The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-29
UNPRoF1TABLE FRIENDS.

If ever a public man had cause to pray for deliverance from his friends Presi- dent Roosevelt Is that man. That some of the criticism and denunciation which has gone up all over the South in con- nection with his recent blunder is un- warrantabIy severe may be true enough, but it is natural and was to be expected. But, whether Southern newspapers dis cuss the subject in sorrow CT anger, their criticisms will not do the President half the harm that will result from the argu- ments made in his defence by some of his Northern friends. For example, The New Bedford (Mass.) Standard says:
 Presumably MT. Roosevelt invited the colored man to his own private family dinner because he was pleased to have MT. Washington's society; and that is reason enough. There is no necessity for him to hide between any "official' excuse; we have no idea that he wants to hide.
 If. The Standard had claimed that Washington was invited because the President wanted to confer with him, it would not be matter of so much significance, but that paper leaves the
 
 society of a colored man. and for this reason invited him to meet his family at the dinner table. We should regret very much to be compelled to look at the matter from this point of view. and doubt if the President himself will relish that style of defence. Then, on some what different line is this from The Brooklyn Eagle: Of course any strictures on a private gentleman's personal and private hospi- tality are insolent and uncilivilzed. Those who indulge them are impudent. and do not know it, are unciviliZed and are un- aware of it, are really barbarous, and are not conscious of it. are not gentle men, but think they are.
 And somewhat similarly The Boston Herald speaks of Southern criticism in this positive and contemptuous strain; All rot Utter nonsense. Foolish drivel. This Is free country Presi- dent Roosevelt has right to choose his own guests. If he wants to invite d negro or a Malay or d Hindu or Hot tentot to dine with him, he has perfect right to do so, and it is nobody's busi-
 ness but his own.
 | The Eagle, in its anxiety to say some- thing severe seems to overlook the fact
 that the President Is not "a private gen
 tleman," and that he cannot make him
 self one as long as he holds his present
 office. Then The Herald assumes that
 the Southern people are not expected to | feel any pride In the President of the
 United States or any respect for his high | office. Down here a white man who | would admit negros to his table with his family would inevitably degrade himself,
 and our people cannot be censured If they feel the same way towards those who
 thus conduct themselves elsewhere, but here we are told with q fine assumption
 of lordliness. that it is impertinent and villianous and various other things for
 us to raise our voices in protest. if the 1 man holding the highest office in the Gov ernment should do something which is directly contrary to the feelings and in eradicable traditions of our people. The Advertiser has regretted much of the incorporate denunciation which has been indulged in, and has counselled more moderation and eharitableness in discuss