Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-10-23
Roosevelt. and the Negro.

Roosevelt and the Negro.
President Roosevelt entertained
Booker T. Washington at dinner at the
White House last week, and as was
naturally to be expected, the circum-
stance has given origin to a more or
less excited wave Of indignation
throughout the south.
Just what the presidents object was
has not been made clear. He has not
felt called upon to make any explana-
ton. Inasmuch as Washington Is the
leading representative Of his race In
America, it is fair to assume that Mr.
Roosevelt took this method Of showing
that he is president of the Negro as
we'll as the white man and to exactly
the same extent. As-'
There has been a great deal Of COM
ment on the incident, especially In the
south, and this section is showing nc
little Indignation. 1t is held by many
people that the act of the president was
a tacit recognition Of the social equal
ity Of the Negro, condition so ardent
ly desired by large per centage Of the
race; but which the white people Of the
south will never concede.
Unless there is some satisfactory ex-
planation of this circumstance, which
explanation we cannot now conceive
it will do a great deal Of harm not only
to the president; but to Washington
and the colored race. Even the presi-
dent is not big enough to override the
deeply set convictions Of the white peo-
pie Of the south, or north for that mat
ter, on this subject, and the power OF
Washington Is far less. Indeed, in our
opinion, the Negro has showed himself
unequal to the greatest opportunity OF
his life. All along he has been giving
his race sensible advice on this very
subject. He had advised his people to
build up a social system Of their own
absolutely Independent Of and sepa-
rate from that of the white man. Had
he declined the presidents invitation
and given this as a reason, he would
have accomplished at a single stroke
that which would have otherwise re-
quired generations.
In his speech in Yorkville some weeks
ago, Tom Miller drew a very intelli-
gent and satisfactory distinction be-
tween the Negro and "nigger." He de.
scribed the Negro as a man who recog-
nized himself as a distinct creation OF
God, and who was content to continue
in the walks for which God intended
him, while the niger Is always seek
ing to force himself on the whites. By
his previous conduct and utterances
Washington had succeeded in. convinc-
ing the most liberal and intelligent peo-
pie Of the south that he was Negro;
but the temptation just held out
through the mistaken generosity OF
President Roosevelt, has developed that
after all what was thought to be the
genuine article, is only "nigger."
Although unable to approve Of the
presidents act from any standpoint
we are not yet willing to condemn him
without qualification. All Of his utter
ances and actions so far, have indica-
ted liberality, independence and
breadth. This Washington incident has
occasioned no more Indignation in the
south than previous conciliatory over
lures toward southerners has occasion
ed in the north. OF course, we Of the
south are not going to put up with any
material development along the line OF
this dining incident. We are not going
to let it come on US insidiously or 9TH
erwise. But we can afford not to get
excited over the matter. Let us calm
ly wait developments, and not move
until we understand what it all means
This will be much better than to fly OIL
the handle at mere suggestion.