Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-07
THURSDAY EVENING. NOV. 7. 1901

Il
ing than when 1t declared there "ss
more hope of fool than oil man
wise 10 his own conceit." The fool
often takes counsel Of the wisdom, adj
vice and leadership of otherf; the man
wise in his own coDceit knows 1t ell,
always did know 1t all, and has nothing
TO learn from anybody. Still he may
b, polite at times. President Roosevelt
ia not a fool but belongs to the far
worse and more dangerous class OF those
who are wise 10 their own conceit. IL
Is this that has led him to defy the de-
cencies OF life In inviting negro to dine
with himself aud bis wife. OF course,
il is known that he has been conspic-
nous heretofore 10 asserting and acting
on the doctrine OF negro social equality.
He Dragged publicly that bis son had
sat at school alongside Of negro boy,
and he went out of his way to have
negro stay In bis house as q guest while
Governor of New York. But however
loa,besome bis views on the subject of
negro social admiration and however
defiant of the public opinion OF all de-
cent people, as President it was his
duty to relegate bis hobbies to the back
ground and to try, as far as he could,
to behave like gentleman and white
man. Instead of this he invites negro
to meet his own wife and thus to re-
ceive the highest social honor negro
can receive. He has set the mark oil
negro social equality as small ss he
knew how. He is the leader OF the re-
publican party today, and they dare
not Tepudiate him either 10 the North
or the South. Certainly the Southern
republicans will not repudiate him.
They want Office, and negro social
equality ia a small matter in COM
parison with easy access to the
Presidential kitchen, there is nothing
straioed about this. All along they
have been trying to govern the South
by means Of solid negro vote-solidi'
fed against order, property liberty
and the security of the white mans
home and family. The issue Of negro
social equality and Its natural logic OF
intermsrriage miscegenation and a mu-
latto civilization is, therefore. the main
issue before the people today forced by
Roosevelt in his unparalleled coDcsit and
folly aud adopted by the republican
leaders and newspapers. The South
eau meet it only one way. There
is nothing inconsistent with this view CT
Roosevelt's conduct in the suggestion OF
some shrewd observers that in this din
ner invitation to negro be had an eye
to business. As rule every Vice
President who succeeds to the Presi'
Dental Office wants to be reelected.
They have all wanted 1t. Every move
is directed to that end. But II Roose-
welt is to have any chance OF being re-
elected he must fret be Tenominated.
He must get the delegates. He thinks
IL he can pocket the Southern delegates,
black and white, he will have good
start towards securing his nomination.
His dinner invitation considered 10 this
light was to a shallow mind very
shrewd move. He could adopt no
more cunning plan to enthuse and Sc
cure the mulsttoes and other negroes
Of the South who help to control the
choice OF the Southern delegates to
the next national republican convention
than by this dinner Dsstiness. The darling
a piration, not Of the faithful, hard working
ignorant plantation negroes, but OF the negro
politicians is social equality with the whites
This act of Roosevelt goes straighs to their
hearts and is the very next thing to an office.
So Mr.. Roosevelt made q very cunning bid
when he fixed up his dinner. He has been,
and started in lie as loud professional re-
former. Butter would not melt in his mouth
But the professional reformer often has a
keen eye to the main chance. In order to
becoms Governor Of New York he did not
hesitate to come to terms with Tom Plat, the
great spokesman and machine leader Of the
republicans, and he took good care never to
Offend or quarrel with him while he was
Governor. The professional reformor, as
rule, is a man to be watched whether he
makes a deal with Tom Plat or ostentstiously
invites 8 negro to 8 dinner at the White
House He is sure to have an axe to grind.
-
THE DEATH Of LII Hung Chang, the
famous Cniusmau, will be read with
regret by every Admirer of genius and
Industry. Hs emerged from tie hum
bic walks of life and evolved into one
of the greatest statesmen OF the age.
All who ever met the famous celestial
attested the correctness of General