Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-16
Says President Didn't
Dodge Georgia Relatives
Columbia Is. CD State.

To the Editor Of The State:
- WISH to make a few remarks upon
an article published in your paper
on Monday, the 22d inst, copied from
The Atlanta Journal and written by
DR.. M. B. Wharton. ID.
I am totally unacQuainted with DIR.
Wharton, but that one signing himself
a doctor of divinity, whose mission it
should be to infuse a harmonious spirit
of peace and good will into the nations
life becomes the author Of such an attack
upon the president is surprising indeed.
The article appears to me mclerical and
undignihed; in fact. that last would-be
witty allusion to ''lamp-black'' is posi-
lively childishly spitefu.:
The presidents mothers people" do
not need to be championed by Mr. Whar-
ton, neither have they the slightest desiEe
to prosecute him with the claims of kim
ship. On the contrary, so far from seek
ing the eclat attendant upon the rela-
tionship one branch of the family at least
has been annoyed by the intrusiveness of
an enterprising public. It's members are
quite contented in the possession of
Revolutionary ancestry, whose honest,
God-fearing men and women were distin-
guisbed for faithful service to their coun-
try, many of the descendants of whom,
later down the march of years, became
members of the immortal band of heroes
who fought and died for our Lost
Cause"
During his entire life as private citizen
President Roosevelt never visited his
southern relations. Why should it now
be insisted upon by this same over-zealous
public, when he bears the burdens and
responsibilities of a great nation? If !
remember correctly, it was not his moth
er's people" but a delegation Of citizens
who cordially invited him to visit, her
Georgia house. The president strikes me
as being a very practical man, and can
not imagine his turning out of his pre-
scribed course to sentimentalize over his
mothers ancestral dwelling, especially as
it has passed out of the family and there
would not have been one of those near
relatives TO welcome him. 1t is also bare
ly possible that to one of true refinement
IL is not desirable to have the searchight
of public curiosity unnecessarily turned
upon his most sacred emotions. To me
even the president of the United States
is responsible to the nation only in his
public capacity and not when he enters
the SANCTUARY of his family relations.
The touching allusion to President Gar
fields cold humble mother falls short Of
its implied significance, since it is well
known that Mrs. Roosevelt was a beauti-
full, high-born southern woman, who
graced any society, one who reigned a
queen in the northern home of her adop-
ton and especially in the hearts of her
devoted husband and children.
Touching that telling comparison with
Mr.. Mckinley, "'who seemed to be no.
where so much at home as on the red old
hills of Georgia, the writer forgets
that within less than year of his access
sion TO the presidency, Mr.. Roosevelt has
made two friendly trips to the southern
states an unprecedented record in the
history of the union, certainly since the
civil war; And on both occasions, so far
from being ashamed or SHY of his
mothers people," he publicly spoke of
his mothers state of Georgia" his pride
in the south and his southern ancestors.
1t would take more, much more, than
the vile political insinuations of the day,
the publication of which is a stigma upon
the American press, to make me believe
Mr.. Roosevelt other than high-souled,
fearless man, whose glowing enthusiasm
and generous, warm-hearted impulsive
ness are characteristics too familiar to
me, as descending to him from our COM