Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-10-27
THEN AND NOW.
Embarrassing For Roosevelt.
Ronnoke rimes Oct. 2oth. 1gOI


Roanoke Times Oct goth, 1904
The recent marriage In Salem, N. j Of
John I. Smith, a white member Of the
United States hospital corps to decided
ly dusky daughter Of AfrIc's ebon race, Is
creating no end of commotion in army cir
Giles. According to dispatches sPpearirg
in our issue Of yesterday, Smiths discharge
from the army has been recommended by
his superior officers, and tue matter is now
in the hands of the war del artment, With
the probability that it will be finally refer
red To lie president. Truly, Insofar as
MIR. koosevelts disposition Of the case is
Involved, tile situation fairly bristes with
embarrassing features-for it Is behind the
precedent as established by the president,
that the soldier il seeking to defend his
marriage. In this connection Washing
ton special to the New York World says:
"Smith heard of the steps taken to se-
cure bis discharge and attempted to JUSTIFY
his action by procaimlng that be had only
followed the example set by bis comman-
der.in-chief, the president, saying that it
the head of the army thought negro
good enough to eat with, q negress was
good enough to become the wife Of Private
Smith,"
Does not Smiths case present to-be-
expected product Of MIR. Roosevelt's atti-
tude upon the race question: Roosevelt
doesn't believe in social equality"-so say
his apologlsts-and so, too, we understand
says Roosevelt. But how does he act upon
that question? Do bis actions sustain his
non-social-equslity plea, or do they con-
tradict it2 Men are judged in these days
by what they do and if their deeds do not
square with their professions, then pro-
fession carries but little weight. And 60
with Mr.. Roosevelt. Smith cannot be
blamed that in making up his mind upon
this question, he looked beyond RooseVe.-
tan profession and saw that White House
dinner scene in which negro sat down
with the country's chief executive and
broke bread with him in an apparently
equality of social intercourse. With that
picture before his mind, is it surprising
that the soldier asks why. If the president
of the United States can do this thing,
should line of social demsrcation be-
tween the races be inexorably fixed 2
Why, indeed, should it be? Why grant
to Roosevelt the perfect propriety Of hav-
ing negro at bis table as dinner guest,
and stamp as the height of improperly
the action of Smith in marrying negro 2
What in broad sociological doctrine, Is the
difference Is there any Especially, if
it be true, as is asserted, that the laws OF
New Jersey do not prohibit marriage be-
tween the racesj Doubtless the president
esteemed Booker Washington great
mana splendid representative OF status
in the political and social life Of the coun-
try to which all negroes shouId aspire
and as such that he was full worthy the
courtesy extended him. 1t IL along pre-
cisely similar lines that Smith argues The
woman be married was a hospital nurse
during the Spanish-American war-she is
q high, perhaps splendid type OF her
race, and by reason thereof, be decnied
her worthy to share his fortunes in the
sacred relations of wifehood, In view of
these facts, if Mr.. Roosevelt can reconcile
a condemnation Of Smith, with an approx
al of bis own record, he will have accom-
plished What seems now most puzzling
undertaking. But this lie must do or
leave Smith undsturbed as a striking rep
resentstiye Of breed of American citlzeye
who believe in race amalgamation=1Fho
fear not to put that belief into prSctice,
and who can put it into practice Without
hindrance from Roosevelt administered
government