The monitor., 1928-11-02
"WHY AM A REPUBLICAN"
BY C. II. w. BULLOCK

campaign, we have coursed our way through
fog and fury until at last we vision the port
of anchorage. Never before in the history
of elections in this country have been
put nearly to wits end to know where
and how to best cast our vote. Parties and
candidates alike have ventured forth upon
such strange and conflicting issues that they
have created confusion the part of the
electorate, the like of which have never
before experienced. Precedents and tradi-
tions have been so completely broken that
it is hardly possible to discern which is
publican and which is democratic. Because
of this situation, IT is necessary that the
voter, who is the final arbiter, judge and
jury, shall exercise the utmost intelligence
in passing this most important matter.
The colored people occupy rather unique
position in this conflict The customary
has been to befog and befuddle the voter
by political considerations only, is not much
in evidence. The reason being that he is
as much at TO explain the
strange alliances made in this campaign.
The colored people put upon their
metal. We either rise to the occasion
by putting away from consideration all
else but sound reason, we fall far
short of it by allowing sentiment and petty
grievances to influence and determine
decision.
Be 1t remembered that in choosing the
president and vice-president ticket,
party they represent. If we vote for Hoover
and Curtis, we at the same time vote for
the republican party and the things for
which it stands. II vote for Smith and
Robinson, vote for the democratic party
and all for which il stands. Then our first
consideration should be what this or that
party espouses and how will those princi-
Piles affect us. The second should be the
character, preparation and experience of the
candidates running for president and vice.
president in that party.
THE PARTIES
The republican PARTY. was brought into
existence on the issue of slavery. 1t cham
pioned the causes of emancipation, and the
reunion of the seeded states. 1t its
cause. 1t set about to do what it could to
establish rights and liberties which the
democrats had taken from 1t this
party which fostered and brought through
to successful end those amendments which
form the bone and sinew of citizenship
the 18th, 14th, and 18th. While, during
the so odd years since emancipation, that
party has been guilty of sins of omission
and sins of commission, it has not sought
to annul those amendments, neither has 1T
disregarded in any marked instance OPEN
ly ignored those amendments. In a word,
the republican party must be given credit
for giving the colored at least half a
loaf, while the democrats have for over so
years not only given part of loaf
but have tried to take away from us that
half loaf which had already. 1t has sue
ceeded in doing that very thing whenever
and wherever it could. Bringing to bear
upon this question alone, our good reason,
1 ask, can we conscientiously punish the
party that has given half loaf, because
it has not given us more, and reward the
party which has consistently sought to take
that half loaf from us? We could not, and
at the asme time use good judgment. ]
should say not! 1 am republican for much
the same l am a Christian and mem
ber of certain religious denomination. I
by reason and not the prompting of
emotion. J quite sure to remain there
for much the same reason. To me, my po-
litical suffrage is God given. l interpret
hat mi. ksr,a hat hail nj
shall be taken away even that which he
hath" to mean that he who has been given
something and has not properly used it, it
shall be withdrawn from him. / take my
politics seriously. / regard it as a duty mot
to be shirked or neglected. This is the way
all of must regard that duty on Novem-
ber 6th. In view of the foregoing facts,
am for the republican party and the things
for which 1t stands, because my reason for
bids that l place a party in position to do
more harm to my people which has already
done too much, with the limited power it had
already. l am for the republican party with
a conviction. l am for it because have not
SO forgotten the many and nefarious
injustices the democratic party has perpet-
rated against people. l am a republican
because I see Jim Crowism, discrimination,
disfranc hisement and lynching visited upon
my people with impunity in the south where
that party lives and flourishes. am for
the republican party because l was born in
that land where Negro liberty is mockery
and their suffrage is mere sham. l am
republican because 1 not the kind of
citizen who would thoug ghtlessly cut off my
to spite my face. rather have one
of those members disfigured than both of
them.
1 am for the republican candidates for
president and vice-president, and the repub-
lican platform and principles, because the
men are much better qualified from every
angle for the office, and the platform more
possible of accomplishment.
l close this article by brief sketch of
the background of the presidential candi-
dates to show you which, in our judgment,
is better qualified to be next president
Be it known here, that ] know Governor
Smith personally and like him well man
and clean gentleman. lived in New York
and voted for and against him many times
for office in that great commonwealth of
If had to decide my preference in this elec-
tion on personal tavoritisrs, l am frank to
say 1 would choose Smith in preference to
Hoover. But this is not the thing for any
citizen to do and l am a citizen. l wish to
cay further that am not going to vote
Straight" although / don't advise this
course for those who are not thoroughly
familiar with the art of splitting" tickets.
Ii is mark of intelligence to "spiit" a tick
ct. but this course is far more susceptible to
mis- stakes. l shall vote for certain demo-
cratic candidates because they stand for the
things for which stand and in which pro-
foundly believe. But ! shall stick in the
main to the republican party and ticket, for
the reasons stated above and the superior
qualifications enumerated below OF the can
didate for the republican party, Herbert c.
Hoover. MIR. Hoover, the republican candi-
date, comes to with a very illuminating
background. Born of humble surroundings;
orphaned from childhood; Quaker by reli-
gion; finished scholar and skillful engineer;
| successful business man; administrator ex-
traordinary; food administrator during the
World War under a democratic president;
secretary of commerce for eight years;
stands for the economy practieed under CAL
win Coolidge and Harding; for the retention
and enforcement of the 18th amendment;
for farm relief based upon sound economics;
clean, honest, upright; bitterly opposed to
religious intolerance and bigotry. In a word.
qualified in every detail for the presidency
of this government.
Alfred Smith: born of humble surround
ings; half orphaned from childhood; meagre
education; Roman Catholic by religion;
profession; no business except politics; eight
years governor of New York; many years
assemblyman of that state; stands for
peal of the 18th amendment and return to
state rights; able official and administrator;
| in rather ambiguous way, for farm relief
| and the equalization fee; honest, clean, up
right, courageous. Only a casual compar-
| ison here of these two men will be quite
ample to detrmine which is better qualified
for the office they seek. If your duty is to
choose the man that is better qualified you
most certainly will have alternative here
than to vote for and elect Herbert Hoover.