the ex-slave his political free
dom?
1--WE have waited long and patiently
thinking that some statesman would
rise in our defense. We have always
been loyal, giving our undivided sup
port to this party since the beginning
of our franchise.
"Wil this great and good man to
free us have to come from another
party? Through the haze of the misty
future we see him dimly coming. He
came through the conditions of the
war of '63.
"Under Republicanism the very thing
for which we have been looking,
redress of grievances on technical law
in the SOUTH has been emphatically de-
MED to us.
1--WE have sent delegation after dele
cation to Washington to plead on be
half of the millions of the race whose
consciences were oppressed on account
of obnixious, arbitrary and humiliat-
ing laws.
For 245 years our great grandsires
served this country faithfully. In 1860,
through circumstance planned by a
greater one than on earth, ordered 1000
900 slaves free from the slavery of the
| body.
The Debt Repaid
'Is it not possible for a man or
race to pay a debt of gratitude In
| thirty-eight years of service?
This great commercial battle for SUI
| premacy, this great fight for the in
alienable right which is constitution
ally ours-a chance to earn an honest
living-has been taken from us by the
! Republican party.
IF these conditions remain see
| in the future dimly though positively,
chains more CALLING for labor, let it he
| black or white, than were the oppreS-
sions of the night-riding Kuklux OF
ante-bellum days.
81 have been affiliating with the
Lincoln Roosevelt league and believe
in it's doctrine as far as the politics
of this state are concerned. I have
used what little influence I have in
fostering it's principlesS But may the
great God forbid that I ever see the
day that 1 will be such cringing cow
ard as to allow Lincoln Roosevelt or
any other league dictate to me for
whom [ shall vote in this, the greatest,
of. national campaigns.
"It is high time for us, as a race, to
! cast off the lethargy that binds us ana
maintain with fervor the citizenship
declared to us by amendments 10, IA
and Is to the constitution.
| 1--WE, as a race, cannot reach tina
highest expectancy of this nation-bod-
lily free yet political slaves-we cannot
| exist half free and half slave.
eff free men why not step out and
with the sword given us by the amend
ments affiliate with the best men OF
this country in slashing to death by
| November this great national mon
| SlGE lllclI WOolN VI hoAA Oos
Echo Asks "Why"
"Why is it that with the smallest
| standing army of any first class ma
ton, with a navy second or third in
the nayies of the world with revenues
years, with agricultural conditions
| above par, with the largest tax col
| lection of the world in time of peace
why is it that under a Republican ADJ
ministration for years we find our ma
| tional treasury depleted by millions OF
dollars; not only that, but the flower
of our land, it's strong, able-bodied
men. even our women and children,
without hope in the land of their birth,
must face the northumberland up on
! the streets of the cities of free America
and starve or seek suicides graves?
Must we sit supinely by while these
! terrible conditions oVershadow our land
with the instrument of defense within
our hand?
mo wonder Mr.. Lincoln said he saw
| in the dim future a crisis approaching
| that unnerVed him and caused him to
tremble for the safety of his country.
LncoIn's Vision
"He say corporations enthroned; he
saw corruption in high places until all
the wealth now is segregated in the
| hands of the few and the republic is
almost destroyed.
"Mr Lincoln was a great seer. He
knew the party for which he lost his
| life would through greed and monopoly
cause it's own downfall.
mark these words If the memorable
law of cause and effect has not been
purged from the book of life. unless a
| halt is called in the conditions now
existing very soon you may expect to
see all the horrors of the French rev.
olution placed before your eyes with
tenfold more blood and carnage.
"Oh, for men! oh, for leaders VINO
will teach the people some of the great
things confronting us as race.
| where are the churches unless they
rise up and prove themselves friends
of the people-friends in sympathy
! with the masses who with their fam
lilies at their back are fighting TINS
great battle for bread?
IF Christ were to come to the
/ United States now he would be
scourged and driven first into the
ocean; then from the sandy beach he
would choose plain. honest fishermen
to come into an apostleship of right
| eouSneSS.
Time for Square Deal
"The time has come when all classes
of people. regardless of race or color
| must have an equal chance In the
great struggle for a living. The solu-
! tions to these great questions are no
| longer a mystery.
''If you think it time to make
| / 60,