The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-01
Wednesday, March /, 1905.
The News and COurier's Hand Pri-
mary.

The News and Curriers' Hand PIT,
nary.
b News and Courier OF last Saturday
asks for a hand primary by the newspaper
OF this State as to the feelings Of the people In
reference 10 the matter discussed by Mr.. John
G. Capers, as published In the Washington
Post, and as copied into the News and Cou'
rier, and from which paper W. have copied / II
into the Press and Banner Of this date. The
News and Courier asks various questions
and. speaking for this editor and this news
paper, We shall attempt 10 answer
J.. as bis statement in Washington thai
there has been "a decidedly favorable trend
OF opinion, In South Carolina towards Pres
ident Roosevelt" accurate?
Answer: 1t Is certain that the opposition
to the President has been greatly modified
But IL may be stating the matter too strongly
to say thai there Is "a decidedly favorable
trend Of opinion towards" him.
2. Is be right in saying that our people be-
lieve the President ais eminently Just and
that they have misunderstood him -"
Answer: That statement like the one 10
the first question, is. perhaps too sweeping
But there can be no doubt that there has
been a revision OF the sentiment which this
people entertained toward Mr.. Roosevelt six
months ago. Speaking for this editor, We
have much more respect for hin to day than
we had at that time. The South like the
North Is obliged to respect q mar whose
strenuous" life has been so thoroughly eu.
dorsed by the American people as was his
last November.
3. sis his estimate OF a complete dying
away OF feeling" correct?
Answer: While there may be in some
quarters a lurking feeling against the Presi'
dent, yet we believe that the statement could
not in the broader and better sense be sue.
cessfully refuted.
4. "Is it. indeed, true hat MIR. Roos svelrs
cruel and wanton insult to Mr.. Jet1erron
Davis. so recently recalled by the letter Of the
latter's daughter has been forgotten? ?"
Answer: fit has not been forgotten, we
believe that nineteenth Of the people re.
gard It as ancient history, and care not one
cent about 1t one way or the other. We
believe that the Jefferson Davis people have
tired the reading public with their ever re-
curing whining and their childish reminders
OF p matter OF no consequence to anybody
one way or another, n about which the
general publlo.oare nothing.
S. Are our D eople reconciled to Crum. the
Booker washington lunch and the Indian
ola incident?"
Answer: AS q whole, the people have
taken very little stock In these incidents.
They do not amour. to even az much as q
nine days wonder. But we believe they are
thoroughly sick and tired Of having the
matter constantly thrust into their faces.
1t has beer cooked to a turn, and the y
would like TO see these incidents closed.
They are Of enthusiastically small con-
sequence, and the people certainly care
nothing for the Crum matter. There may
be some prejudice against the President be.
cause OF the Booker Washington incident,
but we think very few men OF sufficient intel
llgence and greatness Of mind to read a daily
newspaper give 1t a thought.
"Mr. Capers has undertaken to describe the
feeling IN South Carolina irrespective OF
party" II he has succeeded. 1t Is best that
1t be known"
Answer: We think that there IL still some
traces OF sectional feeling, but we think that
MIR. Capers, before an impartial jury, could
not be convicted ofthe charge Of putting our
people in a false light In that part OF his
speech which the News and Courier repro.
duces. AS evidence that there has been q
sorening OF public sentiment toward The
President 1t is only necessary to recite the
fact that many distinguished politicians OF
this State have been'recensly to see the Pres.
ident either on their; own account or in be.
half Of other Democrats. Surely, II an hon.
orable Democrat held vicious or ontagonistic
feelings for the President he would not so
far forget himself as TO ask fsvors Of a man
with whom he was at enmity.
We think, II II were not for the color
menace that confronts US. our people would
love 10 become citizens Of the United States,
and that they would be delighted to have the
South regard herself as q part OF this
great country. The politicians, when In
congress, seem to have lost their common
sense, In opposing everything that the Re.
publicans favor. Their recent conduct In
opposing everything. (even the Panama ca
nall and the ever solidity OF their vote fur.
nish the best evidence that the Democratic
party has chosen the right animal to repre-.
sent 1t.
II our newspapers and our politicians would
exert the same efforts In restoring peace and
In building up our waste places that are now
and have been expended In stirring up sec.
tional hatred this country would prosper
and be happy.
The Press and Ba nner would love TO see It's
able contemporary lay aside for a while
its personal feelings. The people want peace
They are tired OF the Crum business. They
want to be on good terms with the Washing.
ton government. They are worn out with the
JEFF Davis crowd and are very tired OF re-.
marks about Miles. These matters have
become long haired chestnuts.
All Of which is given as our estimate Of the
condition or the facts.