Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-07
ROOSEVELT EXPLAINS.
Can't Understand Why South OBJ
tects to Negro once Seekers.

ROOSEVELT EXPLAINS.
Can't Understand Why South OBJ
jects to Negro ONCE Seekers.
President Roosevelt has written let
ter to Mr.. Clark Howell, editor Of the
Atlanta Constitution, in reply to re-
quest for an expression concerning a
recent letter from Harry Stillwell Ed
wards, Of Macon, with reference to the
matter of Federal appointments in the
south.
I'm making appointments I have
sought to consider the feelings Of the
people of each locality 80 far as could
consistently do so without sacrificing
principle. The prime tests I have ap-
piled have been those Of character, fit
ness and ability, and when I have been
dissatisfied with what has been offered
within my own party lines have,
without hesitation, gone to the opposite
party-and you are, Of course, aware
that have repeatedly done this in your
own state of Georgia. I certainly can
not treat mere color as a permanent bar
to holding office any more than could
so treat creed or birthplace always
provided that in other respects the ap-
plicant or incumbent is worthy and
well behaved American citizen. Just
as little will I treat it as comforting a
right to hold Office.
II ask you to judge not by what I
say, but by what during the last seven
teen months have actually done. In
South Carolina, have appointed a
white postmaster to succeed colored
postmaster. Again in South Carolina I
have nominated a colored man to fill a
vacancy in the position Of collector of
the port Of Charleston, just as In Geor-
gia, I have reappointed the colored man
who is now serving as collector of the
port of Savannah. Both are fit men.
Why the appointment of one should
cause any more excitement than the
appointment Of the other I am wholly
at loss to imagine. AS am writing to
a man Of keen and trained intelligence
need hardly say that to connect either
Of these appointments, or any or all Of
my other appointments, or my actions
in upholding the law at Indianola, with
such questions as social equality and
Negro domination Is as absurd as to
connect them with the nebular hypoth-
esis or the theory Of atoms.
II have consulted freely with your
own senators and congressman as to
the character and capacity Of any ap-
pointee in Georgia concerning whom
there Was question. My party advisers
in the state have been Major Hanson,
Of Macon, Mr.. Walter Johnson, Of At
lanta-both of them ex-Confederate SOL
diers-and Mr.. Harry Stillwell Ed
wards, also Of Macon. Am not right
In saying that the Federal office hold
ers whom I have appointed through
out your state are, as body, men and
women Of high order Of efficiency and
integrity? Incidentally I may mention
that a large percentage Of the incum-
bents Of Federal offices in Georgia un-
der me are, as understand it, Of your
own political faith.
This is true Of your own state, and
by applying to Mr.. Thomas Nelson
Page, of Virginia; to General Basil
Duke, of Kentucky; to Mr.. George
Crawford, Of Tennessee; to Mr.. John
McIlhenny, Of louisiana; to Judge
Jones, Of Alabama, and Mr.. Edgar 9.
Wilson, Of Mississippi, all of them
Democrats, and all Of them men Of the
highest standing, you will find that
what I have done in Georgia stands
not as the exception, but as the rule
for what I have done throughout the
south. I may add that the proportion
Of colored men among the new ap-
pointees is only about one in hum
dred.
"In view of all these facts I have
been surprised and somewhat panied
at what seems to rne the Incompetent
sible outcry in the south about my ac-
tions-an outcry apparently started In
New York for reasons wholly uncon-
nected with the question nominally at
issue. I am concerned at the attitude
thus taken by so many Of the southern
people, but I am not In the least an
cry; and still less will this attitude
have the effect Of making me swerve
one hairs breadth to one side or the
other from the course I have marked
out-the course I have consistently fol-
lowed in the past and shall consistently
follow in the future"