The sun., 1908-04-13
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
NEGRO BISHOP INJECTS POLITICS
INTO EDUCATION MEETING.

Into tho President and TAFT for Thel
Attitude Toward the NegrO-NOt Al
the Congregation sides With Him
Bishop Alexander Walters, head OF tn
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Churcl
In New York city, created something like
sensation among all the colored worshipper
Of his denomination yesterday by deliverlnI
himself Of bitter arralnment Of Presiden
Roosevelt for the part he has played In tn,
Brownsville affair and by declaring tina
Taft was unfit to be the negroes candidate
for the Presidency because he was will
Roosevelt party to what the Bishop termeC
"a deliberate plot to discredit the negro
race for political purposes.'
The Bishops utterances were in the form
OF a letter which was read at a mass meet
ing at Bishops Chapel, at LenoE avenue
and lS5th street. called for the purpose OF
hearing the Rev. Richard ID. Stinson out
line the educational work being done for
negroes by the Morris Brown College Of
Atlanta Ga
That the Bishops denunciation Of the
President and Secretary Of War did not
fall on ears altogether appreclative was
evidenced before the last clauses Of his
letter had been read Several Of the
! brethren present allowed themselves the
privilege Of groans Of disapproval, and at
the end the Rev. DR.. Parkes. chairman Of
the meeting, called attention to the fact
as delicately as no could. that the meeting
was not to discuss politics but TO consider
the education Of members Of the race.
After the opening Of the meeting with
prayer and song the Rev. Dr. Parkes APP
pointed one Of the assembly to read the
letter which the Bsohp had sent. The
early part Of the Bishops letter dealt with
the subject Of the meeting exclusively.
1T is hard to distinguish where industrial
education ends and higher learning begins
the letter read separation Of the two
/ has done our race incalculable harm. Our
enemies have taken advantage Of this cir
cumstanoe to retard our political progress. =
This thought suggested the main topic
/ Of the Bishops letter. which was the be-
! trayal of the negro by President Roosevelt
and Secretary Taft for mess Of political
| pOttage. as the cleric intimated,
The Scripture tells us that We ought TO
| be able at all times TO give reason for the
| faith that is in U.S., read the letter. $50 |
| am expected to give a reason for my oppo-
sition to the candidacy Of Mr.. Taft for
| President Of this country. | believe that
the hasty dismissal Of the colored soldiers
at Brownsville, without the due trial that
was their right, was part Of we'll laid and
deliberate plot 10 dscredit the negro race
for the purpose Of breaking up the solid
South and winning the support OF enough
Southern Senators TO aid the Adminlstru-
tion in carrying through the Senate the
Presidents policies and 10 win the applause
Of the whole South for such an action,
"My reason for this belief il that few
years ago, long before the dismissal Of the
colored soldiers during visit TO the White
House | discovered that the policy OF the
President as regards the cOlored people
had suffered a change and that he was moved
to plaCate the South more than he was to
give justice to The negroes. | got the inl-
preston that he was waiting a favorable
opportunity TO strike the black man
blow
At this point one brother, who wore a
clerical garb. got up and went out Others
shifted uneasly In their seats.
When the Brownsville ARRAY occurred,
continued the even voice Of the reader ON
the platform, this opportunity presented
itself and without taking time to thoroughly
investigate the charges brought against
the battalion Of negro soldiers they were
by the Presidents order summarily dis
missed The investigation which should
have been held before this action was
taken has been held since and has dragged
along with only one result: That not one
black soldier has been proved guilty
The Bishops message continued TO recte
the details Of the various measures of in
vestigatiOn initiated by the Senate and the
War Department 1t was generally con-
sdered by every one, il said that none Of
the soldiers was guilty and that an outrage
had been committed against the whole
Colored race by President Roosevelt and his
Secretary Of War
"Shall the negroes resent this outrage
asked the Bishop. The one thing that the
negroes Of this country have cherished
above all others during the last hundred
years Is their splendid army record An
attempt has been made for political reasons
TO baCken that record aud fasten disgrace
upon the colUred soldier for all generations
10 come. | believe we should resent this
crime TO the extent OF doing all that we
are able TO defeat the perpetrators Of the
outrage and | believe this will be done.
There are thousands Of negroes in this
country vino Viii never vote for Secretary
Taft for President, for they know that a
vote for Taft means a vote for Roosevelt.
Rather than do this they will remain away
from the polls. With US it is not a question
Of policy bnt Of principle"
The letter went on TO review the declara-
tions Of the Ohio platform in the matter Of
equal political rights for the negroes in the
South and the reduction Of Southern repre- |
sentaton in Congress because Of the dis
franchisement Of the blacks. He pinned !
responsibility for what he termed the spe-
cious utterances Of this Republican plat |
form upon the President and the favored !
candidte Of Ohio. Said the letter;
Congress Is still In session. The Presi- |
dent Is surely In favor Of the reduction Of |
Southern representation, for we have been |
told that the Ohio platform was all prepared !
by him and sent red hot from the White |
House TO Columbus Secretary Taft must |
be In favor OF II, for he absolutely dominated |
the convention which was held In Column |
bus and by II he was put in nomination |
for the Presidency.
what does all this mean? In this matter |
the President and the Secretary must be
honest or dishonest. II they are sincere |
let them proceed at once TO have legis-
lation enacted by Congress reducing the
Southern representation.
At the close Of the letter Mr.. Parkes took
the floor.
sOf course said he. we ara very crate
ful for the words that our beloved Bishop |
and devoted scholar has sent TO US, but II |
occurs 10 all Of us that we negroes can only |
do one thing at time Amenr from the rear |
Of the rooml and We are here to-day to !
discuss measures for the education and up !
lifting OF our race OF course we know
that the Bishop can assist US ma terially in |
pursuing these endeavors. Yes. Lord |
from the same voice. SO II the brethren |
will kindly have regard for the fact that |
we are only assembled hero this after noon |
for one purpose We will continue lis tening |
TO what other noted speakers have 10 say