The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-08
MR.. ROOT ANSWERED.

Secretary Root In an address to the Union
League club of New York discussed the
presidents negro policy in an interrogative
way which may be construed either as
purpose upon the part of the administra,
tion to persevere firmly but temporarily in
its present course or as an intimation that
in recognition of Southern sentiment it will
pause in It's provoking methods. lie said
in conclusion
We can never throw off the responsibility that
rests on our people for the welfare OF these
blacks that we held IN slavery for SO many gen
Now that the first attempt has failed. the oues
ton is what 10 do and it should take the great.
EST thought Of the greatest minds Of the ooun-
try,
That holds out hope at least OF recon.
sideration Now If the president will re.
member that there are some great minds
in the South worth consulting and that the
people down here have some experience and
practical knowledge perhaps he may return
to a rational attitude Elsewhere Mr. Root
says
A curious development has been seen within
the past year. President Roosevelt has APP
pointed fewer black men that President McKin-
ley and there arc fewer now holding Office than
when Mckinley died, Yet loud outcries are 10
be heard in the South about President Roosc-
in the South Under Presidents McKinley, ce %Ce
land, Harrison and back to Hayes time, more
negroes were appointed TO Office and nothing
was said,
The best answer--an answer which has
been heretofore made by The Post in dis.
GUESSING this SUBJECTS to quote what the
Washington Post said few days ago. The
Washington Post is printed right under Mr..
Roots nose, II can not possibly be called a
Southern or an anti.administration paper.
! We cordially commend these expressions
which we reprinted from the Washington
paper yesterday, but reproduce here as an.
swering Mr.. Root as completely as If they
had been written for the occasion Reply
ing to a Boston paper the Washington paper
says;
- The oifense consists not so much in the
| thing done as in the manner Of It's doing, Mr..
| Mckinley appointed negroes 20 office great
| many OF them but he employed the incest tact
| In doing H. lie never put negro in position
calling Tor qualifications tho negro did not possess
! lie never assigned one "a place involving con
slant contact with class Of citizens who with
praettiSal unanm,'y directed TO that contact He
| carefully avoided every act and utterapce calcu,
lated to revive the race issue. -
Colored office holdorsi Yes, numbers of them.
| But they had been placed without parade and
! without an awakening OF the race prejudice on
| either side. They had been assigned 10 posi-,
| tlons with which the general public had little.
| y anything, 20 do and, above all things the dis.
! trihution had been SO made as 10 leave the ne
| gfoes generally in full possession OF their senses
! The appointments OF eolored man in Louisiana
or North Caroline, or Alabama passed without
! notice. u wa not appraised on the one hand
! as an exaltatipn Of the entire race nor on the
! other as an atront and an irritation
W. Nfgtees Y elaee At lhe south Is no new thing.
| WE know OF instances as Tar back as 1868 where
, eolored men were made village postmasters petty
| magistrates, etc., not only without protest from
me, property holders but through their influence
IS one OF having thrust upon them in positions al
intimate relations with the community negroes
| even more than that having the performancs
| so conducted as TO make il denial OF home rule
and an appeal 70 the vanity and the diseontent
| Of every foolish vicious, and haif.edueated ns
gro within ereuit OF 400 miles.
! There Is no segious mystery involved In this
] question, Il happens, simply. that NJ. Peass-