The colored American., 1902-05-17
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
Strenethens His Hold Upon the
Neero's Confidence by Recent
Appointments-Not Deceived by
Southern AppIa Use-

The political situation while still
r,7- shows traces of a soothing ray OF
..,r.bipe since our chat of a few days
.r weeks ago. The reappointment of
I'll + w. DeveauX as collector OF
-.,.for1s at Savannah, Ga, over the pro-
,s-t If the Cotton Exchange and Sena-
,.~s CLAW and Bacon, has had a. salutary
feet upon the Negroes OF the country,
.r1 rsneciallv at the South. Many
...r. fearful that the Southern applause
slowed upon Mr.. Roosevelt during
r. recent dash into Dixie, might soften
HI. heart and cause him to hearken unto
,r, objection of the Georgia people TO
..rored collectOr-and perhaps he might
I-- I'D on the whole business OF placing
Erqroes in the Federal offices they have
r,nally occupied. This apprehension
has been removed by the President
rrompt reappOintment of Col. DeveauX
and his sturdy refusal to be influenced
Inv anv fOrce-hOwever aggressive
aoainst what he cOnceiVes to be Tlght-
The talk about a diCker with Col DeVe-
aux 10 deliver the Georgia delegation TO
Roosevelt at the next National COnVen-
tion Is all stuff" and had its origin IN
the disordered imagination OF the cal
low youth who represents the ASSOC
afed Press at Savannah. Col. DeyeauX'
Col Pledger, Register Lyons, MesSrS-
Ruckcr. Morton, Johnson, Malone;
Jackson and all the leading coIored
Georgians will come forward at the
proper time as honest, patriotic citizens,
and present the claims of the best man
for the presidency, regardless OF the DIS
tribution of patronage. They Will DC
forgiven, we presume, II they Should
ca,t favOring glances toward the Statu-
esque form of Theodore Roosevelt: me
Srnate's prompt confirmation OF Col.
Deycarx IS = fine testimonial of the pop
ular esteem in winch his adlrlraDle OH
cial record Is held.
The one serious regret THE COLORED
AMERICAN feels in connection with the
whole fight is the peculiar unwarranted
and inconsistent opposition OF MAJOR X
K. Wright In these trying times It be-
hOOyes the Negro TO stand up Tor the
race. and its honorable leaders. Such
Col Deveeaux certainly is, and the
President cannot be too highly com
mended for sustaining him.
The President has further strength
ened his hold upon the confidence OF the
Negro race by naming Prof. +, A
Johnson. the well-known writer OF
school books and other race literature
IS district attorney in North Carolina
and by reappointing Mr.. J. f. Bush as
receiver of public moneys at Little Kock
Ark. These, with other excellent Negro
timber securely held in responsible ON
ces South, are conclusive evidence tina
hvpocritical smiles are unavalllng t'
sweep the President from the safe moor
ings chosen by him at the outset.
1t is noted that the proposed suttrag
amendment to the Virginia constitution
is less Objectionable than any yet adopte'
bv a Southern State. 1t Omlts tn
grandfather clause" nd deals witt
voters rather on terms of equality. III
hnal arrangement is specially satlstac
Tory. 1t requires simply that the ap,pli
cant for the privilege of voting shall
have paid his poll tax for the three year
preceding, and that he fill out his owl
.ppiication. This leaves no discretion
in the hands of the election officer
with which TO get in their usual meta
rious work, and gives all voters, a1te
1904, an equal chance in the race. w
are attending to our knitting an
watching Developments.