The Washington herald., 1910-08-22
The Negro Plank.

Inc pouucdl situation. so far as the
Republican party is concerned. is grow
ing more acute daily. The party's adop-
ton Of commercialism as a substitute for
its previous declarations, in favor OF the
preservation or human rights and civil
and political liberty, has. undoubtedly.
not met with the approval Of the voters.
The Endorsement Of Col. Roosevelt as a
candidate for President in 1912 by the
National Negro Business Mems League.
an organization founded by Booker T.
Washington. az its annual session IN New
York City Friday last, has caused con-
steTnation among the members Of the
Black and Tan Cabinet" and negro
officeholders who are members and sup
porters Of the organization. The exposure
Of the BLACK and Tan Cabinets" hand
10 support Roosevelt in 1872 against Taft
has added fuel TO the flames already af-
fecting the colored voter. and Booker T.
has gone TO Europe
II has been the consensus OF opinion
among many colored people that the Ma
tfonal Negro Business Mems League was
organized principally for political pur-
poses The leagues Endorsement OF
Roosevelt for President in 1912. and his
tribute TO Charles W. Anderson. colored.
collector Of internal revenue for the Sec
ond district Of New York. and one OF the
members Of the Republican State Com
mittee who voted for Roosevelt for tenn
porary chairman Of the Republican State
convention, who was on the platform.
with other members of the Black and
Tan Cabinet" together with the fact that
the Endorsement OF a candidate for Presi-
dent in 1872 was not germane TO the pub
lished purpose Of the meeting. is conclu-
sive evidence that the league is a political
organization in disguise.
In The Washington Herald Of August
IS under the caption THE Negro in Poll
tics" is was stated thus: That the dec
laration that the Republican party has
fulfilled its platform pledges is absolutely
false. So far as the negro plank in the
platform is concerned, the administration
has not uttered a word or written a line
in furtherance OF its execution" In veri-
hcation Of the above. I submit the fol-
lowing: The negro plank in the Repub-
lican platform declares that
The Republican party has been for more than fifty
years the consistent friend Of the American negro
II save him freedom and citizenship Il wrote into
the organic law the declarations that proclaim his
civil and political rights.
The Republican party has beel." III
gave" and sit wrote" But what has the
party done as a test Of its friendship to
guarantee the negro the enjoyment OF
freedom and citizenship. and his civil and
political rights in their fullest sense?
The negro plank states that
We demand equal justice Tor al men. without re-
gard 70 race CT color.
In what effective way has the Republi-
can party emphasized this demand? BY
It's silence.
The negro plank also states that
We declare oncc more. and without reservation.
for the enforcement in letter and spirit Of the thir
teenth fourteenth and fifteenth amendments 20 the
Constitution. which designed for the protection
and Advancement Of the negro.
Why does the Republican party enforce
the thirteenth amendment TO the Consti-
tuition? Because it is in keeping with the
proclamation that Abraham
Lincoln signed as military necessity. as
well as for economic ard political rea-
sons. BY what method has the Republ-
can party attempted 70 enforce the four
tenth amendment? By acquiescence in
lis violation. In what manner has the
Republican party attempted to enforce the
fifteenth amendment BY the defeat Of the
Lodge Federal election bill" under
President Harrison's administration. and
BY the attempt to reduce the repre- |
sentation." which meant among other
things. the notification Of the fifteenth !
amendment and the elimination OF the
negro as a factor in the political equa-
ton.
The negro plank further states that
We condemn all devices that have for their real |
i'm his disfranchsement for reasons Of color alone
Is unfair. un-American. and repdgnant 70 the sd 4
creme law Of ths land.
The phrase 'for. reasons Of color alone /
S the joker in the negro plank" as the |
clause together with a reasonable profit |
10 American industries" is the joker in |
he "tariff plank" which reads in part: |
In all tariff legislation the true prih- !
,iple OF protection is best maintained by |
he imposition of such duties as viii equal ]
he difference between the cost OF pro- /
iuction at home and abroad. together
With a reasonable profit TO American in !
iustries. What does the last sentence /
n the negro plank Of the Republican !
platform mean? II means that the Re-
publican party condemns all devices that
nave for their real aim the disfranchise-
nent Of the negro for reasons Of color /
alone" and that the Republican party |
Ices not condemn the grandfather /
,lause. 'the property qualification" and
the educational test" that have FOR their /
cal aim the negro's disfranchisement. !
Tot based on color alone. ''Expressso
mis- est exclusio alterius."