Race discrimination

Resolutions from African American Louisiana Republicans

Resolutions passed by a meeting of African American Louisiana Republicans protesting against the actions of the “Lily White” Republicans in Louisiana, particularly the denial of African American electors being represented at the convention. They call for a new convention that will properly represent all the Republicans of Louisiana and elect delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-20

Anti-negro Republicans

The article chastises the Republican State Central Committee of Louisiana for including white supremacist statements in an official address. The Republican Party of Louisiana is mostly composed of African Americans but white Republicans use the party for patronage and profit, not principle.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-19

Koester his own accuser

Newspaper article that uses George R. Koester’s own articles about three lynchings in Gaston, South Carolina, to cast doubt on Koester’s claims that he did not participate in lynchings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-04

The Jew in Russia

Arnold White reviews the “deplorable” condition of Russian Jews and claims that a “racial dislike” is behind the conflict between Jews and Russian peasants. The conflict is only held in check by the Russian government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-27

Summary of letter from Thomas Goode Jones

Thomas Goode Jones argues that race conflicts have not increased since President Roosevelt took office and will continue no matter who is president. Politicians simply took advantage of Roosevelt’s support for African Americans and his interactions with William Demos Crum and Booker T. Washington. Jones would like to quote from Roosevelt’s letter regarding the peonage cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-03

Color line in Indianola

The article accuses the people of Indianola, Mississippi, of hypocrisy. The citizens there forced the closure of the local post office because the postmaster was African American. Yet their mail is now delivered from Heathman, Mississippi, by an African American postman hired by the citizens.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-03

Asks Congress to help

Resolutions adopted by the National Afro-American Council, asking President Roosevelt and Congress to pass laws protecting African American constitutional rights and lives.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-06

Hobson’s choice – you can go or stay

A man wearing a hat labeled “Oregon,” and holding two handguns, gives Chinese men a “Hobson’s choice” or the option of leaving by jumping off a cliff into the sea below (on the right) or staying and being shot to death (on the left). At his feet is a “Treaty with China” torn in half.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1886-02-24

Republicans have their own troubles

The Louisiana Republican State Central Committee called for a convention to nominate a state ticket but will select delegates to the Republican National Convention at a later date. The committee’s plan appears to be to capture Democratic votes with a “white basis” state convention and then only later offer African American representation to the national convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-19

Letter from R. Goodwyn Rhett to Theodore Roosevelt

Mayor Rhett accepts an invitation to lunch with President Roosevelt and Rodman Paul Snelling. He hopes to discuss the appointment of William Demos Crum as Collector of Customs at Charleston, South Carolina.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-21

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to Theodore Roosevelt

Benjamin Ide Wheeler congratulates President Roosevelt for making the country better through his letter on lynching, the Syracuse speech, and the Miller case decision. Wheeler reviews events in San Francisco politics and is pleased with the California plans related to the National Irrigation Law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-10

Black rule in Delaware

Newspaper article lamenting the power of African American voters in Delaware. The article claims that African Americans sell their votes and are using their political power to engage in criminal activity. The article concludes that racial violence will increase and that universal suffrage for African American men was a mistake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-10

The president on lynching

Newspaper article praising President Roosevelt for speaking out against lynching.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-10

Vardaman chosen in Mississippi

Mississippi has made itself a “promoter of ignorance and illiteracy” by selecting James Kimble Vardaman as the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Vardaman earned votes by attacking President Roosevelt and African American civil rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-05

The negro issue in Mississippi primaries

James Kimble Vardaman failed to receive a plurality of votes in the Democratic primary for Governor of Mississippi. Vardaman’s policies against African Americans and his “unquotable vulgarities” have made the election simply between justice and injustice. Vardaman’s opponents, Judge Frank Archibald Critz and Senator Edmond Favor Noel, received more combined votes, and Noel, who finished in third place, has instructed his supporters to vote for Critz.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-22

Summary of letter from William H. Noble

William H. Noble Jr., editor of the Galveston City Times, offers his views on politics in Texas from the “colored standpoint.” He would like President Roosevelt to appoint several “colored men” to office in Texas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-18

“Guilty as charged,” says jury in Franklin case

The federal jury trying the peonage case found Robert N. Franklin guilty. Afterwards, Judge Jones spoke eloquently on the public controversy regarding his attitude in the peonage cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-26

Southern opinion of Dr. Hillis

Newspaper article attacking the views of Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis on the “race question” and support for African Americans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06

The nation and the negro

Newspaper article denouncing southerners for doing nothing about recently revealed African American peonage in Alabama. The article calls for the whole nation to do its duty and prevent these abuses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06

Letter from Simon Wolf to Theodore Roosevelt

Simon Wolf is part of a movement to send a petition to Emperor Nicholas II and Russia regarding discrimination against Jews. Wolf is willing to stop the petition if it would damage the Roosevelt administration or the country’s interests. He believes Russia is actively working to prevent the petition, including attempts to sway public opinion by bribing journalists. Wolf warns that Russia is masquerading as a friend but is aiming to “absorb China and the Eastern trade.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-03