The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14

labor and the freedom of the people. And
that party has heaped up an unbearable
hlgh tariff upon the nation under the
| suise of protection to that extent, that its
chieftain Theodore Roosevelt openly came
out or that party, denouncins it, And
how lie has, in order to remain in the
White House, established the so-called
! progressive party which really means
nothing but sounding brass. and a tlnk-
ing cymbal; for such party would not
| lie heard of today had tina Taft forces
been downed at Chicago, and put Roose-
welt at the head of rephblicanism
Roosevelts sincerity is so insincere and
| hypocritical; is so inconsistent and dema-
| Sogic that he will, in November be
burned so far down in the good sense OF
the American people, that he will never
| again rise to practice such outrageous
leadership And as for Mr.. Taft who was
| largely made President through Mr.
Roosevelt, he has proven himself so dis
satisfactory for national leadership that
nus own maker split and deserted the
| Tarty during his incumbency; so, by no
means, is he the man to govern the ma
| ton. He holds. the reins but does not
drive
| What then? With republicanism in the
traces of death, hopelessly divided be-
cause of it's own corruption It's chief lead
ers in Roosevelt and Taft having placed
/
confidence of their followers; repeatedly
ask, what then for the negro to do, north,
south, east and west? Plain common
sense tells him, just as far as lie is poit-
ically qualified, to vote with thought and
Where ne cannot vote cast his influence
IN another direction than with the repub-
iicans or the progressives The negroes
should desert the republican party for the
reason that Roosevelt deserted it: for the
reason that the republican party has long
since deserted tie negro; for The reason
that the principles and practices of that
party are all against the negro's welfare:
for tho fact, that there really is no re-
publican party, but the dry snake .<ed
of what used to exist as a republican
partS.
What next then? Personally. l, for
many years, have thought the negro
should have supported, as white men, all
the political parties; such a course would
have made friends COR him in each of
them, but as has been said, he enslaved
himseiI, practically, to only the republic
cans who only used him for political pie
till he was no longer fit for that; then.
that party stood to see all other parties
do to the negro they wished
personally, T. for many years. have
been democrat and confess that It has
not been agreeable TO be among my own
race who have often charged me with
4
glad the day dawns brightly when the
negro, too, can advocate democracy; when
the negro can see that the democrats of
the country have about as much favor for
him as any other party Ana since this
be true, the time is fully upon the race.
throughout the country, to turn their at
fention TO party which will DE IN power
Il is plain that the republicans are hope
less ia their effort because 1t is divinely
written, A house divided against itself
cannot stand And II is certain that
there is no other party, aside from the
republicans or democrats, can elect a
PRESIDENT. Then the only safe, true and
wise step for the negro 10 take is to
cast bis political lot with the democrats
and thus help to put in the Inevitable
winner. Woodrow Wilson, who will be
inausurated next March
one negro objects. lie, says the demo-
Gratis do not want tho negro, but / reply
the republicans have proven time without
,'uih'tT, tnat they are equally as anxious
70 ec' rid or the negro. The negro is
not 20 whiningly ask who wants me. but
must learn to make himself 50 worthy
that all parties will want him. And when
ne VIII qualify for a reputable franchise
ne VIII find all demand for him ne needs
me democratic party throughout the
country believes in such principles and
poiicics as suit the negro's condition;
renee that race should go with the party
10 rune masses instead of the classes for
what can the negro hope for from the
republicans who left him a quarter CEN
tury ago to serve the tables of trusts
and make overtures to the capitalists
The time has fully come when there
should he and must DO change of hands
at Washington. The republicans ought
and should for every reason leave. and
no party is ready to go there and steer
the helm of ship outside the democrats
and the American people will never show
greater sense than 10 put at the head
of the ship crew that matchless states
man. Woodrow Wilson. and the negroes
will rever emphasize themselves so pro-
foundry in this county, as to. in large
numbers, help to do the deed