New-York tribune., 1903-02-17
THE PRINCIPLE IN THE CRUM CASE,


The President has taken the right stand in
refusing to withdraw the nomination of Dr.
Crum TO be Collector of the Port of Charleston.
J 1t was doubtless an amiabie desire to save his
| feelings on the part of Senators which led
them to shrink from putting confirmation to
vote but the President cannot we'll have any
feelings which would be more hurt by rejection
| than by his own retreat When a nomination
| has been made under a msapprehension it Is
! doubtless pleasant for President to correct
| mistake rather than have go on the record the
| rejection of a for unftness. But Presl-
| dent Roosevelt knew what he was about when
| he sent in the name of DIR. Crum. Nothing has
occurred TO make him question the personal fit
! ness of Dr. Crum for office or the propr1ety OF
! the policy followed in selecting him. Inefe Is
| not the slightest reason for anv change on his
| part. If his prestige would be hurt by the fat
! rejection of DR.. Crum, it would be as much II
not more hurt by a forced withdrawal contrary
| to his own we'll known convictions. He cannot
| be more than beaten. and he might better be
| beaten squarely standing by his principles than
suffer an equally pronounced defeat without the
| corresponding glory.
Another reason exists for leaving the Senate
| to dispose of the nomination. The President
has squarely shouldered the responsibility of
dealing with this troublesome question of negro
officeholding. 1t is only fair that the Senate
should face the issue. 1t might be convenient
for some Senators to avoid a vote, especially
for Republican Senators who think it a mistake
to appoint men to federal Office who are disiked
by the community they serve, and who have a
high regard for Senatorial courtesy" even to
political opponents. They might like to humor
Charleston sentiment and be agreeable to the
South Carolina Senator's but at the same time
would not wish to go on record as denying
solely on account of color negros right to
hold an office for which he is manifestly quail
fed by character and education. This is one of
those political bombs that politicians give a
wide berth. Yet there Is vital question OF
principle involved that must be dealt with. AS
Secretary Root pointed out at the Union League
Club the status of the negro must be conSid-
cred and new policies adequate to present con
ditions developed. We cannot forever go on
pretending to ignore facts. The problem is not
simple; politicians do not like to work on it;
but it is one of those unsettled questions which
have 10 pity for the repoSe of nations-Or of
politicians. There is no reason why the Presi-
dent should relieve Senators from their respon-
sibility.
1t may perhaps be said that the issue was
forced only by him, and that he might withdraw
and leave matters to drift. But it was not he
who forced the issue. He merely stood up and
by his action called attention to what was go
ing on. Things were drifting rapidly to the abb
soute denial of the negros rights. The Presi-
dent has done no more than every one Of his
predecessors since 1868. It is all very well to
talk about not stirring up controversy, but in
this case quiet meant forbearance until silent
encroachment had completed its work. If the
President had yielded to DR.. Crum's opponents
he would have confessed that negroes no longer
had rights which were still accorded them under
President cleveland. If now he should with
draw the nomination he would be sounding re-
treat and giving up the field to the advancing
host of those who would destroy the negros
equality before the law. Certainly he cannot be
expected to do that. It is his duty rather TO
force the Senate TO face facts and decide
whether it will defend the negro's legal rights
or deny them. If the Democrats secure
enough assistance TO reject DR.. Crum they Will
force the Republican party, which has hoped
the race problem would settle itself, to consider
what is next to be done in view Of a manifest
failure of existing law to accomplish its purpose.
1t would not be strange if action under the
Fourteenth Amendment was sought as the most
obvious solution of the problem.