Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-02

eNfatn OF Whlte DlOOo. away from
the cotton growing area the differ
ence was less. but an the border
states no small proportion OF the
slaves in the cities. many OF them
belonging 10 the class OF household
slaves. were infused with waite
blood"
Senator Ti1man has laid down
the premises that social courtesies
cause tne miscegenation OF the races
even when kept within the set rules
OF polite society. He also urges
that President Roosevels's action in
inviting one distinguished Negro 70
lunch with him has upset the social
universe and corrupted the Caucas
ian blood OF the nation We think
that we have demonstrated by sta
tistics the erroneous nature OF this
conclusion.
He used the following sententious
and highly insulting language.
"Ts President Roosevelt ready 20
act up 20 his own theory and have
\ his children marry men and women
/ OF the other races? Would be &C
+ cept as a daughterIn-law a Chinese.
Ia Malay. an Indian. or a Negro, in
/ accord with the doctrine laid down
cd? We all know he would not.
and while "hne words butter no
parsnips words Ike these are a
source OF incalculable evils. coming
/ from such nigh source
The above words need 10 discus
sion. Marriage is a civil contract,
binding only when It has the willing
assent OF two contracting parties.
Men lunch with other men. who arel
not permitted 70 pay attentions tol
the female members OF their fan
lilies
White men Of low degree cam
lunch with Senator Tillman. but IL
would be absurd 10 say that because
OF this fact they would be permitted
! 10 lead any female member OF the
( family OF the well known South
Carolinian TO the altar. A Negro |
cannot marry a white woman with /
out her consent any more than a
white man can marry a Negro wo
man without her consent. II is then
descending 20 the level OF the ward
politician to even discuss this sue
iect from Senator Tillman's stand
point.
Moreover. Dr. Booker T. Washing
ton IS already married and even II
he lived en- Utah. must now be the
husband OF only one wife. II is RI
diculous TO say then that he had any
designs upon any members OF the
Presidents family. It was unfair.
81 was unmanly. IL was "A blow be
low the belt" for Senator Tillman
10 have made any reference what
ever to the inner circle OF President
Roosevclt's home 10 will not do.
Senator Tmman. It will not do.
He continued:
ct IS not possible for me 20 be
Iiave that the theorists and senu-
mentaliets OF the North who are re-
sronsibie for the conditions existing
will be allowed 20 pursue their pol
icv OF absolute RECOGNITION OF rare
aoualitv much further. The cues
ton Is not local one. or section
al one. eVcent so fer ms the N"groes
orc nearly on ~ the South while NJ
tne North there are comnarauveN
few OF them. 10 IS high time some
thing was being done 20 have this
great and vital question brought he
fore the country in some practicaoi"
aud sensible way.
In using the above language. Sen
ator TiWman attacks the bed rock
principle OF the government itself
He goes back 10 the primevai Gus
toms OF the old World. where royal
" relgns and the caste system is su
preme when a man reaches that
stage that he questions the civil and
political equality OF the Negro, ne
IS but a step from the place where
ne will question the civil and polit
ical equality OF the white man. il
is needless to deny the fact that
there are wealthy, educated white
men. who question the wisdom OF
suffrage as vouchsafed the
white man.
Senator Tillman is a colleague
and supporter OF this class OF thee
rists, even though ne be unwilling ,
to admit the soft impeachment.
The hollowness OF Senator Till !
mans position was emphasized
when Senator Beverage asked him
to suggest a remedy for existing
conditions He made an excuse and ]
IL was evident that he came 10 crit
icise and not 10 offer a solution.
For thirty years, the South has had
undisputed possession OF this ques
ton and the North. upon its request
has refused to interfere. The Su
preme Court OF the United States
has permitted the Southerners TO