Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-08-03
7. R. EXPRESSES
VIEW ON NEGROES
Says New Party Should Wei
come All Worthy Men, IRE
spective of Race.

NEW YORK, Aug. Sin a lettei
written to Julian Harris, of Atlanta
editor of Uncle Remus's Magazine and
a son of the late Joel Chandler Harris,
Colonel Roosevelt expresses his views
on the position of the negro IN ma
tional politics, and the representation
of g delegates in the convention
of the Progressive party in Chicago
In part, Colonel Roosevelt writes:
Many letters dealing with the sub
ject of which you spoke to me have
been SEN to me within the last few
days. These letters, from equally
worthy citizens, take diametrically op.
posite positions. Those written by
men living in the North usually ask
me to insist that we get from the
South colored delegates to the Ma
tional Progressive convention. Those
written by citizens of the South ask
that l declare that the new party shall
be a white mans party. l am not
able to agree to either proposal.
In this country we cannot perma-
nently succeed except upon the basis
of treating each mar on his worth as
A man. We can fulfill our high mis-
sion among the nations of the earth,
we can do lasting good to ourselves
and to all mankind, only if we so ACT
that the humblest among US, so long
as he behaves in a straight and decent
fashion, has guaranteed TO him under
the law his right to life, to liberty, to
protection from injustice, his right to
enjoy the fruits of his own honest
labor and his right to the pursuit of
happiness in his W way, so long as
he does not trespass on the rights of
others.
TN the South the Democratic ma
chine has sought to keep itself para +
mount by. encouraging the hatred Of
the white man for the black; the Re
publican machine has sought to per-
petuate itself by stirring Up the black
man against the white; and surely
the time has come when we should
understand the mischief in both
courses and should abandon both. I
believe that wherever the racial issle.
is permitted to become dominant in
our politics it always works harm to
both races, but UNNECESSARILY most
harm TO the weaker ace. | believe
that in this movement only damage
will come If we either abandon our
ideals on the one hand, or, on the
other, fail resolutely TO look facts in
the face. however unpleasant these
facts may be.
ain many of the states of the
Union where there is a considerable
colored population we are able in VERY
fact and at the present moment to
bring the best colored men into the
movement on the same terms as the
white man. In Rhode Island and
diana, il Ohio and Illinois. n
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to
speak only of States of which / have
personal knowledge. this is now being
done, and from some or all of these
states colored delegates will be sent
to the national Progressive conven-
ton in Chicago.
II earnestly believe that by appeal
ing to the best white men in the
South, the men of justice and of vision.
as well as of strength and of leader
ship, and by frankly putting the
movement in their hands from the
outset, W. shall create q situation by
which the colored men of the Sou;h
will ultimately get justice, as it is not
possible for them to get justice If we
are 10 continue and ~perpetuate the
present conditions"