Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-27

past performances then il must he
from present declarations. What did
Mr.. Roosevelt say that sounded any.
thing like his lofty declaration OF
principles when he was candidate for
President the first time? II may be
that it viii be better for the colored
voters TO support Mr.. Roosevelt as
against Mr.. Taft in the contest FOR
the presidency. but is it time TO
pledge tho support
We are not disposed yet to believe
that Or. Washington meant that he
would support the distinguished trav-
elier for the presidency as against
that benevolent occupant of the
White House. As the able colored
leader can See far ahead and is q
good barometer of conditions in the
country as we'll as the prospects of
the Republican leaders. Il may be
that with his ear TO the ground. - he
is convinced that Hon. William H.
. Taft has absolutely no show inside
of the national Republican organiza-
, ton with Hon. Theodore Roosevelt
as an aspirant for the honor.
But the independent colored folks
are not so diplomatic. They are out
10 hit any and all heads" within
the Republican Party and outside OF
IL that are opposed TO the Negroes
and their interests and they are not
making success, the primary purpose
of their crusade. We are frank to
confess that we have lost faith in
both President Taft and ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt. 1t seems to us in
the case of the colored folks that
to accept either would be swapping
the devil for the witch. Still. we
may be mistaken in our conclusions
and that combinations may be formed
with the managers Of the one or with
the other which will be OF benefit to
the race at large.
We are frank TO state too that we
do not believe that either of the gen
tlemen are enemies OF the colored
people in this country OF that they
would knowingly do anything to re-
tard their vital progress or TO harm
them. As a matter OF fact. they are
like the horse. whose master put over
his eyes pair of green goggles in |
order that all things would look |
green and he might eat shavings upon |
seeing them green through these
previously prepared glasses. The Of
hce-seekers IN the Southland and the
Negro-haters have put green Negro
hating goggles upon their eyes. so /
that the graduates from Cornell. Har.
ward, Yale. Oberlin and other insti- |
tutions look the same TO them as do /
the corn-held hands Of the southern
states. They set up a plea that the
Negroes are unable to take care oil
themselves and that they are not
capable or qualified TO hold Office
that they should not be accorded the
fun rights OF citizenship and that
they should be made 70 "saw wood |
and draw water" so 20 speak. and /
that white men only should hold |
high positions Of trust and emolu
ment
There is no question, but what
these able leaders of the Republican
Party now believe this and as re-
suit, we are receiving cold comfort"
from the White House and from Oy.
ster Bay, New York. Some colored
men though of our type and indie
pendence are asking no favors. We
are "hoeing our own row.. practic,
ing self-helf in keeping with the
sayings OF MT. Roosevelt. 1t is only
this though; we got our information
by experience and not by the dis.
sertations of political speakers.
But we must return to our NUT,
ton'-can DR.. Washington and
Bishop Clinton and the National Ne.
gro Business League deliver the sup.
port of the colored people of the
United States TO Hon. TheodoreI
Roosevelt? Can they pledge this sun.
port at this stage Of the political
in the Republican Party.
with Hon. Joseph G.. Cannon andl
James S. Sherman on
one side, President William H.
Taft in the middle of the contention
between the statesmen named and
eN-President Theodore Roosevelt? Wei
we're unwilling to believe that theyI
would try TO do it, but there is no
ienial OF the newspaper report
,ited. We do not believe that they
IAN do it, but if they can, they wmI'
prove wiser than their time and will
be entitled TO recognition as the
leading statesmen of their day and
lime and organizers OF an abilityI
hat has not been equalled during
he last fifty years.
Dr. Booker T. Washington is a man
ot transcendent judgment and re.
narkable wisdom. What has he seen