The Kansas Watchman from Topeka, Kansas • 1

The Mesas VOL.ITI TOPEKA, KANSAS, THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 1905. NO. 45. The Distinction Between the Wily and the Wicked is Too Fine For the Wise! IT IS A GRAFT.

GOVERNOR E. W. HOCH Negro Must Pay His Emancipation Day Expenses. It is to be sincerely regretted that there is a class of Negroes who interest themselves in getting up pretended or fake celebrations and then run around after State officials and others to beg money. This is a species of grafting that is doing the colored people a palpable injury in this community and it ought to be stopped even though it should become necessary te arrest some of the parties for obtaining money under faJse pretentions.

Negroes ought to have enough pride to have their celebrations and pay for them without year after year begging the white people for money to carry on or get up a celebration. Several days ago a State House official complained most bitterly to the editor about being held by several of. these grafters and threatened criminal prosecution if such a thing should occur Equal Rights to Negroes. Three Baptist ministers of Atlanta who attended the Baptist world's congress recently held in London were all present at the meeting- of the Baptist ministers yesterday. They were Drs.

W. W. Landrum, of the First church: John E. White, of the Second church and John F. Purser, of the West End church.

By common consent those who attended the convention chose Dr. Land-rum as their spokesman to tell to the association the sights and experiences of the trip. Dr. Landrum referred to the criticism which has been made by press and individuals of some things which took place at the convention. Some, he said, had criticised the action of the convention in passing resolutions laudatory of the king.

"The king business has no place in the twentieth century," he said; 'it is as bad as the whiskey traffic. "-'He went on further to state, however, that if a people submitted to it, he thought due honor should be given and prayers for their welfare be made by a Baptist convention. NECROES HAD EQUAL RIGHTS. He also referred to the criticism of the part the Negro played in the convention. He admitted that they were given equal rights in every way with the white delegates equal rights spiritually in the convention and equal rights socially outside of the convention in the homes of the people of London.

"I saw occasionally a Negro accompany one of the white ladies to the convention or in the streets of London, but we must remember that we have the whole world against us on the Negro question. There is no such feeling against him anywhere as we have we might as well face and admit the fact. But I think this matter is a big bugaboo about nothing. I believe that the Negro must have equal spiritual rights with any one and the Baptist church has always contended for this they received this at the convention nothing less and nothing more. "The only difference in the treatment at the covention hall was probably in the applause received the applause was quite more frequent and hearty when one of the colored delegates had the floor.

"But this matter of social equality is not one for church or civil legislation, but one for individual taste. I have no more right to go to London and tell them who they should receive in their homes than they have to come to us here and say who we should receive." If all the white pastors in the South would speak out in this positive, truthful manner, without regard to their environment or the ill consequeuc-es that might follow, the white people would change their opinion with regard to the Negro and accord him better treatment. "Equal rights" is all that the Negro asks for; and for these he feels that he should contend. Too many white preachers beleive that nature has no equality; that its sovereign laws is subordination and dependence; that if all men were equal the world could not go on, etc. The Rev.

Dr. Landrum does not seem to believe any such thing, and at last he snmmons the courage to say so. It is a serious admission made py Dr. Landrum that there is no such feeling against the Negro anywhere as there is in the South. In the face of this bold and unmodified declaration made by a man who is authority, it is almost sinful to ask one to believe that the Southern white man is the best friend that the Negro has.

We wish to thank Dr. Landrum also for advising the cultured race which he represents that "socaal equality" isdetermined by the individual taste, not by "church or civil legislation." The Negroes who are pleading for their legal and spiritual rights care nothing whatever about the exercise of social equality with white people. They want their rights respected the same as those of other American citizens. They desire also that the white men who preach concerning the "fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man," in such elequent and prolonged strain shall have the most sacred regard for the spiritual rights of all men, and deal with them on the Christian principle. Ex.

Thoughts From His Speech at Oskaloosa, Kans. Governor E. W. Hock is a great man; not because he is governor, but because nature has endowed him with the essential attributes of goodness which is the foundation of all true greatness. His great speech at Oskaloosa last week was illustrative of his inherent greatness.

The Governor said among other things, that every thing in nature obeyed law but man; the grass, under the genial warmth of the sun and the gentle showers, springs forth to decorate the earth with a velvety green; the trees put forth their beautiful foliage, and the birds flitting from tree to tree warbling their sweet and melodious notes, all act in harmony with and in obediance to the laws of nature. But man, wholly oblivious to his duties and obligations to society, will one day make the law and violate it the next day. Man must learn that the law is the great governing power upon which human society is fabricated, and the perpetuity of which must depend upon absolute obedience to law, The inculcation of the doctrine of obedience and enforcement of law is timely. Men are great only in proportion as they stand for a just and righteous cause, and more men would be great if they would follow the aphorism of the great Henry Clay who said; would rather be right than President of the United States." The attainment of the highest office in the gift of the people makes no man great save as he uses his high and exalted office with the powers vested therein for the accomplishment of good. Gov.

Hoch is not infallible. Like all great and good men he will makes mistakes. He, like other men, will often make mistakes by accept ing the counsel and advice of political friends. Such mistakes do not come from the heart, but an error in judgment due to the persuasive ability of friends. A man will learn sooner or later to listen to his friends, judge of their motives, and then with a again.

For years it has been the practice of certian Negroes to get up Lincoln day festivities and emancipation celebrations for no other purpose under the sun than to get a big rake off from the white people. From time to time some of the white men who have contiibuted to these Negro festivities have complained- They are now beginning to realize that the promoters are grafters and say that Negroes ought to pay for Their celebrations and festivities, and do not forever be confirmed beggars. The colored people should show their independence and individual pride by paying for their celebrations and if they cannot do this, it would be better to abandon the matter entirely. This method of bood-ling and grafting is becoming infamous and notorious, and those who are engaged in it should be treated as common vagrants without visible means of support. There is absolutely no good reason why the white people should be called upon to pay for Negro festivities and celebrations.

rity, and iron will, who, at all times and under all circumstances will proclaim the doctrine of the "Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man." clear conscience and an honest heart do what is right regardless of criticism or popular clamor. Gov. Hoch is man of strong convictions, unquestioned integ.