The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-05-31
while this bill was being heard:

" W '"phaSlUe tne rear Naiue OF ou
splendid form Of government. You will
pardon mo for adverting 20 personal ex
perience, but when think OF my birth
place In log cabin between two
mountains in the State Of Tennessee
and Of the opportunity Of appearing
before such an august body as this
feel that that Is one of the gre At
things in the minds OF my race in thcii
desire in a practical, tangible way 10
show To the civilized world the great
opportunity afforded every American
citizen, regardless of previous condi-
ton or creed. Secondly, there would
be the object lesson in bringing forward
such an exhibit TO inspire and encourage
our own people, who at tines feel a
little as though life was scarcely worth
living. They are not even informed as
a mass of the material progress that
has been made by the race in the short
period of time in which we have been
practically relying upon our own re-
sources. That is No. 2.
Then it comes to you as a desire of
the various religious organizations of
this country. and we feel that the
Christian Church is possibly the great
est asset and the most practical and
clear demonstration Of the possibilities
Of the race. We have to-day, as Bsh-
op Arnett was wont to say, sufficient
seating capacity in the churches to
give every negro in the United States
comfortable pew in a church, and
we come asking this opportunity of
showing to the world that we live in
q land where, II a man will put forth
the proper endeavor. he may rise, and
then We come asking that We shall have
an opportunity to show to those of
our own race who may be somewhat dis
couraged and Respondent that there is
light ahead. and to that end 1 simply
appear representing the moral side of
this question and from ministerial
point Of view.
AS the Senator from Nevada (Mr.
Newlands) said, the conduct of the
men who appeared before that commit
tee was dignified, modest, and proper,
not only so but they demonstrated
that they were men of rare intelligence.
Mr.. President, it seems to me as thou. /
this is a very small favor asked by the
negro. l was glad TO see that the
committee were unanimously nj favor Of
the bill.
We do not want to close the door of
hope against these people. Let us give
what they have done; whether or not
they merit the freedom that came to
them through years of agony and blood
and toll. Let us do something to en-
courage them. If we want fairness and
good fellowship. let the great white
race be fair and just to the colore ID
race, which labors under so many dis
advantages.
But the Senator from Nebraska seems
to fear that the negroes can not pay
their way to the exposition, and in his
imagination he thought it was going to
be held on the Atlantic coast. No won
der. for there have been SO many expo
sitions i'm that direction but this expo
sition Is to be in the South. II will
be held there for the purpose of showing
to the negroes of the South, in the
States In which they were held in bon
dage, exactly their opportunities and
their chances Of betterment as well as
their material advancement.
We should remember. Mr.. President,
that the negroes have been faithful to
this country; that they have made won
derful progress; and we should not for
get that upon the field of battle they
have stood side by side with the
whites and preserved the lives OF their
white comrades more than once; and
that their feats of bravery have found
most complimentary mention throughout
the civilized world.
l plead for this humble and unfortunate
race. / plead for simple justice.
plead they may be extended this little
help. plead they may be given more
light; they be permitted to show what
they have done.
l do not fear that the time will ever
come when they win be i'm the way
of the white man. This can not
be expected. on account of their
past history. their bondage. and
their lack of educatbon but in
stead of rushing them to the earth
| would reach out and take them by
the hand and say. Come up higher
on the plane of equality before the law;
come up into the highway of progress;
come up higher in the standard of cit
and show to the people of