of the entire family.  Scant praise is given to those members who are doing well, and whose number is encouragingly large.  These are as far as possible ignored.  The race problem is spoken of as full of increasing difficulties, and as imperatively demanding a change from present conditions.  The people of the North are being especially indoctrinated with such ideas.  They are told that they must leave their brethren of the former slaveholding States, and in which the negroes principally dwell, to deal with the issues arising between the whites and the blacks; that they—­the Southerners—­understand the questions to be settled, and that outsiders should withhold their hands and their sympathies.  It is none of their business, they are informed, while assurances are freely given that the people who, because of their experience with them, understand the negroes, will take considerate care of them.  What kind of care they are taking of them in certain quarters is shown by recent incontestable revelations.

And what has the political party which, in view of its manifold professions, was supposed to have the interests of the negro in its especial keeping, done about it?  Nothing whatever.  It has looked on with the coolest indifference.  The only concern it has shown in the matter has related to the question of Congressional representation as dependent upon the enumeration of electors, and, in so doing, has plainly intimated that if, through the negro’s political robbery, it can secure an increase of partisan power, it is perfectly willing that the cause of the injured black man should “slide.”

Indifference in regard to the rights of peoples of color is unfortunately not the only nor even the greatest charge to be laid at the door of the Republican party.  It may be asserted that this party has become an active aggressor in trampling down the liberties of colored peoples.  As the assignee of Spain in taking over (without consulting those who were most concerned) the control of the territory of the Philippine Islands, it has purchased (and has paid cash for) the right to dominate from eight to ten millions of people.  These people may, under the existing conditions, be described as being in a state of slavery.  If a foreign people, say a people coming from the other side of the globe, should treat Americans as we have treated the Filipinos, should deny to us the right of self-government, should send great armies to chastise us for disobedience (or for what they might call “rebellion"), and should do this for no better reason than that our skin was darker or lighter than their own, we Americans would doubtless consider ourselves to be in a state of slavery.  Why in any sense is slavery in Luzon more defensible than slavery in South Carolina or in Alabama?  If it be wrong to keep in slavery the black man in America (as in theory at least we are all now agreed it is wrong), what is the justice in depriving of his freedom the brown-skinned Tagal?  Can a bill of sale from Spain give to us any such privilege, if privilege it may be called?  Can an agreement with Spain bring to naught our responsibilities under our own Declaration of Independence?