The Chicago Illinois idea. (Chicago, Ill.) 19??-19??, 1916-10-28

der states, and even those who live
at the north, have most to fear is a
Democratic administration directed by
a man of southern birth, and one so
Injured to southern racial prejudice as
Woodrow Wilson. This is not so
much a prophecy as il is concrete
fact, proven by years Of Democratic
reprisals against the constitutional
rights of the colored citizens. Placing
a ban upon the progress of the Negro
race is the only policy to which the
Wilson administration has consistent
ly adhered and the only one that has
been successful The President has
succeeded in undoing in three years
what the Republican party has been
fifty years accomplishing for the ad-
vancement and recognition of the
rights of the colored citizens.
In this short time he has removed
from the public service every Negro
holding a position OF trust and re-
sponsibility.
He has segregated the colored civil
service employees in the departments
at Washington, accomplishing this dis
elimination at great expense to the
Government and to the detriment of
the service.
He celebrated his entrance to the
White House by closing the door Of
opportunity to the Negro.
By word and deed he has lent en-
enlargement to the enemies of the
race and fostered a racial prejudice
greater than has ever been known in
this country.
Slavery, peonage, Acknowledgement
and segregation are the four greatest
crimes that have been visited upon
the Negro in this country. Two Of
these we're actually evolved by the
Democratic party, and at some time in
it's history that party has consistently
defended each of them. a
Disfranchisement and segregation
are purely Democratic institutions, but
it was left to Woodrow Wilson to be
the first President of the United
States to stamp them with his official
approval.
He has submitted himself absolutely
to the counsel of the vicious south
ern Negro-baiters, such as Tillman,
Vardaman, Hefiin and Hardwick, and
his policy toward the Negro has been
tinctured and controlled by their in
herent hatred.
Peonage has been permitted to
thrive in the southern states, there not
being a single prosecution for this
crime against the Negro in the last
two years. Prosecution of peonage
cases ended with the appointment of
the Democratic District Attorneys in
the south.
While Woodrow Wilson was can
didate for the Presidency he made
promises to the colored people that
were fairer than any ever given by a
candidate for that high office. In his
letter to Bishop Walters, which was
one of the campaign documents dis
seminated among the colored people,
he promised them civil rights and
privileges such as were guaranteed
them under the constitution, Just as
soon as he assumed Office he changed
his mind.
Wilson is undoubtedly a man of
education and the colored people have
looked to the educated people of the
country for a square deal, yet we are
confronted with this instance where
theory has been kicked to death by
fact. There has never been a Presi-
dent who descended from his lofty
position to retard the progress of
struggling race as Woodrow Wilson
has done. His education has failed to
prove a foil for his prejudice. He
has used the power of his great Office
to place obstacles in the path of prog
ress as the Republican party laid it
out for the Negro. Throughout the
country colored men have been as
founded and discouraged by the bitter
ness of the opposition of the Chief
Executive of the nation, and the enc
mics of the race in and out of Con-
gress have taken heart to levy addi-
tional reprisals against the hopes of
the race.
Encouraged by the approval Of the
Wilson administration segregation has
been seriously considered in northern
cities and has been placed into opera
ton in many border municipalities. In
the city of Baltimore, where this unjust
measure has been undertaken in the
residential districts, the President of
the United States is cited as an au
thority for the necessity Of removing
the colored people from white neigh
borhoods. An article appearing in a
Baltimore PAPER advocating the ordi-
nance reads:
"Since the President of the United
States has recognized this necessity
by putting segregation into actual
practice in the departments at Wash
ington, there is excellent reason why
the Negroes should not be permitted
to own and occupy property in the
same neighborhoods with white peo-
pie"
Segregation, the most recent and
probably the most menacing of the
practices calculated to hold the prog
ress of the Negro race in check, the
practice that restricts the property
rights Of the colored people, has not
only the moral support Of the Demo
cratic candidate for President, but he
has placed it into actual operation in
the governmental departments where
in administration of free institutions
is pledged. No President has ever
engaged in any practice so small for
the head of a nation Of people and so