The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-08-22
HOW COLE L. BLEASE
ADDRESSED THE NEGROES

ADDRESSED THE NEGROES
1t is well known that in October of
1915 ex-Gov. Cole L. Blease address
| ed an assemblage of negroes at Allen
University. No blame could attach
to any white man because Of address
sing the colored people. But a speech
under such conditions could be re-
prehensible. We reproduce the speech
of Mr.. Blease, delivered on October
9TH, 1915, as published in the Samari.
tan Herald, negro paper.
Readers can decide for themselves
what was the mind of Mr.. Blease
when he made that speech.
Allen University opened last We'd
nesday with about 400 students. DR..
b. W. Nance, the new president seem
ed to know his business as though he
were a whole term. We as trustees
were Hospitality entertained with
what the appetite could bear. Bishop
w. d. Chappelle, the new bishop,
knows his business, and performs his
duty like hero. He is his own di-
ctator. Ex-Governor Bleasc was
present, and was introduced by the
Bishop, who prefaced as follows:
MIR. President and board of trus-
tees: l feel that we are complimented
to have one of the strongest white
men in South Carolina in the person
of ex-Gov. Cole L. Blease. to
speak to these people, | watched
carefully the record Of all the Govern
nors, and decided on er-Gov. Blease.
We want the friendship of our white
people. / want money. am going
to 'sk him for it to help lift our pco-
people. l don't believe that Cole. l..
Blease will insult my wife, or no
other colored lady any more than he
would like for any one to insult his
wife or any Of their white ladies.
The Bishop now introduced Colonel
blease, Who rose and said in part +:
Mr.President and members of the
Faculty and my friends: I want to
congratulate you having such an able
Christian gentleman as your president
II his face is black. l have known
him from his boyhood and always
thought he would make a great man.
would trust my daughter in his
hands as we'll as you are trusting
yours. They said that am against
the negro. Nay, am a friend of the
negro. You are robbed out of your
rights by the unjust laws of this state
How will the judges and JURORS stand
before God who will take advantage
of powerless race? What k:ld of
law has this state that
will not allow negro repre-
sentation on the jury or prohibit
him of his rights in any way. If this
state would give you all Of the money
from the tax paid by your people
you would have better schools and
no longer terms. / am not against
educating the negro, but only want
ed the taxes Of each race set aside for
its intermediate purpose. Yes this
state is rotten. They're robbing you
out of your rights but there's a God
above that will bring them into judg-
ment. have never insulted a colored
woman. The man that would insult
woman is worse than the darkest
cloud that ever held over the firma-
ment. Girls and boys your character
is what God gave you, and can ne
YER be taken away. But your reputa-
ton is what you make it and what
the world says of you. If justice was
given me would have been your
Governor to-day. But it is white
people that is stealing.
Cline dropped out
some years ago and political thieves,
but the negro is now out Of it,
and who is now doing the steal
ing? am a Methodist and will never
leave my church but do not attend
because thieves and robbers are at
the communion table and l am not
going to associate with them. What
is the use for jails penitentiaries chain
gangs and the church too. If all of
the leaders of the people were right
eous there would not be any use for
prisoners, for the leaders Of the peo-
pie have caused theu to err.