Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-05-10
MR.. MCKINLEY in THE SOUTH.

mn. mckINLEI In III SUI n.
The President has been cordially
received at all of the principal points
in the South through which he has
passed. There was some comment
because the demonstration did not
seem sufficiently vociferous at several
places,t those who thought loud and
lungy demonstrations donated best the
esteem in which the Chief Magistrate
Is held. But those cities know how to
receive gentlemen, how to extend hos
pitality, and We are not afraid to ven
ture the prediction that at no impor-
t ant point in the South has the
P resident been dissatisfied with the
cordiality of his reception, the manner
in which be was treated. or the effort
shown on the part of the people of
those cities to give him a dignifed
and hearty welcome. Mr.. Mckinley
Of all the recent presidents has had
the best chance to wipe out that feel
ing which has, ever since the war, per-
vaded the people of the South, a feeling
that there was prevalent in the North
a determination to place the negro
above the white man, and thus as well
as by any other method that might
suggest itself. humiIiate them. This
dread has banded the white men of the
South, save and except the spoilsmen,
into one solid phalanx. They have
looked with distrust and dread upon
Republican majorities In Congress.
The Lodge Bill and kindred legislation
cemented them more and more firmly,
not because they were opposed to all
tenets or aims of the Republican par
ty-for they were not. That party
cannot be all wrong, and none know
it better than the men of the South.
But there was no half way ground-to
yield in one thing might undermine
the whole structure, so they held to-
gether for Self protection, seeing the
federal offices filled usually with the
most unfit men, rather than unite with
the dominant party and give 1t a
chance to improve the public service.
just after the war these men were
very thieves turned loose to came
South. 1t looked as if the Republicans
delighted in the employment of such,
and we judged the Republican party
as the Chinese do the countries which
have invaded them, by the class of
men they sent. Underwood In our
State, Moses in South Carolina, to say
nothing of other men in other States.
made the Republican party odious in
the eyes of the South, and it has been
hard to eradicate that feeling. Those
VINO came South combined with the
~arst white element here, and as
Knowing men by the company they
keep, is an easy problem, distrust |
could not be avoided. These combi- |
nations resulted often in bloodshed |
and disorder, each time the tendency
being to widen the breach. This breach
has been gradually closing of course, but
MIR. McKinley's election being followed
by the Spanish war opportunities
were presented to close it never before
accorded any president. There is no
p ortion of the United States we're love
Of country is so grated on the people
as In the South. This cannot be taught
In schools, no matter how many flags
wave over them. 1t comes from an
other source, it is inherited, Had Mr..
not made the mistake of
appointing negro postmasters in the
south he would have been now in a
higher notch of esteem with the peo-
pie OF the South than he is. Yet be
1as done much to palate that offense,
De has twice gone into their country.
le has noticed that they form part of
he union. He has frowned on sec. L
ional legislation, and the result is seen
y The regard in which be is held, per- @
onally. There is no sacrifice that the i
'oung men of the South would not
lake If duty called. and the words y
anne through Mr.. McKinley's lips. v
ne day has come when they are led to v
elleVe they might under certain con.
lt1ons have friend in the White +
louise, though he be of different poll a
les, when they can see that every
lan's hand is not against them, hence ~
heir hand is not against every man. s
lr. McKinley's visit to the South has
OF hurt him, he is regarded person.
lily as man of the kindest instincts.
one who never wishes to have an g,
lemy when he can have a friend.
Tho recognizes that intelligence is the b
owerithat must rule in all countries. W
nd that he will not undertake to aid IT.
ny other force in opposition to it. W
70 admire this in him, and believing .
we dothat he has passed through a.
'ars OF the most trying period in our
lstory since Lincoln took his seat. m
are delighted to see that he has o
'ne so well. We would not see him oo
Sc friend in all the South, we hone
may make many.
Since the beginning of the Boer war vi