The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-01-15
PRESS WARNS ROOSEVELT.
In Friendly Spirit New York Herald
Disapproves Appointment OF
Crum at Charleston.

A Washington special says: South
ern senators and representatives were
surprised to find a double-headed edi'
torial in The New York Herald OF
Thursday, in which President Roose-
welt was severely arraigned lor ap-
pointing DR.. Crum collector at Charles
ton, S. C. While commencing and ap.
preciating the logical understanding
of the southern situation, the south
ern men were astonished to see The
Herald, which daily flies the flowing
flag at the masthead Of it's editorial
columns, "The Peoples Antitrust
Candidates for 1904: For President
of the United States, Theodore Roose-
velt, of New York; For Vice Presi.
dent, George Dewey, Of Vermont"
boldly and ably attacking the presi-
dents southern policy. The article, in
part, is as follows:
"If President Roosevelt wishes to
ALLEVIATE southern sympathies, he has
succeeded. Regretful surprise Is
mild term for the feeling aroused In
the United States by President Roose-
velt's nomination of a colored man to
the post of collector Of the port OF
Charleston. Even the sincerest ad'
mirers CT the president cannot help
regarding the appointment as an Ill
considered act, which will do more
harm than good to the very people
whom it is intended to benefit, namely,
the negroes.
"The Herald does not hesitate to give
expression to this belief as 1t has
consistently supported Mr.. Roosevelt
in his previous administrative policy
and has upon more than one occasion
recorded its genuine respect for him,
both as a man and as the chief magis'
trate of the United States. 1t is not
exaggerating to say that the presi-
dents public career hitherto has fully
answered the expectations Of his
friends, who are legion, while his pru-
dence, great common sense and politi-
cal sagacity have bitterly disappoint-
ed his adversaries. His judicious In
-tervention in the coal strike should
earn a permanent place for his name
in the industrial history Of the United
States, and his mastery handling OF
the Venezuelan embroglio has shown
him to be a statesman Of a rare
stamp.
"All this is freely admitted. What,
then, can have prompted him to maAe
an appointment that is distasteful to
the major portion Of the American
people and thus destroy, at one blow,
the reputation he has been 80 sue
cessfully building up? What possible
motive can have induced him to alien
ate the respect, esteem, sympathies
and confidence in his ability Of the en-
tire white population Of the south!
The Herald wishes it to be distinctly
understood that Dr. Crum's personal
ity Is not called in question, in the
very least. It may even be admitted
that. under ideal conditions, there
would be no objection made to the ap-
pointment of a negro to any official
position in the service Of the United
States, but, perhaps unfortunately,
practical considerations regulate gov
ernment policy in America, as else
where, and what may be desirable the
oretically, is rarely compatible with
what is practically possible. In max
ing a nomination that is Objectionable
to a majority Of people affected by 1t,
the president simply proves that he
is unaware of this elementary prin-
ciple of government. No one will
question his legal constitutional right
to appoint to public office any man
whom he thinks fitted to occupy 1t,
but has he a moral right to exercise
his power Of appointment in man
ner that is contrary to the wishes OF a
majority.
"The answer to the question is most
decidedly no; majority rules in the
United States. Congress Is elected
by the majority. Laws are passed in
the legislature by the majority, and
any administrative measure that is
abhorrent to the majority Of Ameri-
can citizens is a mischievous meas
ure. It is not unreasonable to argue
that the presidents proper course
with regard to making appointments
is Indirectly indicated by the consti-
tuition of the United States"