The Cairo bulletin., 1904-11-27

how completely our uaep-seateu Ieel-
ing on the south's one great and omin-
ois question may have prevented per
haps fair view Of ihe intrinsic per
sonal qualities of The man: nor does
il matter whether the president comes
among us as matter OF perfunetory
presidential courtesy or 10 deliver
message, he win be received with ey-
cry honor and every demonstration of
popular respect that ne would receive
under like circumstances, in any
American city or state
The southern people are not Doors.
Thy are not irreeoncilables and sulk.
ters 20 the extent of forgetting their
manners or The respect dine his high
office
"The southern people are, first of
| all, American citizens. They have the
American instinct of fairplay- They
| believe in the Democratic tenet of
obedience TO the win OF the majority
as honestly expressed through popu-
lar sovereignty-not grudging. sullen
acquiescence, but cheerful, generous
acceptance. A popular plurality Of
nearly 100000 votes attes:s that
Theodore Roosevelt distinctly re-
fleets the majority will Of the national
electorate. He has received his high
official commission as q handsome
certificate Of personal confidence from
the hands Of his fellow Americans. As
president of the republic he is entitled
To the loyal good will and well wishes
of his countrymen. The narrower as
pects of partisanship should not be
permitted to survive the counting of
the ballots We are all American cit
liens before We are Democrats or Re
publicans, and the president is not or
should not be the president of a party
or of a section. but of the whole peo-
Die and the whole country
Mr.. Roosevelt himself has declar-
ed that he is not northerner, not a
southener, not a wostener, but "a
United States man If. upon invita-.
ton or otherwise, he travels through
he southern states. as is said to be
lis intention, and, while here. sees
it to address our people. The Consti-
tuition does not hesitate TO assure him
in advance that he viii not want for
large, respectful and highly represent
tatiye audiences
THE southern people are not ihtol- |
srantly prejudced against Nh Roose
gelt. Il win by no means be because
IF his office alone that they so out TO
rear him with courtesy and receive
aim as becomes such an honored !
guest They recognize in him a per.
sonality that measures UP TO his Of
Ice and know he is worth hearing for
his individual qualities OF head and
1eart. If there be prejudice. ii is
largely in his personal favor because
ne is the son Of a true daughter of
ieorgia and the nephew of man who
stood among the foremost active de
tenders of the Lost Cause These and
other reasons will make our people
glad to hear him and ready 10 give
lin typical southern welcome.
AS for what President Roosevelt
nay have to say to the people of the
iouth, that is not so material. We
nave no fear that he will say any.
hing offensive, and there is some
reason to hope he will say something
o indicate that he believes he has
still something to learn about the
peculiar conditions that obtain in this
section and that demand a high or
Ter of craftsmanship, free from par
tisanship and prejudice. If they are
70 receive adequate legislative and
executive consideration.
President Roosevelt will be TAX
N at his word, since he has declared
his good intentions toward the south,
ma there is encouragement to hope
hat a southern trip will prove edu
eative as wen as mutually pleasant
'The south has everything to gain
and nothing TO lose by presidential
iunket through this great and grow
ing section"