The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-23
PAINE AND WASHINGTON.

We are not to treat of Thomas Paine, the patriot whose writings against re- ligion have done so much to obscure the really noble work he achieved in the cause not simply of American liberty, but liberty in other lands as well. Nor is the Washington of our title the ante- deluvian and nowadays discredited Virginia gentleman whose farewell ad- dress to the American people, the Re- publicans refused to allow to be read to the House of Representatives last winter
 We want to speak of the Hon. Robert Treat Paine, Jr.. of Massachusetts and Professor Booker T. Washington of Alabama. The Boston statesman who was twice the Democratic candidate for Governor of Massachusetts has de- cided to vote for Roosevelt. because he is indignant at the criticism leveled at the President for entertaining Profes- sor Washington at dinner. MT. Paine comes of abolition stock and Is proud of the fact; has eaten at the same table with the colored man and Is proud of that also. He frankly admits that if Judge Parker is elected. Professor Washington in all human probability will fail to get dinner invitation dur ing the entire four years of the Judges incumbency. It grieves him to think of this. He enlarges upon the certain scorn and indignation with which Judge Parker would be visited should he dare defy the South's prejudices in this matter. MT. Paine is grieved to think of this and to help himself feel bet ter he is going to vote for Roosevelt.
 Let no Southern man think for an in- stant there is not a mine of significance in the declaration of this New England pervert. He voices a more powerful sentiment at the North than we com monly recognize as present there. One need not consider the mans opinion as necessarily contemptible. It is rooted probably in sentimental generosity. True the negro Is held down at the North as with an iron hand. Nothing is more striking in the Northern negros appearance than his depressed careworn look. He Is really bounded there and his face ordinarily shows this. But Is 1t inconceivable that a man who looks in satisfied way on the negro as degraded creature in his own community may find his heart beating warmly for a negro a thousand miles away. However curious this Foa ( h ed with not merely in this campaign, but in the future.
 Two reflections occur to us as proper when a man of MT. Paine's standing deserts his party on the ground that negro ought to have the right to enjoy any Presidents hospitality at the White House. The first is the natural one, if 1t is so fine thing to entertain negroes at the White House, why are not more blacks invited to eat there, why is not Professor Washington call ed in to partake of a feast specially prepared in his honor? These hypo- critics may be dared over and over again so to challenge the deliberate Judgment of the American people as whole and the challenge will never be accepted. They dare not treat the White House as place where the negro is on the same social footing with white man.
 The second reflection Is the indiffer- ence with which the South can regard the whole silly movement on the part of the Republicans to make political capital out of the Souths treatment of the negro. Industrially we have got the ships and we have got the men. They may annoy us some. but there is now no power on earth that can pre- vent the South from working out her destiny in her own way, in her own time.