The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-08-23
FRIDAY, AUGUST %, 1912.
The Roosevelt Idea.

ne Roosevelt loea.
Since the publication of Col The
odore Roosevelt's letter to Julian
Harris. of Atlanta, the Negroes of
this country have been much alarmed,
and without taking the time to care
fully weigh the words of the man.
they have, in many instances, con
demned him, charging him with at
tempting to disfranchise the Negroes
in the South
They forget that the day has never
been when the Negro in The South
has enjoyed the freedom guaranteed
him by the Federal Constitution.
There have been seasons in which he
has apparently controlled the situa-
ton in various communities; but
these reasons were short-lived
Before the days of Reconstruction.
when the Negro Joined hands with
Northern white men and gained pos
session Of some of the reins of gov
eminent, the Negro felt that he had
power, and he used that power as
best he knew how. But that season
did not last long; and the bitter days
of Reconstruction are well remem-
bered in the South.
The Negro has been disfranchised
in practically al Of the Southern
States for many years. Some Of
them have been driven to des peration
by the change Of things The Negro
has been thrown out Of politics.
Those who held Office. high and low,
find themselves now shut out COM
pletely. Mr.. Roosevelt IN organizing
the Progressive Party. had the eour-
age to say what no other leader Of
any party has dared 10 say. He has
told the Negro the bare truth; but Of
fers to him an equal opportunity in
the new party, as he can measure up
to the requirements-not as a Negro,
but as a man, a citizen, on a level
with all other men, limited only by
his ability Negroes have always
clamored for manly recognition, the
new party is offering it to him. Will
he accept it?
In the new arrangement of things
in this country, it stands to reason
that the Negro will be put to many
tests, and these tests will come po
litically as well as otherwise. He
has been led around all of these years
by Republican politicians; but he has
never been asked to take a mans
part in political affairs. The Repub
lican party does not take him into thu
council north or south, but trey eff
things" and then bring them out Il
the Negro on a platter, and the Ne
gro has been accepting just such a
has been offered him. But the Pre-
gressive party leaders say they wan
the Negro who is responsible am
willing to bear his part Of the burden
let it be little or much. They are dc
manding that he do what he can Z
aid in the remedying of a conditio
that is sucking the lives out Of tn
people of this nation
We do not agree with the idea
preached by some that the Republ
can party is the only party of thi
country that will do anything for tn
Negro. In fact, we fail to see an
hope for our race, or any other rae
in this country, if it must be specia
lied for. Negroes must take the
places as other men, and must elm
as high as their ability will carr
them. They should not expect to on
distance those men of the nation VIII
have all the wealth and highest int
ligence, but should be willing
start from the ground floor and e
tablish themselves permanently Z
other men have had to do.