The Washington bee., 1901-10-26
From the Philadelphia Item

From the Philadelphia Item.
The South is disposed to set itself
up with great dignity and TO rebuka
President Roosevelt for inviting Boek.
er /. Washington, the celebrated col
or9d educator, to dine at the White
House. In this attitude the South Is
un-Amerlcan as we'll as foolish. Mr.
Roosevelt is President of the entire
country, and republican simDlicitv
places every man on an equality. He
is President not only of the white
section OF America, but of the colored
as well. 1t may not look lust the
right thing TO SOut ern prejudice. hut
IL should be remembered that the
President was raised in the North
where the color line is not drawn. and
where the incident has attracted no
attention. The south should break
away from its foolishness, instead of
hugging it to its hoSsom.
From the New York Times Qnd Dem)
The Southern papers are not well
advised In their severe criticism Of the
President for inviting DR.. Booker
Washington to dinner at the White
House. There sat down together on
that occasion two gentlemen one white
and the other colored. who are two Of
the truest Americans born on our sell.
and two OF the best and most intelli-
gent and influential friends of the
South now living.
The morning Republican of Chester,
Pa, in speaking Of the dinnerto Book
er I. Washington says
Just why there should be so much
newspaper talk over the fact that
President Roosevelt gave a dinner to
brainy Washington citizen and sat
at the same table with his guest. is
matter that many broad-mInded men
and women of his country cannot un>
derstand. True the Presidents guest
upon this particular occasion happened
to be a colored man, but as this is a
condition over which the host nor his
guest had any CoutTol neither is to
blame SO far as we can see. Then,
when it is taken into consideration
that the President of the United States
does not give up his ordinary rights
which are as an American citizen
when he assumed the responsible posi-
ton OF Chief Executive, 1t would seeM
that the people and the newspapers
who have been CriticiZing Mr. RoOss-
veltfor dining Booker I, Washington
might very proitably 60 into the Busi-
ness of minding their own affairs.
The southern newspapers are hoTri-
tled at the thought of a President Of
the United States being broad enough
TO recognize a man who has the respect
and esteem of all his fellow country
men, irrespective of color creed ar
condition in life. But whimpers the
southern press, the man whom tke
President dined has negro blood il
his veins And there is where tko
trouble comes in. Ii does not matter
that the negro has done more to ele.
vate nine millions OF citizens than aHy
other man In the land; that he com
mands the conhdnce and respect of
the best men of the nation, that he is
the intellectual superior Of the men
who denounce him. But Washington
has negro blood in his veins and t0
have him eat a meal IN the White
House has scancallzed the South to
degree from which il declares it will
never recover.
President Roosevelt will hardly
apologize to the southern press fer
weat he did. In fact there Is little
room to doubt thathe will do the sane
thing again If he feels so inclined an d
will not ask of those newspapers their
permission either. Booker I. Wash
lngton is thoroughly respected by the
white people of the South as well as
those of the North, SO why should aAy
body, regardless of geographical lines
be stirred up over the mere dining Of
this man at the White House? Presi-
dent Roosevelt saw no impro 5riety in
it and the same view will be taken bv
all sensible people of the entire