Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-03-04

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SS$S0 letter can neither be called an
N-NS7 apology or an excuse. 1t is sim
ply long column of gush about himself, and saw
Ors very much though he still thinks he is prac
iCally it. The Southern people have complained
much Of the President because he seeks to batter
down the time hOnOred land marks Of section
which Is entitled to credit for greater herOsm than
any other portion Of the nation. No matter what
may be said OF this section It's attitude during
slavery, il is enough to say that when the armies
Of the North passed over this flower garden and
eft It's fields in waste and It's people practically in
rags, though the negroes were transformed by the
conflict from slaves to citizens, the patience and for
bearance exercised toward them by their former
masters presented an example that will shine
throughout the history Of the civilizations OF the
world.
Naturally many Of the negroes became dictatOry
insOlent and annoying, but the whites appreciated
the situation and we're tolerant with them. Instead
Of pursuing any policy calculated to rid this Sec
tiOn Of the negro the people who had lost them as
slaves treated them kindly from the day the war
ended, and in reality were better friends to them
than those who went to other states, before not
accustomed to negroes, found their surround
ings. The bankrupt planter said to sambO; "We
are left without anything, Sam, and the only way
to get out Of the mess s for a Of to go to work aud
raise cotton and and potatOes and provide for
the coming winter" II the planter had the land
left, that was all he did have, but he told the old
slave to get to work and put in crop so that all
might make the best Of the upheave There was
no encouragement between the former slave and the
former master, until the carpet-bagger came and
attempted to reconstruct the country. Then came
the first conflict between the whites and blacks Of
the South But when this new plan fell Of its own
weight, and the negro was eliminated from politics,
and the management Of the South once more as
sumed by the men who had builded it, all the ami
mostly toward the cOlOred man was banished at 9
single stroke, and the white SOutherner became
once more his best friend.
The political party, to which President Roosevelt
belongs for time sought to curry the favor OF the
negro in order to obtain his vote, and in those
states where the contest is close between the two
great parties, the negro has always been a great
political pet Just before election time. His suffrage
has ever been quantity Of merchandise, and Re-
publicans have generally had the price. But many
OF them have long since become tired and disgusted
with his association with politics. In the South
he has never been q blooming political success,
though in few localities he has been used con-
siderably by men who had money to secure the con-
troll of the primaries and did not think they could
win if the question involving their nomination was
left entirely to their white neghbOrs and associates.
Aside from these isolated instances, the negro
has never attained the position Of factor in poll
tics, either in the North or the South. The mass
of negroes do not care. They are willing to have
an opportunity Of selling their votes now and then
for 3 small piece Of money, but they have never
been willing to pay their poll tax and take the
chances Of the opportunity to sell.
The attitude lately OF the President, in attempt
ing to force the few Of his social pets Of color upon
the Southern people as Federal appOintees, is not
calculated to better the condition Of the negro.
While the large majority Of them pay no atten-
ton to the attempt yet schemSrs among them will
strive fer place themselves, and others win attempt
ito bleed others for contributions for the promise Of
securing them places.
4 There can be no question but that the negro
ouestion will be political issue in this country
40 long as such hot headed blatherskites as ROOse
MELT accidentally aI into the Presidential chair and
seek to hold themselves there through negro afaa-
tion. The unacrupulous politician Of the ROOse-
welt brand is ever in evidence but it is unfortunate
indeed that be should accidentally blow into posi-