The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-11-01
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER I, 1912,
The cloven Foot.

In an address delivered by Col. B. A.
Enloe at Franklin, last Monday, the
"cloven foot" of the Independents and
lily-white Republicans of Tennessee
was plainly exposed. All through
this campaigi some or the leading Ne
groes of Tennessee have labored night
and day to impress the Negro voters
of this state that their salvation was
wrapped up in the Republican party.
1t has been argued that this party was
the only one in the state that stood
for civic righteousness, and that every
damnable scheme to rob the Negro OF
his franchise was wrapped up in the
regular Democratic party.
The Globe has %contended all along
that this claim was erroneous and mis-
leading, but that there was a viper
lurking in the dark. 1t has been
known for several years that the white
republicans of Tennessee harbored a
desire to build up in the state a
white mans party. The idea was con-
ceived that if the Negro could be
thrust out of politics a Republican
party could be built up stronger than
the regular Democratic party. The re.
publicans have made no attempt to
conceal their belief, and some of them
have boldly declared that the Negro
voter was a milestone around their
necks. But the Negroes could not be
made believe that such a spirit ex-
listed in the hearts of the white repub-
licans. So they chung on to the old
party. They were kicked and buff
fetted aroond, but they would not let
go. Every time their white republi-
can friends would say, Come on,
boys, let's thrash the democrats" they
would line up and go into the fight;
and every time, if the republican were
defeated, here and there a voice would
be heard to declare that it was due to
the presence of the Negro. That he
was a menac to the welfare of the
state and ought to be put out of
politics. Despite these declarations,
year in and year out, the Negroes, and
especially the leaders, would find
some excuse for remaining with the
grand old party"
In 1910 an alliance was made be-
tween the lily-white republicans ami
dissatisfied democrats whereby they
agreed to throw their strength togeth-
er, and if they could win a victory they
would divide the spoils. This agree
ment was brought about in view of the
fact that in 1908 so many Negroes de-
serted the republican party and voted
the straight democratic ticket. This
was thought by the l%ily-white republi-
cans to be the opportune time to
throw the Negro overheard. So a con
tract was entered into between the
lily-whites and |disgruntled democrats.
Victory was won, the results of which
are well known to the people Of the
state. For two years these same fac
lions have planned and schemed to
continue their compact has been
devised to use the Negro, If possible.
to win another victory, and it was con
sidered an opportune time, this being
"a National election year. 1t was
thought that Negroes could not be per
suaded to vote other than the republi
can ticket in a National campaign, but
little has been said about it by the
white republicans. The job has beer
turned over to a few leading Negroe:
and the state has been flooded with in
lanmatory lit%rature, skillfully pre-
pared by the National Republican
Committee.
All of this has been done to deceive
the Negro and hide from him the deep
seated schemes of the f%usionists. Blu
on the eve of the election, emboldeneC
by what they believed TO De success
the champion Of f~usionism, and thu
arch-enemy of the Negro, had the te
merity to utter in Franklin three sen
fences that laid bare the "cloven foot
of the enemy. Col. Enloe charge.
that Gov. Patterson promised to ia
vor a constitutional amendment tina