The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-26

wife to become visitors at the White
House. take 1t that virginia refers
to tho report concerning an Invitation
said to have been sent to Assistant Dis
trct Attorney Lewis. of Boston,
and his wife. I happen to know that
when the Presidents attention was
called to the fact that a report to that
effect had appeared In an editorial from
the Richmond News, copied into The
Literary Digest OF February 18th, he said
1t was the first he had heard OF It, and
that he had not even thought OF extend-
ing such an Invitation. So much for that
count In ''Vrginia's" Indictment
Tho President did invite Professor
Booker T. Washington to dine with him
one evening more than a year ago be-
Cause this would give him n good cppor-
tunity to hear the suggestions which he
knew In advance that wise colored leader
wished to make with reference to tho adj
Visibility OF appointing white Democrats
OF the best class TO prominent Federal
offices In the South. The President is
such busy mnn that he often Invites
to luncheon or dinner gentlemen who
nave business with him, and that without
any Idea Of raising the question Of 30
cial equality. The President having dis
claimed any intention to set an example
OF introducing such equality Mt the white
House or In the South, would II not be
we'll to accept his declaration contained
In his letter to Mr. Clark Howell, and
let that old matter rest7 When Queen
Victoria entertained Professor Washing
ton and his wife at luncheon would any
ono presume to say that by that act of
hospitality to a great negro educator she
meant that EnglIshmen and negroes
should all be on terms of social equality
In South African When Professor James
Bryce. author OF THE American Common
wealth." entertained this Same educator
and his wife at dinner. does any ono
suppose that great scholar and statesman
Imagined that no was setting an example
for his Southern friends In Amreica to
fellow7 When the Duchess OF Sutherland
entertained this exceptional negro and his
vito at her home. and when Lady Henry
Somerset invited them to spend several
days In her home. did those noble ladies'
wish to DO understood as favorlng social
| equality between the races in South At
RIGA and in our Southern States7 That
does not follow by any means. They
were simply recognizing tho great work
done by that wise leader of the negros
! in America. They doubtless honored him
as an exceptional man OF his race. and
as he Is tho only negro who has been In
v!ted to tho family table In the White
| House ESQ fur as we are informed), ought
we not to regard the Presidents invita-
| tlor as also exceptional?
| But Virginia will want to know then
why negro guests attended the Presi-
| dents official reception. Well that can
be easily and satisfactorily explained.
Ever since negroes have held Federal
Offices OF certain rank IN Wnsh,nEton
they and their wives have beer Invited.
M matter OF course. to these formal
official receptions. Just as the Whistler
| from Eayti and his wife (who arc ne
groes) arc invited 10 tho miro formal
State dinners at the White House Such
negro officials were invited % ofn:.al re-
ceptlons by Cleveland, HARRISON and Nc
Klnley. and 1t may DO ,taisan for granted
that no President would nppon; man
Of any color to a Federal otlce IN Wash
ington and then Ignore or ''snub' Tint
| officer whenever Invitations wnro gent out
cor an official reception.
When we recall how often the Pref :dent
has spoken words OF praise and admira-
ton OF the South and OF our Confederate
leaders. and how ready lie Is to show a
feeling Of pride in his relationship to GONE
OF those leaders, It seems strange that
Virginia" could suppose that this same
President would offer deadly and
stupid insult to the State of South caro-
line" In which he had been recently hos
p!tally entertained On the other hand. he
found himself in n trying d,lsmma. te-
cause az conscientious man trying to
be the Executive OF the whole people, he
/ did not believe he could !gaore Itarly
100000 people In making appointments
4 to Office. and hence he stood Tor that
principle to the last, In spite of In ter
criticism and abuse. and If, "a virginia"
asserts. the President and MS family are
l 'antagoniZlng every sentiment and ira
dition OF the South" how Is It that such
noble and true men as Thomas Mellon
Page and General Basil Duke remain
his friends?
hold no brief to defend the President.
Indeed, I know that he does not believe
that his acts need either apology or de-
Tense. / have written this letter with
the desire to get some people. including
Virginia" to see the other side, for.
whatever our political creed. wo ought
to wish to think well and not III OF the
President OF our Republic.
In conclusion. let me commend to all
reasonable people open to conviction the
editorial comments on the Presidents pol
icy in the February and March numbers
of the Review OF Reviews, the able editor
OF which. DR.. Albert Shaw. is an init
mate friend of the President and also
warm friend Of the South. as he has SO
frequently shown In the pages OF that
popular periodical. When we read there
that of eighty Federal appointments in
South Carolina, only ono was given to n
negro and that, including DR.. Crum only
three negroes In the South have received
new appointments from President Rooss-
velt we wonder whyiso much more ado
has been made over these few than over
the larger number OF such appointments
by his predecessors
AS a Southern man I know how dif-
fcult our problem Ia, but at the same
time ! cannot seq that anyone helps
In settling that problem by misrepresent-
Ing and abusing such man as President
Roosevelt. JUSTICE
April II. 1903