Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-14

u
attitude on the race question. Mr.. Ed
wards held that President Roosevelt
had in reality appointed not as many
Negroes to offices In the south as had
been appointed by any Of his Republic
can predecessors; that, as regards the
social or personal recognition Of the
Negro, he had done no more than had
been done by President Cleveland. He
expressed full confidence and with an
evident air Of authority, that instead
Of being hostile towards the south as
expressed in the determination gener-
ally attributed to Mr.. Roosevelt to run
counter to the well-deflned sentiment
Of the south as regards the appoint
ment Of Negroes to important offices In
white communities, the president was
actuated by feeling Of profound re-
gard for the south, and that nothing
was further from his purpose than to
affront the better sentiment Of 80 large
a section Of the country.
Speaking for himself, the president
frankly and freely makes definite
statement published elsewhere in to-
days Constitution.
It will be observed that in his letter
the president refers to Mr.. Thomas
Nelson Page. Of Virginia, and others
for verifcation Of the statement made
by him that his attitude toward Geor-
gia, as shown In his appointments in
this state, is a fair expression Of the
motive which has governed him in ap-
pointments in all Of the southern
states.
Fortunately Mr.. Page presents an in
teresting statement Of his own views
as regards southern appointments in
the current issue,eof Golfers Weekly.
and the article Of the distinguished
southern author is presented in full,
elsewhere, that it may be read In con-
nection with the presidents state
ment.
Mr. Page, as will be seen, discusses
the president in friendly way, believ-
ing that he has been placed in a false
position by the peculiar. combinatiC n
Of circumstances which have unfortu-
nately had the effect Of reopening the
Negro question by impressing the
south with the idea that the wheels Of
time have been turned back thirty
years, creating natural CONSERVATION
in the south, was again to be turned
through the valley of the shadow from
which its people had fondly hoped they
had safely emerged. There are those
among the whites" says Mr.. Page,
"who know the president. and who
know that, however. he may have mis-
understood conditions, he has no inten-
ton Of fastening on the south again
Negro domination, or Of fostering So
cial equality in any FORM"
Mr.. Page presents in a most inter-
esting manner the conditions existing
in the south when Mr.. Roosevelt sue
ceeded to the presidency, and makes 1t
inferentially clear that If the revul-
sion Of southern sentiment against the
president was based upon a correct
understanding Of a position Of hostility
to southern sentiment, and determi-
nation to ignore 1t, such a protest
would be most natural and defensible.
Mr.. Page is convinced, however, that
the president Is misunderstood, and
what he says on the subject will be
read with unusual interest. But Of
chief interest Is the expression of the
president himself. He reviews the ap-
pointments he has made in the south
and asks that comparison be instituted
as between his attitude. as shown in
his southern appointments and that Of
his predecessors. He expresses sur
prise and pain at what seems to him
an "incomprehensible outcry in the
south" about his actions-"an outcry"
with a not easily understood refer
ence to New York for reasons wholly
unconnected with the question nomi-
nally at ISSUE"
1t is apparent that the president has
been disconnected at the general crit
icism to which he has been subjected
in the south, and by northern newspa-
pers as we'll, for his assumed attitude
of antagonism and rebuke to the white
sentiment of the people Of the south.
It is equally apparent that the pres
ident prefers the good will of the south.
as he does that of every other section
of the union, to such unpleasant con-
tempt as may be based upon the idea
that he is riding roughshod over the
better sentiment of the people for the
purpose of emphasizing his adherence
to a pet theory which finds no lodge
ment in the southern mind, and but
little in the north.
As the Constitution stated in discuss
ing Mr.. Edwards letter, the people of
the south would be more delighted
than those of any other section to find
that the presidents position had been
misunderstood, and it is but to the
president to say that, in the light of
his own assurances, coupled with the
statement Of Mr.. Page and that Of Mr..
Edwards, his words are entitled to due
consideration, and to the conservative
thought of the southern people.
The south would infinitely prefer to
feel iilat the president sympathises