Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22
NO MENACE TO SOUTH
Hannis Taylor Discusses Prob
lem of Negro Suffrage.
EFFORT TO ADVANCE RACE
Gradual Bestowal Of Franchise and
Education.
BENEFITS OF EXPANSION
Praise for McKinley's Policy and
Roosevelt's Interpretation Of tt
An Era Of Prosperity.
EFFORT TO ADVANCE RACE
BENEFITS OF EXPANSION

BALTIMORE. Nd. February 22-The
principal address at the annual exercises
today commemorative of the opening Of
the Johns Hopkins University was deliv-
cred by Hannis Taylor. former minister to
Spain. Mr.. Taylor is professor of interna-
tional and constitutional law at Columbian
University, Washington. His subject was
"The Relation Of the South to Pending
Problems He regarded the thirteenth
amendment to the Constitution as a decla-
ration Of independence because 1t set the
south free from a dying institution. The
first great mistake, he declared, was in
the enfranchisement Of those entirely I'M
prepared for citizenship.
The basic principle upon which the new
southern constitutions rest d that as fast
as the colored citizens b. come qualified by
education or property. or both. for the
franchise they shall be endowed with 1t.
Intelligent and responsible minorities OF
colored voters thus introduced into south
ern celebrates could never menace. in the
speakers judgment. the political suprem-
acy Of a race endowed with genius for
domination. Along with just and grad
ual bestowal of the franchise should go an
earnest effort to advance the negro race
through public education.
Benefited by Expansion.
reaped tremendous benefit as a result Of
territorial expansion. On this subject Mr..
Taylor reviewed the various steps in the
acquisition of former French and Spanish
possessions, including Louisiana, Texas.
California and Florida, and the action of
the American government in bringing about
the freedom of Cuba. He declared that
as a result Of these several acts the south
has reaped tremendous benefit, and con-
tinued:
when all of its antecedents are duly
considered do you think that the south
should set her face against this policy of
territorial and commercial expansion, from
upon the ground that it is contrary to the
teachings of southern and democratic
statesmen? Should the south lay the ak
at the root of a tree that Jefferson planted
and Cleveland watered? Is 1t not almost
time for the impracticable dreamers who
rail at this policy to perceive that the
growth of nation, like that of a plant,
is the inevitable and predestined outcome
of natural law?
President McKinley's Policy.
when intolerable conditions forced
President Mckinley to intervene in the af-
fairs of Cuba he did not hesitate to strike
the blow which severed that island from
Spain and added to our dominions Porto
Rico, Guam and the Philippines. Since
the advent of President Roosevelt I have
heard no complaint whatever of his hos
tility to the policy of expansion. At the
head of this great and growing nation we
now have an enlightened and progressive
statesman, who has been equal to all his
and who is regarded. GER
tainly in foreign lands, as the foremost
living American.
when through his happy and friendly
Intervention the war between Japan and
Russia was closed by treaty executed
upon American soil. he gave to our diplo-
macy a place it had never occupied before
in the worlds politics. In judging him the
south should not forget that he has never
lifted either his hand or his voice, so far
as 1 know, against the settlement of that
question of questions which she has en-
r-1died in her new constitution"