The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-01-15

we'll all sing Doodle, . and 60 to bed.
SAMBO.
TAKES ROOSEVELT TO TASK.
From the outburst of resentment
throughout the South and the expires
sion Of sober Northern sentiment,
President Roosevelt must now realize
that the ill-advised appointment of
DR.. CTum, following closely On the
abrupt closing of the Indianolo post
office, was blunder Which has already
done no little mischief and which, if
persisted in, can hardly fail to lead to
the most deplorable consequences.
To tins prevailing opinion of the
country the President may we'll bow
and promptly repair the mistake by
accepting the resignation of Mrs. Cox,
opening the Indianola office with
postmaster acceptable to its citizens,
and withdrawing obnoxious nomina.
| tion from the Senate to avert Sec
tional discussion to be deprecated by
the entire nation
One of the results of the Spanish
war hailed with keen satisfaction by
the American people, was the weld
ing Of Northern and Southern
| feeling in patriotic unity. 1t was
theme that President Mckinley loved
to dwell OIL, and is one which Presi-
dent Roosevelt himself has repeatedly
| spoken of with enthusiasm But if
the agitation now menaced should be
fomented it would not only undo the
good then done, but would set the
country back generation i'll color
prejudice and sectional strife.
The sentiment against color in the
South may be unfortunate and to be
deplored, but the vital fact is that it
exists, is universal and roofing In the
growth Of centuries. 1t may wear out
but can not be cut out. Mr.. Roose-
velt may buck against it, but neither
he nor any other President, neither
Congress nor the Re publican party
can overcome it. He can no more en-
force political equality of the races in
the matter of Office holding, which is
not constitutional light Of any citi
zen, black or white, than he can en-
force social equality. Any strenuous
attempt to do so will simply intensity
prejudice against color, embitter race
feeling and cause sectional strife, IN
all Of which the negro will inevitably
the greatest sufferer.
Apart from this view there is a con-
trolling consid Grafton of policy, it is
recognized international principle
and established usage, that a diplo-
matte representative must be, irres-
pective of merit or worth, persona
grata to the government and people to
which he is credited. For this reason
President Roosevelt recalled the first
consul general he sent to Havana.
Now the same principle should apply
to such prominent Federal officials as
collectors and postmasters, who are
brought into close touch with the
people. Like a diplomatic representa-
tive, their usefulness depends in a
! large measure OIL their acceptabiliy.
It matters not what the personal
objection may be, if it is shared by
the community and the appointment is
obnoxious to the citizens that is enough
to render it unfit and impolitic. espe-
cially in view Of the fact that there
are plenty of other men as we'll quail
ified and personally Objectionable.
Would President Roosevelt think OF
forcing upon New York, Philadelphia,
Boston or San Francisco a collector or
postmaster against the unanimous pro-
test of b. siness men and citizens?
Why is not leading Southern city
entitled to equal consideration? He
recalled Consul General Bragg from
Havana because he was not acceptable
to the Cuban people. Why not recall
the nomination of DR.. Crum from the
Senate because it is obnoxious to the
citizens Of Charleston?
It is an issue Of more than local
concern and of ar-reaching conse-
quence. The Charleston appointment
and the Indianola affair have stirred
Southern feeling as it has not been
stirred for years. Both wero nnwise
and uncalled for steps i'll policy
which can only mean serious mischief
| and can not be abandoned toe. soon for
the good Of the negro, as we'll as the
white people Of the South and tho en-
tire nation. It is to be hoped that the
President will retrace his steps before
Ia bitter sectional discussion is pro-
1eth~s NV 1vFb H@dd.