The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-09
NO COLOR LINE

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The President has the fol-
lowing communication prominent citizen Of Charleston Sc
white House. Washington Nov. TO- I9o2.-NIy Dear Sir: l
receipt of your letter of November 10th and of
Mr. under date of November IIth in reference the APP
pontmen of Dr. Crum collector of the port OF Charleston
In your letter you make certain specific charges against Dr.
Crm tending show his unfness in respects
flee sought These charges entitled the condera
ton from and shall them carefully before taking any
action After making these charges you add further
for opposition to him. that he coored man. and after recng
the msdeeds that followed carpebag and negro domnaon
in South Carolina you say that We have again
submit rule of the African, and appointment
OF Dr. Crum any such office forces unanimously
against this insult the white blood and you add that you
derstood say that would force negro such
community yours. Mr.. puts the objection of color
% saying that Crum coored man and that in itself ought to
bar him frob the office.
In view of last think ought make it
clear you why concerned and panied by making
them and what my attitude is regards all such appointments
How any could have gained the idea that had said would
not appoint reputable and upright coored men to oce when
objection made to them solely their color confess
unable understand AT the time of my visit Charleston
spring had made and since that time have made number OF
such appointments from several in which there is
siderable coored population For example, made APP
pontent Mississippi and another Alabama shortly before
my visit Charleston had that time appointed coored
Judicial magistrates the District of Columbia have
recently announced another such appointment for Orleans
and have made from Pennsylvania The great majority
appointments have been OF white North
and South alike has been my seduous endeavor appoint
black. But and should be my consistent policy every
where their numbers recognize cOored of good
repute and standing making appointments to office These
potments OF cooed men have in no state made more than
small proportion of the total number of appointments.
able how gitmatey be asked make exception
for South Carolina. In Carolina
positions the State have appointed
tnue office fourth all Of them white men, three OF them orig
may gold Democrats two OF them as am informed the sons
OF Confederate soldiers have been informed by the citizens
Charleston whom have met that these four represent
high grade OF public service.
egimately shall always endeavor pay regard the
wishes and feelings of the people of locality
consent to take the position that the door hope the door
portunity to be shut upon any good how
thy purely the grounds OF color Such
would according to my convictions be fundamentally
IT, you hold great bulk the coored people
in point OF character and influence hold such positions
to me that 1t worth while putting premium upon the effort
them achieve the character and standing which will fit
them.
The question negro domination does not enter into the mat
ter at all 1t might well be asserted that when Governor
OF New York sought bring about negro domination in that
State because appointed coored of good
standing responsible POSITIONS of them position
ing salary twice large that paid the office under consd
eraon OF them director OF the Buffalo exposition The
question raised by you and Mr. in the statements which
refer simply whether is be declared that under
matter how good citizen deal
ngs with all his fellows be permitted to hold office under
Government certainly such attitude
you must permit to that my view attitude
should whether he looks from standpoint
OF the true interest of the white Of the South
ored man OF the Soutnot speak of other section of the
Union 1t to that good thing from
point to let the colored man know that if he marked
degree the qualities OF good ctizenspthe qualities which
white feel entitled to reward will be cut
off from all hope of similar reward.
without any regard what decision on the
merits OF this particular applicant for this particular place feel
that ought to let you know clearly attitude the far broad
er question raised by you and Mr. attitude which
have not varied during my of Office. Faithfully yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
. Hon -, Charleston. 6