The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1909-02-06
NOTHING FOR THE NEGRO.

Those among the Negro race who
are shaking hands with themselves
upon the recent utterances of Mr.. Taft
on disfranchisement in the South can
see more of comfort or consolation
for themselves in whatever Mr.. Taft
has said or implied than can the
Southern American.
First, the DISTINGUISHING laws were
enacted more with the end In view OF
enabling the Bourbon regime 70 ma
nipulate and perpetuate political con-
troll than for mere Negro disfranchise-
ment BY the written and unwritten
avenues open for chicanery in these
new state constitutions it is possible
to keep the present political aristoc-
racy, which is no more than the pro-
geny. Of the old slsveowning dig
archy, well entrenched In the saddle
in that the process eliminates the
masses Of the whites and practically
mows down all of the blacks.
Appealing to the moral sense Of
men who fail to recognize such a
thing when it stands between the
Bourbon Democracy and success, ap-
pealing to men who subject men TO
taxation and give them no voice in
representation, this is as effective as
that proposition OF pouring water
upon the back of a duck Either will
effect as much as the other to change
the situation.
Day by day and year by year the
Negro is drifting further from any
political privilege or opportunity in
the South It is right into the hands
Of those who have brought this about
for Mr.. Taft to talk about this thing
of equality of application Of injustice,
and DENYING voice in representation
where there is taxation is in
justice. The DISTINGUISHING states
men have all along broadly pro
claimed fairness in the application Of
these laws. These people can find no
difhculty in linging up with Mr.. Tart
Pretense and practice, however, are
far apart
We are not unwilling that the IT'S,
900 disfranchised Negro voters in
Alabama, If they want to swallow the
dose prepared for them by Mr.. TAFT,
but we protest for the 100000 dis.
franchised whites that this dis
reimbursement is no tonly not a bless
ing, but it is a positive curse in that
men feel the less the responsibility
Of government when they lose their
sovereign goyrning power.
1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Taft win
be president long enough to know
that these Bourbon colonels are not
the South, not at all. either Of the /
the South, not all Of #, either Of the
white or the black South. They. are |
q deceptive, ingenious, cunning set of
political geniuses, however, and. their !
smile win smile every while with the
Taft smile. They viii wind up with
the best Of the political diplomacy
and with a good share Of the OMEGA.
Mr.. Taft can not expect votes from
the disfrznchised South. He VIII get
the laugh, in the end, instead Of votes
from the Bourbon colonel South.
Mark this political prediction of the
Southern American. This gang down
here win nibble about Mr.. Taft's hook
until they have gotten on the bait and
then the school Of fsh that he has
taken for TAFT suckers wfal swim
away.
Every inch Of ground that. the Re
publican party ever gains IN the
South win be gained BY hard fighting.
II win be gained By going up against
The gang and espousing the cause OF
Inc suppressed white South as ven
Is by granting simple Justice to the
Negro
This is Just what the southern
American believes about #, and no
,ort Of Taftism win change THIS Goa
riction. The giving Of the editors
,ostOmcs to another Is insufficient to
1rowbeat him into line win the fal 4