Colored Delegates Glowing Tribute
July 2, 1904
Summary
Harry S. Cummings, of Baltimore seconds “the nomination of President Roosevelt in behalf of the Negroes of the country.”
Transcription
Chicago, June 23.-Harry S. Cummings, of Baltimore, seconded the nomination of President Roosevelt in behalf of the Negroes of the country. He said :
For distinguished honor of seconding the nomination of that grand type of the American citizen, Theodore Roosevelt, I am profoundly grateful.
Fortunate, indeed, is it for this government that it has had during the eight years just passed, a political organization such as ours to meet face to face with undaunted courage and determination the many perplexing questions which have arisen during that period.
Equally fortunate has been our party to have had within its ranks during this crucial period such men as our able, wise and patriotic Mckinley, of beloved memory, and our capable, courageous and aggressive Roosevelt, upon whose youthful, though ample shoulders, the mantle of the great Mckinley fell.
We have carried to the Filipino, the Porto Rican, and the Cuban the torch of light and intelligence, relieved them from the burdens and oppression of despotic rule, established civil government among them, and are teaching them the blessings of liberty and independence.
The Panama Canal, “the key to the universe,” the construction of which has for centuries been the dream and fancy of more than one government, has under the prompt and decisive action of this administration been taken from the realm of cloudland and dreamland, and its completion in the near future has become a certain and fixed fact.
The wise leadership of our party has kept so well-adjusted our tariff and currency legislation, that prosperity bounds in the land, labor is plentiful, the laborer is well paid and contended, capital multiples and seeks additional outlets for new investments and enterprises.
In a word, we have given a full and complete report of the stewardship committed to our care during the past four years. It becomes the duty of this convention to name a general who we hope and believe will lead the great Republican host to victory in the coming election, a man who will in every way measure up to the responsibility of the high office of President of this country. Such an one in the person of our chief Executive has been ably and eloquently placed before you, and heartily do we all indorse what has been said.
For distinguished honor of seconding the nomination of that grand type of the American citizen, Theodore Roosevelt, I am profoundly grateful.
Fortunate, indeed, is it for this government that it has had during the eight years just passed, a political organization such as ours to meet face to face with undaunted courage and determination the many perplexing questions which have arisen during that period.
Equally fortunate has been our party to have had within its ranks during this crucial period such men as our able, wise and patriotic Mckinley, of beloved memory, and our capable, courageous and aggressive Roosevelt, upon whose youthful, though ample shoulders, the mantle of the great Mckinley fell.
We have carried to the Filipino, the Porto Rican, and the Cuban the torch of light and intelligence, relieved them from the burdens and oppression of despotic rule, established civil government among them, and are teaching them the blessings of liberty and independence.
The Panama Canal, “the key to the universe,” the construction of which has for centuries been the dream and fancy of more than one government, has under the prompt and decisive action of this administration been taken from the realm of cloudland and dreamland, and its completion in the near future has become a certain and fixed fact.
The wise leadership of our party has kept so well-adjusted our tariff and currency legislation, that prosperity bounds in the land, labor is plentiful, the laborer is well paid and contended, capital multiples and seeks additional outlets for new investments and enterprises.
In a word, we have given a full and complete report of the stewardship committed to our care during the past four years. It becomes the duty of this convention to name a general who we hope and believe will lead the great Republican host to victory in the coming election, a man who will in every way measure up to the responsibility of the high office of President of this country. Such an one in the person of our chief Executive has been ably and eloquently placed before you, and heartily do we all indorse what has been said.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Megan Brooks
Citation
“Colored Delegates Glowing Tribute,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 23, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/588.