Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1908 — THE NEGRO AND THE NOMINEE. [ARTICLE]

THE NEGRO AND THE NOMINEE.

In the ante-convention flight William Howard Taft’s leading opponent In bis own state sedulously sought to enlist the negro race against the secretary of war and threatened the party with loss of the negro vote If he were nominated. Now that the bluff has been called and die fight found futile, what sf it? Over the shoulder of Taft the blow was aimed at another, and his shoulders are broad enough and sturdy enough to bear It. The secretary of war and now candidate of the Republican party for president, was never less than friendly to the negro. He did not discharge from the army those colored soldiers at Brownsville, Tex. Indeed, he signed an order that suspended one issued by the commander-ln-chlef of the army. The negro has no cause to harbor any black thoughts against William Howard Taft.

“As far back as I can remember, which carries me into the middle of the Civil War, my Ideal of patriotic feeling—derived from the political attitude of my father and mother as I understood it —was closely associated with the hatred of slavery and sympathy with the negro race.” “I know it is the habit of many contemplating the condition of the two races in the Southern states, to shake their heads and say that the negro problem is far from solution and that the future in this respect is dark. Plans have been suggested for a migration of the negroes to some other country, where they could live by themselves and grow up by themselves and have a society by themselves and create a nation by themselves. Such a suggestion Is chimerical. The negro has no desire to go, and the people of the South would seriously object to his going. They were brought here originally against their will, and were kept here until they have become Americans. They are in this country as a part of our people, and are _ bound to continue to be so. They are entitled to unceasing effort on the part of the whole people In their struggle for better things, both because It is our duty and to our Interest to secure them equal opportunity. Whenever called upon the negro has never failed to make sacrifices for this the only country he has and the only flag he loves.”

_ These are the words of Taft. They were spoken in the Plymouth church, Brooklyn, on March 16 last In a meeting held In the Interests of Hampton Institute. They are taken from many other good things said in an address filled with cheer for the negro and earnest belief that he is. as his own architect and, builder, steadily progressing onwtfrd and upward. Even If negroes were barred from conventions in Southern states that instructed for Taft, that was the fault of the white brother in the South and our candidate for the presidency should not be held blameworthy for It. Taft is a friend of the negro race, no matter what members of it may vote against him.