Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-05
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND THE
NEGRO.


President Roosevelt has started
on another trip 90 the Southland and
it is now evident that much of his
summer vacation has been devoted
90 preparing addresses to be deliv-
cred ot the many places that he viii
visit upon this most spectacular ez-
cursion. It IS evident that this dis
unguished gentleman is filed with
pent-up energy and THAT he likes 20
talk.
The embarrassing Negro question
was inadvertently forced upon him
at Keokuk. iowa last Tuesday when
"a Negro plasterer. whose name is not
even given in The Associated Press
dispatches. presented him with
goid-headed cane. assuring the dis
uusuished visitor that the Negro
population of Eeokuk has every con-
ddeuce in his administration and in
his determination to treat the black
race with fairness. We are pleased
90 know that such faith exists among
thc Ncgrocs of that section. 10 isl
unfortunate thoueh chat mo- reprosen-
tative Negro in the entire state could
have been found TO make the pre-
scntauon speech.
Dc seems TO- speak badly FOR that
population. A plasteror's business
s to plaster houses and not Co cn-
gage iu oratoricaI efforts. It was
very bad taste and poor Judgment
for him and Dis colIeaeues not to-
have secured some one to greet hc
foremost citizen iu all thfs lana to
perform "a service that was sure TO-
attract Che attention of the civilized
world.
The President overlooked an Of
this. however. and strictly adhered
to the weli-known rule, never TO
look O. gift-Aorse iu the mouth" He
SIS quoted as follows.
"The Incident seemed to- touch
the President He eraspcd the
speakers hand and held &c tightly
while Dee made reply. saying ihat he
accepted the present with great
pleasure and adding that in dealing
with the black man. MS ia DEALING
with The white he followed what he
believed 20 De the only sane principle
that OF treating every man accord
ing 90 his merits as an Individual re
eardless OF race
Us it possible that Theodore Roose-
Welt IS about TO return to his first
love-the basic principle which in
spired him long before he reached
the presidential Office? Let us hone
so. In his speech delivered at St.
Louis, Mo. October 2d. 1907. he
said:
Il believe that the nation has the
whole governmental power over in
terstate commerce and the widest
discretion In dealing with that sub
JecL; or course, under the EXPRESS /
limits prescribed in the Constitution
Tor the exercise of ali powers. such
Tor instance as the condition that
due process of law" shall not be
denied"
President Roosevelt admits then
that the exercising OF all powers
must be within the limits prescribed
by the Constitution Of the United
States. These limits are bounded
by the emphatic declarations of due
process Of law"
Companies B, c, and d of the
Twenty fifth Infantry were dismiss
ed from the army Of the United
States by an executive order. counter
signed by Hon. William II. Taft as
Secretary of War. Not only was a
trial denied, but every effort was
made by the administration to DENY
to these men a hearing in the Sen
ate of the United States.
Talking is one thing and doing IS
another. Platltudes upon this all
important question, Mr.. President.
will not do. Gold-headed canes and
addresses by plasterers instead of by
orators will not restore lost conf
dence. wrong has been consum-
mated. A stroke Of the pen by the
head OF this nation will do justice to
the innocent men of the wrongfuny
disgraced battalion.
To do wrong is easy; to do right
is task.