The Washington bee., 1909-11-20
DISFRANCHISEMENT OF THE
NEGRO IN THE SOUTH.
To the Editor of The Bee:

o the EQltOG OF L ne Bee:
I regret taking space in your most
enterprising and spicy columns to
give vent to my feelings and race
pride stimulated by an interview
freely given by Senator Cullom, OF
Illinois, the state that gave to this
country the greatest emancipation OF
the New World, that is, since the
death and resurrection of our Sa-
viour. allude to the Senator's old
friend and the Negroes beloved Alb
raham Lincoln, our martyred ex-
President In this interview the
J senator approves DISTINGUISHING the
Negro of the South. Such utterance
coming from such a source is suifi-
cient to stimulate the blood of a cold
African, much less a patriotic civil
! lized christianized American citizen,
made so by the assistance of Senator
I Cullom at a time when votes were
needed to hold UP a sinking political
ship. Is this true? If not, the Sena-
tor is yet here to answer for himself.
In 1876 the Senator and his friends
decreed equal citizenship and uni
versal suffrage for all men. and |
am Sure he remembers that the Demo
cratic party at the same time accepted
the Constitution and amendments.
The Senator's party nominated Hays
and Wheeler for President and Vice
! President. The Democratic party
Nominated Tilden and Hendricks for
President and Vice President. The
Senator remembers that it was a po-
litical food The old ship began to
sink and the Negroes of South Caro-
lima and Louisiana were thrown
overheard to save the Senator
and his party, But in the
Senator's mental weakness he
has forgotten that since that time
only for the Negro vote the Republi-
can party would have been blotted out
and a new party contending with
democracy for power. Now, dear
Senator, let US reason together on
this matter. You see the Negro is
no longer deluded and dependent He
at last sees the light and he will arm
himself with the sword of peace and
battle, like other Americans, for hon
est treatment and square deal. He
IS seeking information. He is be-
ginning to think for himself. He has
cut his eye teeth. He wants to
know something. He wants to know,
first, why the 18th, IA and 18th
amendments were added to our Fed
eral Constitution without clinchers.
These an endments stand up all right
while the Negro is in the wood pile /;
but Just as soon as he steps out and
places his full weight upon one of
them it slips out of place and gives
way with him, and down in the wood
pile he falls again. He wants to
know, second, why it is that d Lily
White Republican party exists in the
South, and having for its motto a
hide and seek policy which says 10
the Negro, Stay in the wood pile
till election day, then come out and
vote the straight Republican ticket
from top to bottom, early and often,
hat some of us may get into office. -
He wants to know, third, why it IS
that little piece of fat political bait
is dropped down IN the black sea OF
politics only once every four years
with a rubber line tied to draw It
back after the Inauguration, leaving
the poor deluded Negroes in the
troubled waters at the tender mercies
of alligators and sharks; and he
wants to know, fourth, why it was
that the flood gates of immigration
were thrown open to his labor COM
petitors in all the foreign countries
of the world so that they might come
over and compete with him right I'M
der his own fig tree Immediately at
ter his emancipation from bondage.
The Negro is beginning to think,
The time IS almost at hand when the
color of his skin will cease to pro-
claim the brand of his political man
hood God speed that glorious day.
Ttc ~Of77Oleta arrival mill RING the