Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-03-06

Atlanta Ga, March 2.-The follow
ing letter from President Roosevelt
to the editor of the Constitution, is
a reply to a request for an express
sion concerning the recent letter
from Mr.. Harry Stillwell Edwards,
of Macon, in which Mr.. Edwards
made n statement of the presidents
position in the matter of federal APP
pointments in the south, holding that
the president had been misunder-
stood. President Roosevelt writes:
Needs No apology.
"White House, Washington, Feb.
"a, 1903.-Hon. Clark Howell, Editor
of the Constitution, Atlanta: Dear
Mr.. Howell: AS to federal appoint
ments in the south, frankly, it seems
to me that my appointments speak
for themselves, and that my policy
is self-explanatory. So far from
feeling that they need the slightest
apology or justification, my position
is that, on the strength of what l
have done, 1 have the right to claim
the support of all good citizens who
wish not only high standard of fed
eral service but fair and equitable
dealing to the south as well as to
the north and policy of consistent
justice and good will toward all men.
SIN making appointments 1 have
sought to consider the feeling of the
people of each locality, so far as
could consistently do so without sac
rificing principle. The prime tests
have applied have been those of
character, fitness and ability, and
when 1 have been dissatisfied with
what has been offered within party
lines, have without hesitation gone
to the opposite party-and you are,
of course, aware that l have repeat
edly done this in your own state of
Georgia.
Color Can De No Bar.
81 certainly cannot treat mere col
or as permanent bar to holding of
fee, any more than l could so treat
creed or thplace-always provided
that in other respects the applicant
or incumbent is a worthy and we'll
behaved American citizen. Just as
little will l treat it as comforting
a right to hold office. 1 have scant
sympathy with the man of mere the
ory who refuses to face facts, but
do you not think that in the long run
it is safer for everybody if we act
on the motto 'all men up rather
than on that of some men down"
81 ask you to judge not by what
I say, but what during the last II
months l have actually done. In
your own state of Georgia you are
competent to judge from your own
experience. In the great bulk of the
cases 1 have reappointcl President
McKinley's appointees. The changes
1 have made were, as l think you will
agree, changes Tor the better, and
not for the worse. 1t happens l have
appointed a white man to succeed a
colored man as postmaster at Athens
and surveyor at Atlanta. in South
Carolina l have similarly appointed
a white postmaster to succeed a col
ored postmaster. Again in South
Carolina / have nominated a colored
man to fill vacancy in the position
of collector of the port of Charles
ton, Just as in Georgia l have reap
polHteu tHe coioreu ihah VIII Is ho"
serving as collector of the port ot
Savannah. Both are fit men.
"Why the appointment of one should
cause any more excitement than the
appointment of the other am wholly
at loss to imagine. l need hardly say
that to connect either of these appoint
ments, or any or all my other appoint
ments, or my actions in upholding the