The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-25
RooSEyELT's TRAPEZE PERFORM.
ANCE.

.gave ready acceptance to his broad.
patriotic utterances and promises, and
essayed to this course that
was indicated, it ~prophesied that he
would have trouble with his W party
It knew of his ardent, impulsive, self
reliant nature, and his very high opin-
ion OF his own abilities and judgment,
yet it was disposed to be hopeful and
out OF "the nettIe danger would come
safsty." The president is an intellec-
tuaI man OF much force and ability. He
has brains. But he is deficient in some
very needed essentials. What are
they? To US be appears to be lacking
IN calm Judgment. in royal common
sense, in well poised mind, in true fore
sight. His motives may be good, his
impulses commanding, his declarations
Of ringing patriotism but there is a
lack OF sanity, of wisdom. of general
observation-disclosures.
Much earlier than the Messenger an
ticipated he has made a blunder of far
reaching consequences and of most
shocking influence over the nation
Du1luGLS III ~ SOdAAl LIS NANNA NoAA
ment of Booker Washington, a negro,
at the White house, the said Booker
appearing in full evening dress. and
with the presidents family, and no one
else, is both a surprise and a shock to
the south. His condemnation all over
the south is vigorous and r%esolute. He
can not live long enough to undo
he has DONE, for it's influence aid result
tant disgust are general n immense.
IT IS understood and reported that
Roosevelt says he will soon have other
negroes at his table, and he means this
by the bravado act, no doubt, to exhibit
the contempt and real or the
presidential Rough Rider"
Booker is the first darkey to be enter
tanned at the table of a president in the
nations home for the chief executive.
The Richmond Times notes the differ
ence between his act and that of a pri-
yate citizen. 1t says that if a private
citizen choose to entertain a negro at
his private residence, that is his W
affair. It is merely a question of taste
and the public has nothing to do with
it. But when the president of the
Uni,ed States invites a negro to dine
with him in the executive mansion it
is quite a different matter n the peo-
pie have everything to do with it.Pres-
ident Roosevelt has said by this act.
that he is in favor of social equality
between the races, and has further said,
so far as an act may be expressive or
1 ones sentiment, that he believes that
<She negro should be treated as a social
euual in all parts of the country"
He will discover that ven a govern
hental bully can go too far for public
Endorsement or partisan shielding. 1t
can not be, we must believe, that the
north will approve of his act and con-
done it's import. Social equality is not
in favor in the north, unless it be IN
theory only among a few matt and
educated asses. The law of nature, OF
human instincts, is such that even
Roosevelt will find himself pOwerless to
override and destroy. He may fill ms
bed rooms with Sambo and Lady and
their cousins and aunts," blu he Will
find no sympathy among the people in
the south and a loud protest from the
most s~elf-respecting people in the north.
Said a gallant "old confederate" to
US, 81 will die before 1 will have social
equality" He spoke as a three mil
lions or more of southern white men
will speak. There will be no social en-
tertainments and race break-downs in
the south. The Anglo-Saxon will never
agree to amalgamation, to intermar-
rying and to social equality with the
negro race. The white man who at
tempts to bring it about is foolish and
false to his blood, and will find himself
branded and Stunned as a traitor to the
great race of which he is a very insig-
nificant part.
The Richmond Times writes particu-
larly judicious and timely on this start
ling performance of the president. We
give another wholesome extract:
There is something abhorrent to the
white man or the white with
a few degenerate exceptions, in the
bare thought of marrying a colored
person, especially a negro. Anglo-Sax-
on blood is not enriched, but degraded,
by the infusion of negro blood. Spacious
arguments and misguided emotions
may confuse the public mind. but the
absolute facts are unalterable. A ne
gro is q negro, though he be nine-tenths
white.
We do not say this in any spirit OF
~unkindness. We have but recently SAID
that we are perfectly willing to give
him all his rights under the law, TO give
him all the benefits of government, ana
we are willing, for our part, to aid MN
in improving his condition. We are
perfectly willing that the black man
shall build up a society for himself, ana
we have advised the negroes OF TINS
community to make a social circle OF
their own, to cultivate themselves and
to live decently and to draw the line
against the vicious and immoral eIe-
ment in their own race. We do not
think that this is impossible or imprac-
ticable."
That interprets the views and feelings
- A. zr1e~a-0ar ThnnOh the stars