The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1903-10-30
Forcing the Race Issue.

In all the Southern States the
President has adopted a new po-
litical method of appointments.
He has relied upon what he terms
referees for the Endorsement Of ap-
pIications 10 office. Some of these
referees are men Of standing in
their communities, while others
are placement of no standing and
no ability. la some States these
referees have been the fruitful
source of the worst sort of politics,
and their conduct has embittered
the whites against the negroes to
the infinite damage of the Presi-
dents wards. These referees in
some. States naturally insist upon
managing the Republican party
for no other reason than that they
distribute the spoils.
In Ala bama the three referees
of the President have recently
made demand on the lilly white"
Republicans of the State to know
what is their attitude towards the
negro. True, these referees have
no right to demand of the execu-
tive committee of the party that il
shall state its position on the ne
GRO question, but relying on the
power of patronage of the Presi
dent, for whom these referees are
acting, they have made the demand
and the executive committee be-
ing hungry for Office will doubtless
comply with the demand and state
their views. Thus the President
has doomed these committeeman
10 certain destruction. III they re-
ply that they are opposed to the
active participation of negroes II
politics, the ex-civil service re-
former will punish them for their
opinions, and if they decide as he
wishes, the white people of the
State will punish them. The new
franchise law of Alabama has elm
mated the negro almost entirel,
from politics, and the committee
men know that there are not sutfi
cient negroes and negrophiles ii
the State to make even a showing
for a party organization. But tn
committeeman must suffer for opin
ions sake whatever may be thei
opinion, and there seems to be M
hope for them.
And what can the Presiden
hope to accomplish? If his poll
| CIV be not headed toward equalit
for the races or selfish personal al
| vantage, il means nothing. l
equality be what he is after, b
may as well be told plainly that b
will not be permitted to succee
where Grant failed. The Presi
| dent of great country has grea
J power unquestionably, but ther
- are limits even to his power, es
:, cept for evil. Mr.. Roosevelt ma
| add materially to the disorder
, that have greatly increased as
result of his policy, but at the en-
= of his administration he will be n
nearer the goal he is striving fc
than he is now, unless, as charged
his sole purpose is to hold the III
gro vote In the doubtful Stat,
= solidly for himself. A people figh
r ing for their civilization are aliE
= irresponsible to cajolery or threat
30 and the South knows that the X
= publican party has long ago dol
It's worst toward this section
, country. The fangs of the blat
= beast have long ago been draw
- and the attention Of the Presidel
=, is directed to the fact that tn,
" were drawn by men under Il
u somber banner of defeat and Wi
= their conquerors quartered upo
7 them. The situation is differe
now.
30 If the purpose of the PresideI
- be solely to hold together the n
=, gro vote in the doubtful States
= is playing smart" even if disr
20 putable, politics. If his purpo
II be other than that he is making
- Partingtonian effort to sweep bat
IS H. ,rava, of u,bita civilizafi ion