The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03

ton and served there for six or sew
en- years. President Roosevelt intro
duced me to President Taft, who ap-
pointed me assistant attorney general.
That's about all there is
Mr.. Lewis is going to Washington
via Chicago, and will be Joined this
fall in the national capital by his wife
and children who nave been abroad.
His son expects to go to Harvard.
Shall I make him a politician?" said
the assistant attorney general, II hope
not; don't want him to follow in my
footsteps. This is an awful life to
lead"
Notwithstanding the rigor of his
life. Lewis looks hale, hearty, and par
ticularly optimistic.
Treated Well in Topeka.
1--WE had splendid time in Topeka,
he graciously declared. Everybody
treated me well. I'm pleased and i'm
pressed with, The town, and feel graft
fed at the amicable relations existing
between the white and the coIored peo-
pie. 1 wish every place were as good
as Kansas
Lewis speech in jackson park at the
celebration of the fiftieth anniversary
of the signing of the emancipation
proclamation was well received. Topeka
was in luck to have such a distinguish
ed orator on such a day. Colored peo-
pie crowded the park in order to hear
his address.
Sunf1ower state. and quoted Thomas
Wentworth Higginson, who said: IF
did not live in Massachusetts, l would
prefer to live in Kansas He said he
could not forget that Kansas rendered
to deathless fame the soldier and
friends of human freedom that God has
given to man.
He Is for Curtis.
After speaking cordially of the grea.
senator in Washington" who invited
him to Kansas, and the good, big
hearted. broadminded, and liberal presi-
dent of the United States Lewis
touched upon modern and ancient
and said:
THE bondage of Israel today is only
an epic poem. The Greek slave adorns
simply some palace of art. The Servi
of Rome instructed the masters of the
world. The race called AnglO-SaXons
once graced the triumph of the Imper-
lal Caesars. Servitude did not cease in
France until the revolution. Before the
time of Frederick the Great a German
might have been bought in the market
place. The place of human slavery IN
the divine economy l do not under
stand, nor do I defend it, but 1 am
glad that the human race has long
since passed that stage in it's develop
ment. I count it no disgrace nor de-
graduation, only a great misfortune that
my ancestors 1Of a rev S0nSEdllOAaS
were held slaves. I cannot and will
not allow that that fact places the
slightest restraint or limitation upon
my rights and duties as a man an
nor in my ambition to rise in
the service of God and country. Nor
will 1 ever consent to the view that
the col0red race in this country shall
accept an inferior cast or political
status because of a history no different
from that of other men. At the same
time 1 do not cherish the slightest
feeling or i'll will towards my country
men, who, because of their experience
and environment, cherish a different
view"
An Eloquent Speaker.
Lewis view of the political situation |
is cheerful, and his conclusion was as |
follows:
IT believe that our country, the ma |
ion and the state wall be able 20 meet |
the great social questions of today |
md solve them just as the other ma
tons of the world are doing And more |
[ believe that we shall go further and |
shall show the world how people of |
many races and total dissimilar races |
may live together upon the same soil |
with just and beneficent laws, each !
working together for the good of all, |
their social and industrial |
status, solving the problems of democ- |
racy; thus producing a happy state |
and triur1Dha0f nation