The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-28

Nothing of all this was thought of,
 or suggested, or done. by the presi-
 dent. On the contrary. passing over all legal remedies. resort was had at
 once to an ad captandum and theatri-
 cal announcement of course that
 was without any legal sanction, and
 which punished the confessedly inno-
 cent equally with the guilty. Edmund | Burke. you will remember. did not
 know how to indict a whole people;
 Theodore Roosevelt greater and wiser
 than Burke, knows how not only to
 indict but to try. convict and punish
 whole people. I do not wish or in- | tend to exaggerate. At every step invite correction or denial of any state- | ment of fact herein made by me, or the controversation of any position have 1 taken or any argument l have used
 But I do say that my recollection or l reading does not furnish any parallel | or example of such unwarranted, cruel ! wanton disregard of right and duty on such an occasion on the part of any other president in our long list. No Russian ukase was ever more outocrat- io or unjust.
 have already stated why have called attention to these acts and poli- cies of President Roosevelt. It is be- cause 1t has seemed to be the aptest
 way in which to show what a really
 patriotic and wise policy would be by exhibiting the unwise and unpatriotio | course pursued by him, If a policy | diametrically counter to his policies and conduct, which have rehearsed had been pursued by him. or were to
 be adopted now. 1t would be the true policy.
 The President's Blunder.
 Instead of inviting negroes to his | table. thereby flouting the feelings,
 opinions and deep convictions of one
 whole section of the country-the OK" ! act section. too. where our negro
 problem lies. and where alone it must
 be worked outlet a policy of for
 bearance from aggraviting what some may conscieniously regard as a blind
 and bitter prejudice be adopted. Instead of appointing a negro be- cause he Is a negro to high office. for which he has no fitness. appoint no
 man because of his color but only be- cause of his worth and fitness, and If
 such q test should rule out for the present all negroes be 1t so. No harm or injustice will be done to any by exclusion for such cause least of all to the negro.
 Instead of recklessly and lawlessly championing the cause of a negro post
 master by inflicting grave injury on a whole community, confounding the in- nocent with the guilty, apply the law
 made for and suited to such offenses
 as occurred at Indianola to the known
 offenders, thue punishing only the
 guilty. while vindicating the strength
 and majesty of the law in the pres ence Of a people who too often resort
 to violence to need the example of president taking the law into his own hands and meting out vengenance on the guilty and innocent alike.
 I have now, to the best of my abil- ity presented what have seemed to me the salient features of the present phases of our negro problem. I sub-
 init my statement and views to you as small contribution to the stock of information and materials which you ! told me you never cease gathering, and of which your Romanes lecture of 1902 was the outcome up to that date. I have addressed my lucubrations to you
 because of my high respect for your | lattainments as a lifelong student of