The Cairo bulletin., 1904-11-21
r PRESIDENT AND
SOUTH.

at Washington through the appoint
ment of President Roosevelt, gave to
the press very interesting commu-
nication few days ago.
1t was letter from President
Roosevelt to Mosby concerning a let
ter written 10 the latter by Judge
| Thomas r. RoHlhac, Of Alabama, in
which the latter commented on the
attitude Of the souihar people To-
ward the president personally. Col.
Mosby sent The letter to Oyster Bay,
so The dispatch said. as he thought
the sentiments expressed IN Il by
Confederate veteran would be
gratifying 10 the president He re.
ceived a reply which he did not pub.
lish during the campaign as he felt
that the presidents motives in writ
ing the letter would be miscon.
strued." The letter is as follows:
oyster Bay, N. r.. Sept 10. 1904
MY Dear Col Mosby:
THAT is a fine letter of Roulhac S.
ana appreciate 4. have always
been saddened rather than angerei
by The attacks upon me in the south
am half a southerner myself, and
can say with all possible sincerity
that the interests Of the south are
exactly as dear 10 me as the inter
ests Of the north. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
This letter. ii rs observed was
written during the presidential cam
paign, and before the remarkable
victory its writer achieved at the
ballot box two weeks ago.
There would be no room for ques
uoning the sincerity Of the presi-
Tents letter if his record on the
southern question was not so con
Trajectory,
A year or SO ago President Roose-
Welt went on visit to the city Of
Charleston, S. c.. and while there
made a broad, patriotic speech. full
Of Kindness and friendly feeling for
The south. He paid high tribute
70 the southern people aud their
past. The city of Charleston receig-
cd him with open arms, for they
thought they had found new
found friend A few months later
Mr.. Roosevelt delivered a speech il
the north in which he denounced the
southern people as anarchists And
few months later on he was found
trying to force down the threats OF
the very people who had received
aim with such generous enthusiasm
negro politician, whom he appoint
ed to one of the highest positions in
the city, over the earnest and EN-
phatic protest of the entire white
population of Charleston.
In Alabama he started out by ap
pointing a white Democrat 70 a Unit
"a States district judgeship. and al
he same time letting II be known
thar he was going to lend his inhu-
nee to a movement 70 build mp .
white mans Republican party" in
the south. His Republican offica-
holders in that state, taking the ap
polntmeut OF Judge Thomas G. Jones
IS their cue, began a movement to
eliminate the negro from Repnbli-
can conventions. Then there went up
/ howl from Africa and suddenly the
wind listed. The president, with
read set on capturing the Republican
nomination for the presidency, sud9
Tenly switched. The negroes are
very powerful in Republican politics
the south They constitute a
'arge part of the delegates to Re
publican national conventions from
that sectlon--or they did, and they
are to be reckoned with. To grab
he nomination Mr. Roosevelt had
ne thought made a mistake and he
ost no time in changing With a
somesault that has hardly been
equalled in politics, he completely
reversed himself. The white mans
Republican party in the south" was
scuttled. The very men who had
led the movement which, they
thought had come inspired from Mr..
| Roosevelt, were removed from their
! federal positions. Then, to prove he
was friend of the negro, he enter.
talned one at dinner at the White
House. Then followed the Indianola'
Miss, incident, the crum appoint.
/ ment and a dozen others
In view Of this record, might not
Col. Mosby, who did not publish Mr..
Roosevelt's letter during the cam
Daign, for fear that the presidents
motives would be misconstrued.
have misconstrued them himself?
Isn't it possible that the president
intended for the letter to be publish
ed, as campaign contribution in
the southern states?
A wise young statesman once re
marked that words are good when
backed by up deeds Mr.. Roosevelt
now has the opportunity TO prove his
own words. His conduct the next
four years toward the people of the
south will show just how dear" 10
him are the interests of the south.
The Bulletin Just after the election
expressed the opinion that Mr.
RoosNelt's second administration
would be marked by a spirit of con
ciliation and sympathy toward every
IL Fs..a- Il.