The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-20
A SMALL SPECIMEN OF A SENATOR

Senator fernando De Soto Money. of
Mississippi. has never done anything to en-
title him to popular respect, and il he had
his speech in the Senate on Wednesday
should deprive him of il. 1t was the speech
Of narrow. vindictive partisan and an ig-
norant Bourbon of the worst type. His
attack on President Roosevelt was indie
cent, and that on the colored race showed
about equal ignorance of the truth of his
tory and willingness to pervert it.
Senator Money declared that MI Roose-
welt lis not so much an American Presi-
dent as he is the President OF the black
belt" He would not dare to assert in plain
terms what this declaration implies. He
would not dare to assert that President
Roosevelt did not come to the Office in a
constitutional way, or that ne has violated
the Constitution in the exercise Of any of
its functions. Mr.. Roosevelt Is an Ameri-
can President in far truer constitutional
sense than Mr.. Money is an American SEN
ator. because the title of the former is not
tainted with fraud. while that OF the latter
is rotten with it, Senator Moneys griev-
ance against the President is that he has
appointed some colored men to office in the
South. Does Senator Money know that the
Constitution of the United States makes
colored men citizens. even as he himself
is. and that II the President refused to rec
ognize their citizenship he would violate
his oath of office and be liable to impeach-
ment? Before denouncing the President for
appointing a few-a very few--colored per-
sons to office in States where they consti-
tute a majority of the population Senator
Money should be prepared to show that
any such appointee has been unworthy or
unfit on any ground except that of color.
The Mississippi senator's declaration that
1.-THE whole truth of history shows the utter
incompetence of the colored race for self
government" shows his ignorance as well
as his malice. History does not show that
the colored race has ever yet had chance
| at self-government. and II shows that for
many centuries Mr.. Moneys white ances-
tors showed less capacity for self-govern-
ment than the blacks of the South do to-
day. Perhaps If Mr.. Money could return
to earth two or three hundred years hence,
when the era of slavery shall have been
forgotten. when the color question shall
have become obsolete. and when black men
and white men shall be working together
In the cause of a common civilization, he
| might change his mind. Even now there
are scores of colored men in the United
States more deserving of public respect
than Senator Money, because they have
achieved conspicuous success under the
greatest possible difficulties. There are
colored orators with whom Senator Money
cannot compare. there are colored editors
| who would not give him job. and there
| are colored business men who could buy
| and sell him out several times over II he
should happen to visit London, Paris or
! Berlin at the same time with Booker T.
| Washington he would find that the presi-
dent Of Tuskegee. born a slave and a self
made man, is much better known in cul-
| tured CIRCLES of Europe than the senator
from Mississippi is, and the latter would
not be invited to some distinguished func-
tions where Booker T. Washington would
be the guest of honor. When Senator Mon
ey. graduated at an obscure university In
Mississippi, shall have received an honor
airy degree from Harvard University. as
Booker T. Washington has. in the presence
of distinguished audience. it will be time
enough for him to speak contemptuously
of the possibilities OF the colored race.
Senator Moneys protest against raising
the question of social equality" still fur.
Their emphasizes his smallness. The white
man who talks about social equality" vir
tually confesses his personal inferiority ant
his unwillingness TO compete with the
negro on equal terms He virtually admit.
that in free-for-all race, where talent
and merit alone shall count, he may b.
left behind. In free country. where ever,
man may choose his associates, no person
need fear social equality except he who
feels that he needs the support of artificia
or adventitious circumstances to enabl,
him to hold his ground. Senator None,
has advertised the fact that he belongs t,
that class