The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-07-21
THE pREsIDRNT AND THECoLORFD
RACE.

1t has been claimed by friends OF
President Roosevelt that bis real OBJ
ieet in entertaining Booker Washing
ton at his table at the White House.
in appointing negroes to important
federal positions against the protest
of the Southern people most inti-
mately concerned, in selecting ne
gro from Maryland to second his
nomination at Chicago, and in fore
ing the adoption ofthe NEGRO plank
by the Republican Convention, was
so secure the negro vote in doubtful
States where they, in all likelihood,
held the balance OF power. There
can be no reasonable objection so
any legitimate political move on the
part OF Mr.. Roosevelt, if thereby he
thinks he enhances his chances OF
election, but in this instance ne not
only displays in our Judgment poor
political sagacity, because the ne
groes everywhere are going to sup
port him at all hazards, without
any such coaching, but on the con-
trary he has made the race issue so
prominent as to cause all States
where there is large negro vote To
more rigidly enforce the laws which
have been enacted in many OF them
looking to negroes Acknowledgement,
and TO cause others where no such
measures have been adopted to en-
act them. So that for future cleo
tions at least the negro Influence In
politics will likely be decreased. But
the political aspect ofthe Republican
attitude on this important question
is Ofsmall significance compared with
the social. Is is hard to foretell the
trouble to which it will likely lead.
The we'll meaning, well behaved ne
gro is respected and encouraged in
the South, and II left alone under the
care and guidance Of Southern peO-
pie he makes a useful citizen, but ne
is easily led astray, when those who
profess to be his friends hold out to
him visions OF political and social
equality with the white man. Herein
lies the seriousness OF the Republican
policy, and here is sample OF the Ell
feet it is going 80 have on the ne
groes, as typifed in a letter OF one
Henry S. Baker to the Washington
Post.
As a colored man wish to coll atten-
ton to the difference between the Repub'
ican and the Democratic National Con.
yentions. At the Republican convention
the cOlOred man was treated as COM
panion, friend and brother. There he
was made to feel as if he were not only a
political. but q social equal. The dele
gates followed the advice and example
OF our beloved President Theodore Roose-
welt, who teaches that the colOred man
deserves TO be treated as a social equal
To emphasize this fact, he had the cour'
age to have at his table Prof. Booker I,
Washington. II Roosevelt is elected it
will go encourage the colored man that
we will demand that Prof. Booker Wash.
ington shall be the Republican candidate
for Vice President in 1908.
Let not my cOlOred brethren forget
that scene in the Republican convention
when a beautiful white girl was placed
upon the stage, and by her side negro
boy. They then placed flags in their
hands and allowed them TO lead the
cheering, thus making the first and
grandest example OF the equality OF the
races that history records.
In the Democratic convention there
was not asingle cOlOred man. 1t was In
word and deed a white mans conven-
ton OF q white man : party. All hail to
Roosevelt, who has given the poor negro
80 much 70 encourage him to persist III
bis political and social rights.
We fear the President is sowing
the wind OF discomfort, and that
when the seed have sprouted and
grown to frui.ion there will be har-
vest, compared to which the whirl-
wind will he a gentle ZeDhYF.