The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-11-20
THE SOUTHERN SPIRIT.


baskiSy in the full sunlight of modern pro-
gress.c Then comes to blast our hopes
and expectations something like the fol-
lowing editorial in the Memphis Scimitar,
of Oct so. the leading paper ill that sec
ton of the Mississippi Valley:
WHEN TEDDY COMES TO TOWN.
1T would really he very amusing if it
were not so serious. ''
We are talking about this Roosevelt
business.
When it was learned that Gen Luke
Il. Wright would shortly return from the
Philippine Islands. of which he has been
Vice Guyernor-and really in charge of
affairs for Il long time-every man in
Memphis with Il dash of public spirit in
his composition began to feel around in
his pockets for loose change wherewith
to buy red fire to celebrate his homecom-
ing.
Tennessee was once known as a mother
of Presidents. but it has been long time
since the State has held the position in
the councils of the Nation to which it is
properly entitled, and. therefore. when. not
only TenHesseal. but Il Memphian. WAS
chosen for the most important position
except one, that accorded Judge Taft
which has fallen to the lot of any citizen
Of the United States since the civil war,
naturally all of us felt complimented, and
the splendid record made by the recipient
of this honor has strengthened all of us in
our good opinion of ourselves as repre-
scented in the concrete by Gen. Luke +.
Wright.
And so we, all of us. fixed ourselves
to give him 4 welcome home that would
make him forget his harships and believe
SiufQra1v flnf in IiS WI fr, vol ha
had never seen any other place like Men,
phis.
But some marplots. and we are glad
we do not know their names. conceived
an idea, in an evil hour. They took it into
their head to invite Mr.. Theodore Roose
velt-Teddy for short-tO be present at
the same time.
'All of Memphis is very anxious to do
honor to Gen. Wright, the foremost citi-
zen of Memphis and the South. and except
for these arch blunderers the city and
all the surrounding country would be a
blaze of glory on the occasion of his ar
rival. Perhaps it may be a great affair
as it is, but the celebration will lack that
spontaneity. enthusiasm = having eX-
hausted English, let us use French and
say-eclat, by which it would otherwise
have been marked.
''And why?
because thls is not hoose'eit re-
glon and tins is not a Rooseseit town.
President Mckinley, one OF the grandest
men this country ever produced, appoint
ed Gen. Wright a member of the Philip
pine Commission. If Mr.. Roosevelt had
been in his place he would probably have
passed over the head of this distinguished
Tennessean. and appointed in his stead his
chuIa, Booker Washington. 1t is al even
bet fhat-f Roosevelt had chosen the Phil
lpplne Commission he would have put
negro on IL lie makes Doast OF the
fact that he entertained negroes III a So
cial way at the Executive Mansion in Al
bany, anu at ms sumptaous summer cot
tage ON the Atlantic coast, and one of his
hrst acts after he became by accident the
PRESIDENT OF the United States, was to seat
one OF them in his own private dining-room
at the White House. And there IS no
record of the fact that the room has been
disinfected or even, the chair, knife, fork,
The idea OF man who is so narrow
that he cannot understand the. race prob
lem being Presidentlef the United States!d3
WI hat, are we coming to-! q. ~.
Not to Roosevelt and his ideas. IL.
"Oh, no. ...zs. s.... nrs
And that Is why thousands of people
who would clamor for seats at hundred
dollars plate at banquet in honor of
Gen. Wright could not be hauled up to
the table with hawser at dinner where
Mr.. Roosevelt was an invited guest.
And why, again. some one will inquire?
Because social equality with MIR. |
Roosevelt means recognition of his wide
ly announced doctrine of social equality |
with the negro, and to this the people |
of the South will never agree and no
of the Anglo-Saxon race, who
krows real conditions by personal exper-