The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1902-10-24
The Same Old Mixture.

Capt. John G.. Capcrs, United
States district attorney for this State
and supposed to be the administra-
tion's referee in party affairs down
here, has given to the press his views
upon the elimination OF the negro
from the Republican party, q propoSi-
ton which has caused more discussion
among the Democrats than it has
gained support among the Republi-
cans. 1T is not at all surprising that
Capt. CapcrS views agree pretty well
With the expressions made Il few DAYS
ago by the president to a delegation
or darkcy divincs who called at the
temporary White House but did not
dine there. Capt. Capcrs is quoted as
saying:
The organization and operation OF
political parties upon purely racial
classification is, to my mind, wholly
inconsistent with the spirit Of our gov
crnment, requiring, as our government
does, well defined duties and RESPONSE
biliGics from all its citizens. IN jigf
exercise Of citizenship when, ,.e6fie nc-
kro asserts right and demonstrates
tllad> ,it rests upon intelligence and
character rather than upon race pre-
judicc,Or fancicd and uncarncd distinc-
tion, his rights should be respected as
an American citizen, regardless of his
color. In politics the negros trouble
In the south comes in a large measure
from the advice he receives from his
northern colorcd brother, who ruins
the effect Of a protest against a white
mans party In the south by practi-
no RI n1 n
There Is no good reason why the Re-
publican party In the south should
DE all white, and there is every reason
why 1t should not be al black.
The Columbia State, in comment
ing on the above says that some white
men want to hold federal Offices under
Republican administrations is doubtless
reason enough why the Republican
party IN the south Should not be all |
black" And Judging from recent
events these white men do not desire |
to make the party ''all white" so long
as the blacks consent to let them run
the machine. The only negroes they
would eliminate from the organiza-
tionarc those ambitious darkeys who
90 not submit to being supplantcd hy
recent converts and their new allies
among the Oldtlmcrs. l f it were not
plain before, 1T is now since Capt.
Capcrs' pronouncement following so
closely upon that OF President Roosc-
pelt, that the new regime in southern
Republican circles is not to differ
greatly from the old. The negro Is still
to be an asset, If not factor. His
rights" as an American citizen and
the injustice Of race discrimlnation'
arc to be dwclt upon as OF old. All OF
this has been the oratorical stock in
trade Of northern tirceatcrs, Republi-
can leaders and southern scalawags
for many u day. But the fact remains
as a cause for qualification that the
southern white mon of respectable
birth and respected parcntage who
have descended to consOrt with tho
negro have been few. Nor do We be-
live the number will increase, even
II there appears an occasional re-.
progression which Is most conspicuous
because Of the honor that has attach.
co to tho names borne by the new
champions and colleagues Of 'the
brother In black" That there is to
be no effort to reorganize the Republi-
can party in the southern States M.
on lines THAT would altogether alter
the character Of It's leadership, 1ilcni,
bcrship, aims and purposes Is, to be Ti;e-
gfetted. A start seemed to have been
made In Alabama and North Carolina
and thcre were hopes that y 1t might
lbe done In South Carolina, but it Is
ploinnow that this Is MOTTO be. To
lQlt0nnn1 nNnt, foN "a n