Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-16
COLORED PRESS ON THE PREsI-
DENTS MESSAGE.
Editor Trotter Dissatisfied.
IRoston- Ms Gnardlan-1

Boston, Mass. Guardian
The Presidents first message to
the congress elected upon the plat
form upon which he was elected by
81 unprecedented majority has been
sent 10 congress. IL IS n document
thoroughly unsatisfactory 10 Colored
Americans. The unjust and inju-
rious treatment which they 80 noto-
riously receive in the southern part
OF this country and the abridgement
and denial of their rights under the
federal constitution are utterly ig-
nored by the President.
The message is one Of extraordi-
nary length. II touches upon a
great number Of questions. In fact
there is hardly any question Sf ma
tional polity that is not noticed e1-
Cept the question OF the violation Of
She 18th and 18th articles OF the fed
eral constitution. Many questions
which must be admitted TO be minor
questions are dealt with II the y
wills OF over capitalization is not.
surely the matter OF information on
the condition OF working women "a,
~ 80 is not patroniziug. Then con
slider such weighty issues as abolish
ing unnecessary Offices. antiquated
department methods. penalties for
disclosing Official secrets by depart
ment employees, the jamestown ex-
position, smoke nuisance in Wash
tngton, charging the Yellowstone
Park, What are these issues as
against the denial OF a fair trial in
court or the denial OF any trial al
all; the deprivation OF the right 90
vote on the ground OF race and col
or In a democratic rCpublic2
I'm reading the message one OF tho
features that impr esses us is the dis
lance the President goes from home
lie refers 20 Russia. in rather com
phmentary vein. He not only deals
with Panama, Porto Rico, San Do
mingO and the Philippines. but also
with Hawaii Yet the President is
silcu, as 20 peOnage. civil discrimi-
nations. lyuchinEs and color dis
franchisement at home. II these
first three practices are inhuman
and IL the last violates the constitu-
ton, they certainly constitute a
scandal and disgrace upon our coun.
try.
He is very solicitous that the
South should have more foreign inn
migrant laborers and recommends
that special efforts" be made by
the government 20 divert foreign I'm
migration 20 the South. Not one
word OF advice or admonition is giy
en- the South 90 mend its ways so as
20 be more attractive 20 foreign la
Dor. no advice is given 90 give up
its lynchings and restore order and
a civilized form OF government
Then. too. this foreign white labor
would naturally tend TO displace or
at least 20 reduce the wages OF
the colored wage earners there.
But the President is also very so
licitous as 10 the graves of Con-
federate soldiers, Not on word to
show any sOlicitude about the muir
der OF the living men and women of
Color. VINO. by the way ave been
ever loyal 20 the Union. but very
great concern about the graves OF
those white men who fought 70 de-
stroy tho Union.
There are many passages OF fine
mOralizing in the message, but IL Is
perfectly clear from the context that
the Suherings OF Colored Americans
were entirely out OF the President
mind In fact the message was one
OF the "whitest" documents a Presi-
dent ever Issued. The fine passages
make the omission OF the ColOred
man $ case all the more glazing and
all the more painful