The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-18
PRESIDENTS POSITION DEFINED.
MIR. Roosevelt states clearly His Views on
the south's Great Problem and
Expresses sympathy and
Friendship.
New Orleans Times Democrat, Feb. 4.

sion Yesterday at the Lincoln dinner,
given on Lincoln's birthday by the
Republican Club OF the city of New
York, to give expression to his views
on the south and the negro question.
Il has been known for some time that
he would seize an early opportunity to
do this, as his friends have insisted
that the country-and particularly the
misunderstood his attitude.
Most unfavorable impressions pre-
vailed as to the presidents position,
and he was believed to lean toward
social equality and to be hostile to-
wards the south and the southern peo-
Pile. To the many severe and singing
articles and speeches which this belief
brought forth the president made no
reply during the late campaign; but
after it was over and he had been
chosen president, Mr.. Roosevelt's
friends declared for him that he was in
no way unfriendly to the south, but,
ON the contrary, it's friend and well
wisher. His recent acts, the appoint
ment of the sons and relatives Of sew
eral distinguished Confederate sol
diers to Office, his opposition to the
hostile Crumpacker legislation, de-
signed to reduce southern representa-
ton, all tended to prove that the claims
of his friends were we'll founded. Sew
eral extracts published from private
letters placed Mr.. Roosevelt in far
| more favorable light. But while these
acts and utterances we're encouraging,
a general desire was felt to hear di-
rectly and at length from the president
| himself his views on the race problem.
| A number of. southern cities had ex-
tended invitations to the president,
and it was thought that he would ex-
press himself on this subject on south
ern soil, and probably at his mothers
old home in Georgia, but this trip
/ having been abandoned, MIR. ROOse-
yelt takes the opportunity Of an ora
ton on Lincoln to express his senti-
ments fully and clearly. There could
have been no better text; for bitter as
was southern hatred for Lincoln forty
years ago, the south has learned since
that he was not its enemy. There is
another point of resemblance in the
case of Lincoln and Roosevelt-the
former was a man of southern birth
and ancestry, while Mr.. Roosevelt is
southern on his mothers side.
The speech Of yesterday was tuned
thoroughly in the friendliest spirit te
the white people OF the south; and OF
this score not even the most preiudiced
enemy OF Roosevelt can object. He re.
eognizes no sectional lines; all the
people OF the country are on equa
terms, equally interested in the gov,
ernment and equally q part of the ma
ton. Both those who wore the blue
and those who wore the gray WOE
glory" he says; "those who followed
Grant and those who followed Lee, fol
both fought with equal bravery ane
equal sincerity OF conviction, eacf
striving for the light as it vas giver
him to see the light
And he follows up this just trihutt
to the Confederate soldier by express
ing ''the most earnest friendship FOL
his countrymen who dwell in the south
a friendship all the greater because i
is in the south that we find in it's mos
acute phase one Of the gravess prob
lens before our people,"
II What Of this race problem? Mr.
| Roosevelt takes special care to disa
abuse the southern mind OF the ides
that he thinks it social problem.
4 ssThere must be no confusing OF civi
privileges with social intercourse, !" hi
says. "Civil law cannot regulate oeia
. practices. Society, as such, is Law
unto itself, and will always regulat,
its own practices and habits. Full rec
| ignition of the fund amental fact tina
all men should stand on an equa
footing, as regards civil privileges, il
no way interferes with recognition o
the further fact that all rejecting mer
OF both races are united in feeling tina
race purity must be maintained NJ
one can assert that Mr.. Roosevelt
| is not explicit and outspoken on this
point.
What he asks for the negro-and ht
states his position by quoting from :
southern clergyman, the Right Rev
Robert Strange, bishop coadjutor o
North Carolina-are liberty. equal OPP
portunity to make his living, to carr
his bread and build his house; he mus
have justice, equal rights and protec
ton before the law.
Recognizing how difficult is the race
problem, how seriously it affects The
entire life Of the south, Mr.. Roosevelt
expresses the greatest sympathy fol
the southern people in their dealings
with conditions for which they are moi
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