The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-03
ROOSEVELT A DISAPPOINTMENT


 reach.
 When it became known that the bullet of Colgosz had accomplished its murder ous work the entire country waited with eager anticipation, not unmixed with ap- prehension. to see the policy and the course which would be pursued by his successor The Advertiser, in common with many other Democratic newspapers, argued that he would be conservative President. We knew bis reputation for reckless strenuosity. and that he had acquired the name of "bronco-buster'' on account of his habit of doing unusual things. but we believed that the shadow of the great misfortune which had elevat- ed him to the highest office in the nation would tone him down. We thought that the knowledge of the great responsibility resting on him. and the other knowledge the wise and conservative policy of his predecessor would be sufficient to sober him and that he would appreciate and uphold the dignity of his ofiice.
 We have been disappointed all along the line. Instead of measuring up to the height of a statesman Roosevelt has shown himself to be a very ordinary politician. He has not hesitated to adopt the arts of the demagogue nor spurned the weapons of the. ward heeler. Ills civil service boasts and promises were all humbug, made to deceive the trustful and to trap the unwary. As Civil Service Commissioner he was infinitely more spectacular than useful, and as President l of the United States he has either mis- apprehended or ignored the meaning and spirit of civil service
 MT. Roosevelt had much to say about the rights of the colored people, about | shutting the door of hope against man | because he is black, and about equal and exact justice to all the citizens without regard to color. He was against the | movement in Alabama to form a white | Republican Party-a movement which promised political peace and better condi- | tions In our State He was against 1t, | he announced, because he was opposed | to discrimination on account of race. It was all humbug, but he carried it out in Alabama Men lost offices and others failed to get offices because they favored the lilly white" movement There should be no discrimination against Republicans on account of their color was the Roose- veltian fiat
 l We repeat that 1t was all a pretence and a humbug The sole object of all his solicitude for the negro was to catch and hold the colored vote of the North and the West He knows that in some of the most important States if the negro the political position of the States would be changed. This vote must be held to it's allegiance and how better could it be done than by great show of con cern for the negroes of the South? To | secure the confidence of the negroes in the South Is to ensure the colored vote of the doubtful States, was the way he reasoned and acted His course in the Crum case is a patent bid for the colored vote. There are no electoral votes for him in South Carolina, 1t is true, but a dose of negro administered to Charleston will serve as a tonic in sections where negro support is worth something, so the dose Is given, with what result is yet to be seen.
 That 1t Is all humbug Is emphasized by his course towards Senator Pritchard of North Carolina. Pritchard was not only | ha oR ho in his own State, but travelled over other States as an evangelist in the work visiting Alabama and encouraging the leaders of the movement here, as he en- couraged them everywhere else Now with the inconsistency of the schemine politician, after punishng the leaders of the white movement in Alabama he re- wards the biggest one in the South by making Pritchard judge of a District of Columbc court for life and what Is the reward? Pritchard will dictate the course of the Republican Committee of North Carolina and that will secure the delegation for Roosevelt. It was a dis- creditable bargain, as much so as the combination of Puritan with a blackleg,' '' which the fiery Randolph charged against Adams and Clay.
 And his treatment of the negro post. master. Wick. is another evidence of low politics. There were no charges against Wick. that we are aware of, but he wa. not acceptable to Prltchard, so Roosevelt turns his back on nim. shuts the dool of hope in his face. and all because some. body said he failed to vote the RepublI can ticket at some election. That i: more humbug. Wick loses his position fo, no other reason than that Roosevelt: political manager in North Carolina didn't want him appointed
 And this spectacular jaunt across tn, country, with the ultimate object of los ing himself for a time in the wild West is not in any way a creditable perform. ance. No President has ever before deserted the seat of government for nine weeks at time, and so far away as this one proposes tc do, and no other President would have
 done it. He has no right to desert hi.
 post of duty for a period of more thar
 two months, and we all know it. Tht
 pretence of wanting to see the country
 and the people is arrant humbug. H.
 is after delegates. and wants to mak,