The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-03-05
no BAR TO OFFICE
President Explains Appointments in
South % Atlanta Editor.

FITNESS A'1 Ac'-tvT eRiasTEsT
Mr.. Rcosevo.' b 4a.ie5 at O,sery In
South Ae-a' s.s Actions. sut DC.
elares He WI Net s.verve Fro;n the
Course re Has marked Cut.
Atlanta. Ga March >. - Following
are extracts lcom letter from Prosi.
dentkoosctC,t 90 Clark Howell. editor
OF the Constitution. in reply 20 r.
quest tor a. exposition concerning a
recent letter from harry Stillwcu Id
wards. OF Macon. with reference to
the matter o. federal appointments in
tLC south.
in making appointments have
sought TO consider the feelings OF the
people OF each territory SO TAR as |
could consistently DO SO without sac.
rincing principle. Tue prime tests |
aaFe applied have been those OF char
deter. fitness and ability. and when |
have been dissatisfied with what has
uecn offered within my own party
lines have without hesitation zone
To the opposite rarty-aud you are OF
course aware chat have repeatedly
uonf ;Ai7 IN your own state or Geor.
ga certainly calnot treat mere
color as bar 90 holding oaace any
more than coald 50 treat creed or
birthplace always providing that in
other respects Che applicant or In
cumbont Is worthy and we'll behaved
American citizen. Just as little will
l treat IL as concerning a right 10 hold
o-hce. ASK you 20 Judge lot by whs.
shy but by what during the last =
months I have actually done. In Sourb
Carolina | have appointed white
postmaster to succeed a colo~ci most
master. Again in South Carolina
have nominated colored man to ill
vacancy in the position OF collector
or the port Of Charleston. Just as in
Georgia have reap9oin'cd the col.
ored man who is now serving As col
ored collector OF the port of Savannah
Both are III men. Why the appoint
ment of one should cause any more
excitement than the appointment of
the other l am wholly AT a loss To
imagine. As am writing to u man OF
keen and trained intellicence. I need
hardly say that 10 connect either OF
these appointments or any or all nv
other appointments or my actions in
UNFOLDING The law ~ Indianola with
such questions as social equality ana
negro domination are as absurd as %
connect them With the nebular hvro.
thesis or the theory of atoms. have
consulted freely with your own sena-
tors and congressman as 10 the char.
actor and capacity of any apnointoe
In Gcorsia ccnccrniug whom there was
question. y large percentage OF Tho
incnmbcnfs of federal offices in Geor-
eia under mo arc. rs understand II
Of vouT own political faith.
This Is true not only OF vour own
state. tut as The ruie for what I hav,
done throughout the south. may
add that the proportion OF colorcd men
omone the now appointees Is only
about one In q hundred.
In view Of an these facts. hav.
hcen surprised and somewhat ratr.f
~ what seems - mo tha ....r.. ...r
siolc cutlery in tho e..t. a..u. INV s.-
uons cr cutlery er..r.r.t started On
~" YORK Tor reasons wholly rncon
neciot with tho question nominalls
at ISSUE. l am concerned az tho atti.
tuce thus taken by so many Of the
southern people. hnt ana not in the
least angry. and still less viii this
attitude have the elect OF making ne
swervc one hairsbroadth To one side or
the other from the course I have
marked ou;-the course I have CON
sistenty followed in the past and
snail consistently. follow in the future"
Sermon On The Person Of Christ"
Princeton. y. J.. March 2-President
Francis l.. Patton. OF the theological
seminary delivered a sermon before
the students OF theology yesterday on
The Person OF Christ" The sermon
was evidently suggested by the recent
discussion of the views of Professor
Delitzsch, of Berlin. concerning the d.
vinity of the Saviour. DR.. Patton said
that while the theory of evolution
might not be considered as consistent
with belief in the incarnation OF
Christ. ii could not establish the fact
OF the incarnation. and that while rev
elation gave us belief in God. il was
only through Jesus Christ that He
could be revealed as a God of love