Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-06-12

the Republican Party upon which the
President was elected.
But the President did not appar-
emily mean his professions of wish
ing the welfare of the Negro race.
for in practice we find him appointing
men, including democrats, with ante
bellum tendencies TO high posts Of
honor and power (including the re-
cent L. S. judgeship in North Caro-
itna) in the south, and who are
known antagonists to Negro advance
ment
But the evil influence of President
Tafts hly-white Negro policy did
not stop with political reaction. It
brought the Negro fresh troubles in
industrial life.
Labor unions in the-south. men,
bership which is denied TO Negroes
have become bold to announce they
want the latter expelled from ex-
ployment they have enjoyed for gen
erations, solely because of their color
and the state Of Georgia is now in
the throes OF Industrial strife which
had its inception in President Tafts
inaugural address.
The executive yielding TO a with
ering color prejudice is being re-
Elected throughout the nation by acts
against Negroes perpetrated by all
classes from the lowest plebian 70 the
highest courts in the South. Lynch
ings are now of almost daily oc-
currence. Officers of the peace are
everywhere aggressive against Ne
goes. Lower courts are severe in
their sentences, and the supreme
court of New York has just declared
that a Negro cannot be injured in
reputation and feelings to the same
extent as a white man may. And
a general agitation against the in
dustrial freedom, civil and political
equality of the Colored people seems
to have been inaugurated.
We repudiate the doctrine that
Negroes are political children, but
even if that were true. it may be
said that our political infancy is no
more pronounced than is the infancy
OF the prejudiced southern white
man, relating to political honesty.
civic virtue or moral rectitude. and
the one should not be disfranchised
or denied equal rights at the behest
of the other We therefore unqual-
ifiedly denOUnce the executive color
line policy OF President Taft. and
from this presidential apostle Of
color Establishment we demand that
he so change his policies regarding
Negro Americans to square with the
Chicago Republican Platform. which
demands the enforcement in both let
ter and spirit OF the 14th and 18th
Amendments TO the national consti-
tuition. We further demand that
congress reduce the representation
in the national Legislature. accord
ing TO the letter OF the 18th amend
ment I'm ali states which have elimi-
mated any portion Of their male citi-
zens from their celebrates. We fur
Their demand that the Congress take
such steps and adopt laws that are
necessary 20 remove jurisdiction in
lynching cases from the courts of
those states found incompetent TO
protect the lives and property OF per-
sons accused of crime, and put them
under federal control
We are deeply grateful 10 all the
nations great Patriots who gave
their lives for human liberty. And
we glory in the memory of such men
as Thorn. Jefferson. Abraham Lin
coin, John Brown, Charles Sumner,
Wendell Phillips. VIM. Lloyd CARR
son. Fred Douglas, Thaddeus Stew
ems and a host of other compatriOts
who first created the sentiment for
human freedom that resulted in the
civil war. prosecuted that war 20 a
successful elimination and abolished
human slavery and finally elevated
all residents of this nation 20 a COM
mon citizenship which was fully
justified not only by our great Decla-
ration Of Independence, but also by
the conditions obtaining especially ia
the south at the time freemen were
DISTINGUISHED.
We deplore and condemn the oft
repeated statement. first by scrupu-
lous southern politicians and later
by republican administration officials
that the comforting OF the franchise
upon the freeman in 1870 was a mis-
take. and we aver and maintain that
but for this brave and noble act. the
14tTand 18th amendments 30 the
national constitution would never
have been ratified, nor would the mon
strous BLACK laws" that disgraced
southern statute books Immediately
after the war. which effectually re-
enslaved the freeman, been repealed.
We further condemn the practice of
referring to those eminent patriots
VINO went into the south after the
war, leaving behi them homes,
friends and in many instances profit
able business and occupation, TO as
sist in reconstructing the southern
states and in educating the noun
tains of ignorance among both black
and white. as grating carpetbaggers.
There never was a more glorious ex-
ample Of self-sacTihce and earnest,
honest effort 20 assist stricken peo-
pie than that exercised by such men
and women as Gen. o. o. Howraj,
Carl Shurtz. Louis f. Post and
thousands of their kind. We ex-
tend our congratulations and thanks
to those eminent statesmen and
jurists like Mr.. Justice Harlan and
former Senator Foraker. who are
still battling for right and justice,
ask ali lovers of civic virtue and
honest government. to be active in
support of their kind in their re-
spective communities.
Colored Americans everywhere
should become absolutely independ-
ent In their political Affiliations.
Work and vote. not for parties, but
for men possessing known qualifica-
tiOnS for fair political dealings Roth