The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-07
Beginnings Of Opposition to Roose-

Ouf correspondent HIS
hitherto expressed the suspicion that the
Incident of the Indianola postoffice and
the appointment Of DR.. Crum to be COL
lector Of the port at Charleston are being
worked by those who are seeking to
unhorse President Roosevelt. 1t is GER
tainly significant that president who has
appointed fewer negroes to office in the
south and more in the north than any Of
his predecessors, not excepting Cleveland,
should find his appointments arousing
such storm, not only in the south but
in certain quarters In the north. If the
difference is not to be explained on the
superstition that the southern view Of the
negro problem is becoming more agrees
sive in the south than ever and gaining
strong foothold in the north, it must be
concluded that President Roosevelt's
enemies are at work.
We have commented before this, we be-
lieve, on the slow but sure way in which
Harper's Weekly is working around to a
position Of critical antagonism to Presi-
dent Roosevelt. In view of this change it
is significant to find Harper's insinuatingly
saying:
We sincerely hope that the real though
unavowed. motive of the attempt to dis,
cipline the citizens of Indianola is not,
instead of being somewhat belated re-
solve to enforce vigorously the privileges
granted to colored persons by the recon
struction amendments of the constitution,
a bid for the colored vote in certain north
ern states where it holds the balance of
power. Does Mr.. Roosevelt imagine him
self to be a truer friend of the colored race
than Mr. Booker r. Washington, who has
repeatedly advised his brethren to forego
officeholding or officeseeking in that Sec
ton of the country which resents even an
approach to negro domination?
1t is to be regretted that Harper's
Weekly will condescend to make such use
of so courageous and wholly justifiable an
act as that Of the president in closing the
Indianola office. The question involved
i'm this Indianola affair is something far
greater than whether negro shall be ap-
pointed to postoffice. 1t is, as the New
York Post says, the question of whether
the acts of the national government within
it's constitutional authority shall be sub
ject to local notification. The Indianola
mob has tried to force the president Of the
suit it, and he refuses to be forced. In
cidentally, it may be remarked that what
ever be the outcome in Indianola, it will
be long time before any other comnun-
ity undertakes to- dictate the appointment
Of United States officials.
The Indianola affair must be considered
wholly aside from the negro problem in
which it has its origin. AS a matter Of
expediency and for the promotion Of ma
tional harmony we are free to say that
we do not believe in the appointment of
negroes to, office in any community where
effective public opinion opposes; but we
are equally firm in our belief that the
United States cannot and must not be
| dictated to by Podunk or Indianola or any
! other locality.
Minneapolis seems to be expanding
commercially, with it's flour mills in Buff
falo and its linseed oil mills in New York
| This sort of expansion is all right if the