The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-07

of negroes in office in the South-not in
Oyster Bay, L. l., mind you-the President
has sent in the appointment Of the negro
Crum to the Senate. The fight is now
transferred from the executive and the
newspaper discussion to the Senate
Chamber. News from Washington is that
Senator Tillman will vigorously antagon-
ize the appointment and seek to prevent
Crums confirmation. The Washington
Post quotes him as saying:
$50 far as this special place is con-
cerned l cannot see that Crum has been
given the office for any other reason than
that he is a negro; and, il the qualif-
cations requisite to Federal appointment
are hereafter to be that the prospective
appointee shall be black. white men Of
the South are compelled to object. The
President seems to stand on certain line
of policy which seems to indicate that po
litical considerations are paramount just
now, as there appears to be race on
for delegates to the next national Repub-
lican convention. There are not 500 white
men in the State Of South Carolina who
will indorse Crum's nomination. We
think the President could have selected
a reputable white Republican without
subjecting us to this modification. He
could have gone to the extent of appoint
ing a carpet-b gger. In fact, we now have
carpet-bag postmaster at Charleston.
Personally, Z am opposed to both ne
gro and carpet Dagger appointees, but as
between the two evils select the latter.
l argue that the President should not dis
criminate between States in selecting
Federal officers. Why, for instance,
should he not appoint negro postmast-
er at Cumberland, Md. Harrisburg, Pa,
CT some other town North. 1t is ali bru-
tai politics IN this matter. I shall GER
tainly oppose Crum's confirmation"
The Charleston News and Courier de-
votes whole column to a discussion of
the appointment, showing that it was
made in defiance to the known wishes
of the people of Charleston, and upon
the recommendation of an Alabama negro,
Booker Washington. We quote from the
News and Couriers editorial:
"He has drawn the color line as sharp
ly as it has ever been drawn in this
country, drawn it against the people
whom he has called My people, drawn
it to make negro holiday, drawn it at
the demand of negro-loving politicians
and philanthropists living in distant
States. He has appointed DR.. Crum be-
cause he is a negro, not because he is
better fitted for the office of Collector
than any other man who was available
for the position. Not only has he ap-
pointed DR.. Crum because he is negro,
but he appointed him because he would
have every other negro in South Carolina
and in the South regard himself as enti-
tied to appointment in the government
service, if ne shall attain the degree OF
fitness for such station possessed by DR..
Crum 1t seems to me- said the Presi-
dent in his personal letter to Mayor
Smyth, that it is worth while putting
premium upon the effort among them to
achieve the character and standing
which will fit them to hold such posi-
tions.' Not the character and standing
by which applicants for public office ought
to be Judged but the character and stand
ing Of Dr. Crum-a man without bust
ness experience or commercial training
or executive ability, or knowledge of law
or accountability to the business COM
munity which he is appointed to serve.
I'm all such appointments in other
States the business interests have con-
trolled the President in his action. 1t is
only when he comes to parcelling out the
offices in the South that he has turned
his back Cd the business interests, and
made the color of a mans skin the test
of his fitness for official station. What
a blessed thing it was for the South that
Theodore Roosevelt was not in the White
House in the days of Reconstruction. In
the light of his present attitude towards
the negro, he would have sustained with
all the forces at his command the policy
of prescription which set up the negro to
rule over us.
ITO President Roosevelt belongs the
credit of being the only Republican Pres
, ident since Grant who has appointed
! colored man to an important Federal Of
fee at Charleston. Hayes and Garfield
and Arthur and Harrison and Mckinley.
each of whom was staunch Republican,
and all of whom had done as much as
Roosevelt to prove their devotion to the
flag and what it means of liberty or Ii
cense, came into office and passed away
without visiting upon the people of this
city and State the indignity of placing
negro in office.
but this. tee, will pass away; there
will be an end even of President Roose-
velt's tenure of office, and the crooked
will be made straight. We have had ne
gro office holders in South Carolina be-
fore. many of them. They were placed in
position for political purposes, and were
kept in office by men with bayonets.
Many of them were ADLER men than DR..
Crum: but few know today who they
were If Senator Tillman shall not be
able to defeat Crum's appointment he
will in time reach the end of his official
life, and there will not be single negro
in Charleston or in the South who will
be helped up by the Presidents indefen-
sible course in this case