A Word About Senator Foraker.
July 20, 1907
Summary
The Planet believes that Senator Foraker has been sincere in his support of the black troops discharged, and state his potential presidential opponent has taken a different stance.
Transcription
A Word About Senator Foraker.
Our esteemed and able contemporary, the New York Age seems to be of the opinion, that President Jones and his board of trustees injected politics into the commencement exercises by inviting Senator Joseph B. Foraker to deliver the address. We fail to see it in that light. As we understand it, Senator Foraker was invited to deliver the address and he chose his subject to suit himself. We have been unable to see that a discussion of the facts in the Brownsville investigation carried with it any political significance.
Senator Foraker took the time to say that the colored troops had not been proven guilty. He spoke as the representative of the people of Ohio and because the “other fellow,” who wants to be President had taken the opposite course is no concern of the average citizen. It should not be forgotten that no public officer of the prominence of the distinguished Senator from Ohio could have been invited to speak on such an occasion without being charged with political bias.
We have watched Senator Foraker’s course and we confess that we have seen no indications that he was desirous of doing other than justice to the faithful black soldier of this country.
Every right that we have ever enjoyed came to us through politics and every privilege that we have lost may be charged up to the same channel, so we cannot see that Wilberforce has any cause to make apologies for its action. President Roosevelt has been making political speeches from the hustings, educational institutions colleges and if he ever gets the chance, he will do the same in the churches by way of an alleged sermon.
Mr. Roosevelt is not alone in this mode of procedure for Hon. William Jennings Bryan and even Senator Benjamin Tillman are noted for this kind of political canvassing. We do not believe that Wilberforce will be injured. It will be benefited. Senator Foraker spoke on a subject, which attracted universal attention and one which everyone wished to hear. He did the Afro-Americans of this country a great service and we are satisfied that the key note sounded there will echo and re-echo over this broad land for many years to come.
If these white folks want peace, let them restore our “Dreyfuses” to the army.
Our esteemed and able contemporary, the New York Age seems to be of the opinion, that President Jones and his board of trustees injected politics into the commencement exercises by inviting Senator Joseph B. Foraker to deliver the address. We fail to see it in that light. As we understand it, Senator Foraker was invited to deliver the address and he chose his subject to suit himself. We have been unable to see that a discussion of the facts in the Brownsville investigation carried with it any political significance.
Senator Foraker took the time to say that the colored troops had not been proven guilty. He spoke as the representative of the people of Ohio and because the “other fellow,” who wants to be President had taken the opposite course is no concern of the average citizen. It should not be forgotten that no public officer of the prominence of the distinguished Senator from Ohio could have been invited to speak on such an occasion without being charged with political bias.
We have watched Senator Foraker’s course and we confess that we have seen no indications that he was desirous of doing other than justice to the faithful black soldier of this country.
Every right that we have ever enjoyed came to us through politics and every privilege that we have lost may be charged up to the same channel, so we cannot see that Wilberforce has any cause to make apologies for its action. President Roosevelt has been making political speeches from the hustings, educational institutions colleges and if he ever gets the chance, he will do the same in the churches by way of an alleged sermon.
Mr. Roosevelt is not alone in this mode of procedure for Hon. William Jennings Bryan and even Senator Benjamin Tillman are noted for this kind of political canvassing. We do not believe that Wilberforce will be injured. It will be benefited. Senator Foraker spoke on a subject, which attracted universal attention and one which everyone wished to hear. He did the Afro-Americans of this country a great service and we are satisfied that the key note sounded there will echo and re-echo over this broad land for many years to come.
If these white folks want peace, let them restore our “Dreyfuses” to the army.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Benton Camper
Citation
“A Word About Senator Foraker.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/615.