The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-10-18
ROOSEVELT AND THE SOUTH.

ROOSEVELT AND THE SOUTH.
The southern policy which it is said
President Roosevelt has decided to fol-
low in the matter of appointments, has
attracted great deal of attention
north as we'll as south. OF course the
first idea the professional politician
has of the subject is that the presi-
dent has decided to build up machine
for himself in the south, which will
give to him the delegates from that
section in the convention in 1904, and
so make his nomination certain. But
President Roosevelt is man who
would have little care for the nomina-
tion in 1904, unless he felt that there
was reasonable chance for success at
the polls to follow. And no man real
ICES better than he, that nomination
obtained through the packing of
southern delegates alone would be a
source of weakness rather, than
of strength. But we prefer to be-
lieve, as the people through the north
generally seem to believe that the
president has different idea entirely
in the matter, and that his aim is not
a personal one, bus rather for the best
interests of not only the south, but
the whole country. That he believes
the official patronage of the south
should be used for something more
than mere political purposes. and that
the present is an opportune time for
a change.
In view of what has peen said as to
what he intends to do, and of what
little he has already done in the short
time which has been at his disposal, it
is interesting to note how his proposed
southern policy is looked upon from
the stand point of the south, and for
that purpose we append the following
from the Vicksburg, Miss, Ameri-
can, which gives his idea a hearty
support, and believes he will succeed,
if he but has the courage to carry it
through to the end, amid all the dis
appointments which must come to him
from time to time After briefly trac-
ing his rapid rise from his entrance
upon public life in New York until
his elevation to the presidency, the
American says:
In whatever light we view these
facts, all must admit that no man
ever had such an opportunity as our
president. He is young, talented, has
such a record and has so spoken and
acted that the whole country is ready
to support his administration and lend
him helping hand for the future.
He has today the confidence of the
south fully as much as had his kind
hearted, illustrious predecessor. He
says he is tired of a corrupt Republi-
can party in she south, and his acts
are beginning to convince the southern
people he is very much in earnest, Ii
he wants two strong respectable par
ties in every southern state, he can
have them, but he must not think his
work to secure such desirable state
of affairs will be easy. He will have
very great difficulties to overcome in
ais own party, and the Democratic
machine and Democratic leaders will
of course defend their party with great
vigor when they realize that the oppo-
sition will be made dangerous by a
policy aimed to benefit both state and
nation. All thinking patriotic south
srners already believe that every
southern state would be the better for
two strong, reputable parties, but
there is an insuperable objection in
every southern state to anything IN
the least resembling the old so-called
southern Republican party. If President
Roosevelt will try to build up party
that the best white citizens may join
and not be ashamed of their company,
he may make astonishing inroads in a
number of states south of the Ohio
even before his present term expires,
and it is not at all improbable that he
might carry some Of them for sec
ond term.
But to do this he must cut loose
from the bosses in the Republican
party who buy either with money or
offices the old leaders of the Republic
can party in the south. And he will
have to make it plain that his party
| will never oppose any safeguards III
the, southern states to insure white
supremacy IF he wants a strong
party in the south he must rely on the
whites when they divide it will be
| safe for all concerned, white and
blacks. All commercial, manufactur-
ing and agricultural interests demand
white supremacy and if Mr.. Roosevelt
has the courage to make that principle
| the foundation of his new southern
party, there will indeed be a rattling
/ in the dry bones of old party hacks in
| the south.
True, the presidents courage will be
tried in this new policy, as it has
never been before, but he has an un-
limited supply of that article, and II
his patience is sufficient to go along
with iU, he will at least be rewarded
with building. the foundation for bet
ter things in the south.