The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-08

Ocrat, one Oh tne lntelliseht
l. and conservative journals of
the South. comments re-
gretfully on President Roosevclts re-
cent letter defining the attitude OF
his administration with reference TO
the appointment OF creditublc negroes
to federal office. 1t credits the presi-
dent with honesty Of purpose, but dis
Qualifying lack of direct knowledge of
the race promlem as IL exists in the
South. After presenting the usual ar
guments why social equality between
whites and blacks is inherently impos-
siDle, it proceeds
NOW it may be said that civil rec
ognition of the negro. as Illustrated i'll
appointments TO important federal Of
fees. has little. il anything, TO do with
social recognition. TO this plea there
are many answers, ana one certainly
that Is conclusive; namely. that any
one who entertains such views little
understands the temper and disposition
of either race. The effect of such APP
pOin.menlS need not be concealed.
They are always followed by resent
mant on the part of the whites ana by
singular manifestation of turbulence
on the part OF the blacks, not always,
in the latter case. by the black APP
pointcc. but by the black race. \ post
office is not a private library: a custom
house is not Il iNdy's drawins-room.
Each is Il place of public business.
the moment these Offices are occupied
by negroes they become Il sort of CEN
ter OF magnetic attraction for negroes
in the community. The blacks instant
ly begin 10 imagine that the custom
house on postoilicc. in large measure,
belongs to them. The sense Of pro-
plietorship, carried to delirir,n, ami
mates the negroes. II is reflected in
their manner in public places. in the
streets. and wherever persons congre-
gate. 1t tends to make them even
more truculent than they naturally are.
It disturbs the peace of the comnluni-
tty, leads to the violation Of law and
costs the whites, in the end, not a little
money--not To speak of the humiliation
they suffer. ii retards the progress Of
both races. 1t defeats honest purposes
1t spoils well-laid plans. 1t makes the
more difficult and postpones the solu-
lion of the race problem. Economical
L. it is unwise. IIthically it cannot be
justified"
The conclusion which the New Or
leans paper reaches is that the South
is the white mans country, that the
negro must for ages If not perpetually
remain an inferior and an object of
sufferancc, gaining independence only
as he wins it economically and then
having it only To such degree us the
superior race shall graciously allow,
and that Office holding must be one OF
the privileges reserved exclusively for
the whites. II pronounces this ar
rangenlent the order OF nature, which
man may Try to change but will try in
vain. Notwithstanding constitutional
guarantees to the contrary, this is the
arrangement the recognition of which
It urges upon the national government,
and any other course. however honest
~ and benevoently Intended. will, We
are assured, wind up in disaster.
All OF which may be fundamentally
true. But If this nation is TO accept it
AS true, it should bravely face the con-
sequences. One consequence arising
inevitably from the southern premise is
the necessity OF putin" our coustitu-
ton into conformity with il. 1t is not
good for i nation amy more than for
an individual 10 live Il lie. Another
rr,n :. nl1 = ha si nf I ha
adjustment OF southern representation
10 fiji the basis of actua! suffrage in
thut section. II is preposterous to sup
pose that the whites OF one part of the
country will forever remain willing
that the whites of another part shall
exercise per capita voting strength
several times their own.