The Washington herald., 1908-08-17

According 10 the spirit and the teach
ing OF the word Of God. there IS no phase
OF human responsibility 10 which the
ministry Is exempted. but. on the con-
trary, the minister more than any other
individual member Of society. IS held re-
sponsIble for the deeds Of the people
said Rev. s L Corrothers. president OF
the local branch OF the National Negro
American Political League. at Galbraith
A II. E Zion Church yesterday morn
ing
His subject was The duty Of the ne
gro ministry in the present political cam
psign-" and he dwelt at length On the
probable solution Of the race problem
He said, in part
rs there any one who holds that the
minister should not advise his people with
reference TO their political intsrest2 If
SO. I would Ike 10 ask II the negro's
citizenship Is NOT a matter Of politics7
Was II political parties that conferred
the right OF citizenship upon the negro
OF this country. or was II a Sunday
school convention. or a Christian En-
deavor mestiug2
Creature of Politics.
Every intelligent American citizen
2
Of politics. and II II had not been for the
great political struggle that led 20 the
division Of the country. the black man
would have been a slave to-day. We
owe much % the agitators Of political
opinions Of the past. and our future de-
pe1ds upon the political independence of
The present
We are face 20 face with the most
important period IN the history OF our
race in This country IN twelve States
IN this Union. We are disfrauchised. jim
crowed.' and subjected 70 insults thar
are almost intolzrable, and the question
arises: What shall we do 10 be saved ,
For forty years we have been taught
TO coufde wholly and 20 follow without
controversy. the Republican leaders, but
regret 70 say that after all these years
OF devotion, We find ourselves betrayed.
deserted, bound hand and foot. and left
20 the mercies Of the men We have been
taught were our enemies.
4 Before us to-day stand forty years
Of -uufaithfuiness on the part of the Re
publican leaders Brownsville stands
Ike smoking Sinai. Iiiy-whitism spreads
itself over the hope Of the negro ASe
the blacknsss Of the darkness Of Egypt
Thank God. one star Of hope still Te-
mains. From every section of this broad
land the news comes that = Jhe negro
is 10 break away from political slavery
and 10 become an independent American
citizen. voting for men and measures
rather than political parties. the door Of
opportunity shall be open 10 him
Il desire 90 call attention 20 an edi-
t0rial appearing in the Columbia state.
one Of the leading newspapers in the
South. T. reads as follows 50 far as
this paper is concerned. negroes are vel
come 10 the Democratic party When
We open the door 70 the negro, we follow
the leadership Of Alexander Stephens
and John B Gordon. OF Georgia: Wade
Hampton and Richardson. of South
Carolina and Zeb Vance and lIatt Ran
som, Of North Carolina All Who know
the South must acknowledge that the
State is in pretty respectable company
As a further evidence Of the wisdom Of
our policy. we invite your attention %
the advice taken from the writing Of
Dr. Becker T Washington. Of April 10
1889
Quotes Booker Washington
y have been asking myself lately
some serious questions says he, and
want 10 put one or two Of them 10 YOU
Is there any reason why the negroes
in the South should continue 20 oppose
the Southern white man and his politics,
Is net this the source Of nearly all the
trouble2'
'sUnconsciously We seem to have gottsr
the idea into our blood and bone thai
We are only acting in a manly way wher
we oppose Southern white men with ou'
votes. In some way. by some method
we must bring the race 10 the pOInt
where II viii cease 70 feel that the only
wav for il u succeed IS TO oppose every
thing suggested BY the Southern white
man. This I consider one Of our rea
problems
I believe there are thousands of whit,
Democrats in North Carolina who are =
per cent better friends to the negro thar
Gov. Russell. 7 see no necessity IN con
rinuing TO follow Gov. Russell. who hai
no power 20 protest: or, L he has, th
power does not exert IT, rather thar
these other white men who can protec
Us If We cease continually and forever u
oppose them
In conclusion. the minister said
The method by which Mr.. Taft Wa
nominated was q disgrace 20 American
civilization. and his election VIII prove
curse 10 the spirit Of our free institutions
rs he a friend 10 The ColOred citlze.
and what does he stand for2 He approves
Of CIsfranChisement laws Of the South
Some Of the negro ofticehOlders VII
thought they were leaders have bel
very abusive because they have not oeel
able 70 prevent a discussion OF the actua
condition OF the negro Of this country.
Makes a Declaration.
- desire 70 say n closing tHis sermol
that il Is not my purpose 10 ia any va
increase the lack Of confidence in thes
would-be leaders. but since they hsv
become 50 oflcious. running around iron
place 20 place, trying 10 misrepresen
Us 20 the people. desire 10 serve motto
here now. and for all time to come. tha
7 wiu not De swerred from my purpos
by anybody n the church OF out Of Il
Any black man who occupies a promi
rent place in this government. and wh
knows that his place was procured as
representative Of his people, and who hz
failed 70 lift his voice or pen against n
Outrages heaped upon his people is
curse 20 the race, and ought 10 keep hi
mouth shut for II he were q membe
Of any other race except the poor. op
pressed negro Il would be hard for hir
70 find a place 70 light"
Suicide Is Frustrated