The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-25
THE LOWERING BLACK CLOUD.

the unwisdom Of Booker washington
his negro guest. There is but one opin-
ion In the great south, and thar Is re-
gret. disappointment and contempt. IL
is of no use to try to admire Roosevelt
or RI tr,1st him as a man of
sense and sound judgment. He is as
wild In his enthusiasm and beliet IN
the negro as Don Quixote was in his
crazy belief in the wild stories OF the
DAYS of Knight Errantry. 1t Is amaz-
ing. and is stupidity absolutely run
mad.
There are some MISUNDERSTANDING
many-that like the performance
Sheets like the New York Herald are no
doubt glad that Roosevelt trampled
upon the sore corns of the south and
in a spirit of defiance and contempt
chose to offend every reputable, true
white man in all southland. The Her
aid wants Roosevelt to defy the south
bv asking other negroes to his table.
That is socially his affair If he owes
their company n would show his OPP
position to all social laws and limita-
ton let him go it. But his bringing
them into the peoples house at Wash
ineton concerns the people. The Char
lesion News and Courier properly asks:
But why should he stop with Booker
Washington? Why not open the doors
of the dining room at the White house
10 other distinguished representatives
of the colored race? There are many
distinguished negroes in he united
States-lawyers, teachers, ministers
and politicians-why not let 1t be Known
that there is room n welcome Tor
them at the White house, and that the
country now has a successor OF Lincoln,
who has declared a new policy OF eman-
ci7ation, not from slavery of the per-
se.l. but from slavery of society, from
TIE environment of color with which
TIE Almighty marked the "habitatlon'
o. the negro? 1t would be a very graf
vim thing. to the colored people OF
the south particularly, if they should
be assured that the latch-strins at the
White house always hangs on the out
side for them"
Yes, bring them in, North Carolina
has few ''colored men n brethren
who would like p~rodigiously to shove
their feet under the presidential ma
hogany. Let him solicit the compa-
ny of Bumptious George White,
a negro leader at Raleigh, whose name
awe forget and some other black leaders
Under the black radical gang. No n
wishes to interfere with Roosevelts
4 instincts, social preferences and the
privileges of citizenship, but he would
protest against the attempt to break
down racial barriers, social laws y
--z.1sa1- a-I 70 cot nm a now coda of
Netiquette and privilege for the exam
PIE to be followed. The south will have
none of it. Boston is reported all right
as to the entertainment. That is K
Boston with it's standard of morality
and social life. But as The News and
Courier reminds NE New York Trib-
une. that is 1.-The same Boston, by the
way, which refused entertainment not
long ago to a distinguished negro bish-
Do. who happened to be in the town."
Boston likes it because it will affiict,
it may think, the south, but it Is not
certain that the upper ten," and the
codh airstocracy' will be ready TO
open doors and make a great spread"
for Mr.. Sambo and Lady. The south
will not initiate Roosevelt or copy the
standard of Boston. and in all its limits
you will not find reputable whites in
viting negroes to social entertainments
or to select family dinners, the guests
Gin full evening DRESS" a la Booker w.
In writing for yesterday We fully in
tended to suggest that Roosevelt widen
the political opportunities and prlvl-
leges OF the negroes by putting at least
two of them in his reconstructed eat
net. Why not? Booker. Washington
and novelistA chestnut and some Of the
more accomplished professors might be
drawn upon. Then Roosevelt could
have the grateful privilege of enter
tanning them "in state" as well as So
cially and frequently.
The most injured man in all this fool
ish business is the invited negro. He
has been greatly overloaded and
quoted, and some time ago we dropped
him as a sort Of newspaper annoyance.
He is at least one-third white and mas
ability and usefulness, but he has oeen
paraded far too much in the press OF
the country. The wonder is that he
has not grown so conceited and in
hated is to become insufferable. He IS
a man OF sense, of judgment and op-
servation and he has given no little
good advice to his race, and has tried
to set them an example of industry, in
tegrity and usefulness. He has Heach-
ed to them to imperative necessity OF in
dustry and education. The Washing
ton Post does not relish h suggestion
OF the g~ossippers. that he be put in the
cabinet He may not be the Weakest
man in it of one or W suggested Tor
the place should be chosen. But Inc
Post says that at the head OF his school
in Alabama. Professor Washington
Is a man to be needed among
men-the most useful and en-
1ightened educator in the country.
Here. in the capital, holding a cabinet