Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-09
II President Roosevelt Wished TO
Alternate Southern SYM
pathies He Has suc-
ceeIeI
fNew York Herald.l

Regretful surprise is a mild term for
the feeling aroused in the United States
by President Roosevelt's non1ina ton OF a
colored man to the. post Of Collector of
the Port OF Charleston. Even the SINGER
est admirers Of the President cannot help
regarding that appointment as an ILL
considered act which will do more harm
is intended to beneft-namely. the ne
groes.
The Herald does not hesitate to give
expression to this belief, as it has con-.
sstently supported Mr. Roosevelt in his
previous administrative policy and has
upon more than one occasion recorded its
genuine respect for him; both asia man
md as the ChiefaMa gistrate of the United
States.
1t is not exaggerating to say that the
Presidents 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 disappointed
toward the trusts has been indorsed by
the entire nation. His judicious inter-
@vention In the coal strike should earn
permanent place for his name in the
industrial history Of the United States.
and his mastery handling OF the Vene.
szuela imbrog.io has shown him to be a
statesman Of a rare stamp. All this is
freely admitted. What, then. can have
prompted him to make an appointment
that is dlstasteful to the major portion
of the American people and thus destroy
at one blow the. reputation he has been
SO successfully building up? What pos
sible motive can have induced him to
ALLEVIATE the. respect. esteem, sympathies,
and confidence in his ability of the en-
tire white population Of the. South?
The Herald wishes 1t to be distinctly
understood that DR.. Crunl S. personality
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 appointment of negro to
any official position in the service OF lie
United States, ,but, perhaps unfortunate
Sly, practical considerations regulate gov
ernment policy in America, as elsewhere,
and what may be desirable theoretically
is rarely compatible with what is rpra c.
ticaly possible. In making nomina-
ton that is objectionable to majority
OF the people affected by it the President
simply proves that he is unaware OF this
elementary principle of government Nc
one will question his legal constitutional
right to appoint TO public Office any man
whom he thinks fitted to occupy it, but
/ mas he moral right to exercise his
power OF appointment in a manner that
Is contrary to the wishes of the rnajo-
zrity? The answer to the question is most
decidedly No. Majority rules in the
United States. Congress is elected y by
|@thes-maj ority.S Laws are passed in the
Legislature by the majority, and any
administrative measure that is abhor-
rent to sthe majority of American citi-
zenssis q. Smisc hievous measure,
1t is not unreasonable to argue that the
Presidents proper course with regard te
making appointments is indirectly indi-
Gated by the Constitution of the United
States. Each State is virtually an inde-
pendent part of the body polite. pos
sessed Of the Fright to make its own laws,
to conduct il Individual affairs as II
thinks Is =bestssuited to prevailing condi-
tons. and Ito take such measures for the
jfprotection Of its special Interests as may
be consistent withsa due consideration for
the in terests 9 Of the other States. The
power OF Intervention vested IN the Fed
eral# Government. is clearly laid down.
and Is permissible only under certain
stipulated circumstances and within GER
tain carefully defined limits It is con:
|ssequently debatable point whether the
Chief Magistrate is not tacitly bound to
consult local sentiment before deciding
upon a particular administrative step
" Now the President cannot Shut his
eyes to the fact that the white population
of the Southern States has strongly de-
veloped and very tenacious prejudices
With regard to the negro question There
Is no necessity to discuss the justice Of
those trejudices Their existence and
strength cannot be denied. When there.
fore, the President takes an Initiative
that IS prot.ted against BY ma jortty
4o;: the popul ii IN he not only commits
a grave political bluEder but also cx-
ceeds his moral authority.
The possible Consequences of such a
step as the ncmina ton which has aro1,s.
ed "a storm Of indignation Ii the South
cannot he considered Without apprehen.
sion. 81 e wouIe TAX g very litt,s S5f tl1i.
kind q admin ion rs light the flames
Esofs a. race w,r VI Oh 81 q e. principle
sufferers could be- nesross
sFnbnc sent inent fact 81 stronger
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