The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-09-08
The DemoIishing Of Booker.

Ralelgh fost-
The esteemed Norfolk VHginian-
Pilot sees Booker Washington's I'm
ish. That paper says:
"The demolisbing of Booker Wash
ington as a useful servant OF his peo-
pie bids fair to be made complete. 1t
began with the Roosevelt dinner ana
goes on apace. Even Washington's
sound sense does not seem to be
proof against the foolishness OF those
Northern admirers who are more in
terested IN affronting Southern opin-
ion than in helping the negro"
1t would be a pity OF Booker Wash
ington's influence should be destroy
ed, and it is q pity that he has no
more sense than his Northern So
called friends who insist On perform
ing the socialequality act. 1t is this
that comprises the affront to South.
ern opinion, and fans the flames OF
Southern sentiment until it becomes
threatening, even unto the "demol-
ishing OF Booker Washington as a
useful servant of his people"
But why should it be SO? Why
should Southern people feel the al
front? Ism t Southern opinion strong
enough to withstand and break any
wave that can be set in motion by
the silly act of d President OF the
United States who sees, or thinks he
sees, u chance to strengthen his po-
litical standing by dining a negro i'll
his home? No such foolish business
can be forced upon the people OF the
South as standard. We know the
negro down here, and he is fairly well
acquainted with us. There will be
no social intermingling, and the ne
groes have more sense than to expect
| it, even if Booker didn't have any
more regard for his own standing
and influence than to eat with Mr..
| Roosevelt.
| The point we make is that the
South should not be Influenced
against just and fair treatment OF
the negro race by any foolish act OF
any member OF the race, Or by the al
front of the President or any other
Northern nabob. We are free and in.
dependent people, and no man, nc
representative OF any political party
or OF the nation itself, officially, so
cially or otherwise, has any power
to set a standard for us and require
us to follow it. Those who do SO art
only hurting themselves-and the ne
gro. Southern people deplore thu
| latter, with only slight cOmmisera
ton for the former.
! For the South the boundary i!
! fixed and the standard set up. Nc
| sensible Northern man will CONF
| himself Or send emissaries over herr
to monkey with us in our own way o
handling the problem. Let the foo
| friends of the negro have their Owl
way. The real friends of that race
those who have proven their friend
| ship, can afford to ignore the affron
to Southern opinion, and deal justl.
by the race.
| Affront Southern opinion, indeed
| 1t is a reflection Oh Southern man
hood to admit that We have been al
fronted by such silly and unmitigate'
rot. Around our Southern home
impregnable bulwarks have beel
reared by IL public sentiment ant
opinion that nopolitical clap-trap o
vagarism can change. If Booker i
willing to he a sacrificial lamb TO
Roosevelt's political ambition, we re
gret it, for his was a fine opportun
ity for helping his race. II it come
to that perhaps some other negr'
with as mnoh sense and more jnaa
ment will be ready to take up tn
work and in the light of Booker
experience do good service for hi
people.