The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-16
IAf1'S PLEA
For White Republican Party in
tho South.
CAN SEE NO DANGER

GASV Sc MI DGNl5sK
o. Negro Domination, and Says Race
Proh.c.n is Eliminated Politically.
He asserts That This Sections
Interests Are No Longer Bound
IN in Democracy.
New York, Dec. 7.-President-
elect William H. Taft, who came to
New York today to address the
North Carolina society Of this city.
was given tumultous reception to-
night by the membe OF the organ
ization and prominent men from ali
parts OF the South at the annual din
ner Of the North Carolinans st tAc
Hotel Astor. Five hundred members
and guests Of the society filed the
brilliantly decorated banquet hall,
which was redolent OF the pines OF
the rssinous trees forming the bsck-
ground for more fragrant blooms.
which were scattered everywhere oT-
er snowy linens and fag-draped
walls. IntertwiQed ensig1s OF the
State and nation were conspicuous
in the decorations Of the banquet
hall. and larger flags were displayed
in front Of the hotel throughout the
day and evening.
Mr.. Taft, in the course OF an
address. which was confined entire
" to the South and its problems
urged again that the voters OF the
South should break away from the
outlive6 sentiment and traditions
Of their past political affiliations and
cast their ballots IN accordahce
rather with their economic aRd real
political beliefs.
Mr.. Taft declared that nothing
would give him greater pride during
his coming term il the chic? execu-
tive Office than so to direct the policy
Of the national government with re-
spect to the Southern States IS to
convince the Intelligent citizens OF
the South OF the desire Of his ao-
r,!nstraton to aid then in working
out satisfactorily the serious prob
lens before them and Of bringing
them and their Northern fellow citi'
zens closer and closer in sympathy
and point Of view.
White Supremacy Assured.
''I an not going to rehears the
painful history Of Reconstruction OF
~hhat followed it. I come at oncs
to the present condition of things
stated from constitutions! and po'
ilitical standpoint. And that IS this:
That IN all Southern States. It il
possible, by election laws prescTibins
proper qualifications for the SUI
rage, which square with the 15tt
amendment and which shall b:
equally administered as between the
black and white races, to prevent
entirely the possibility oe DONNA
ricn. OF Southern State, county OF
municipality governments BY an ig
ncra2t electorats, white or black
It is also true that the sooner sHcl
laws when adopted are applied witt
exact equality and justice to tht
two races the better Sor the mora
tone OF the State and communit!
concerned Negroes should be giveI
an opportunity equally witt Th!te:
by education and thrift 10 meet TIE
requirements OF eligibility Thic!
shall lay down in order to secure
the safe exercise OF the electora
franchise. The negro should as.
for nothing other than an eQua
chance to qualify himself for tht
franchise and when that is granted
by law and not denied by executive
discrimination, he has nothing K
complain OF.
''The proposal to repeal the 15tl
amendment is utterly impracticabit
and should be rciagated to the limit
Of forgotten issues. What We arr
considering is something practical
something that means attaioablt
progress. 1t seems to me to follow
therefore, that there IS or ought t
be common ground upon which VIZ
can all stand in respect to the racs
question in the South and its DO
litical bearing that takes away any
justification for maintaining the con
tinued solidity Of the South to pre-.
vent the so-called negro domination
The fear that in some way or other
a social equality between the races
shall be enforced by law or brought
about by political measures really
has 40 foundation except IN the i'm.
agination Of those who fear such \
result. The federal government mas
nothing to do with social equality
The war amendments dc not declare
II favor OF social equality; all that
the law or constitution attempts to
secure is equality Of opportunity be-
fore the law and in the pursuit o.
happiness and in the enjoyment o.
life, liberty and prosperity. Social
equality is something that grows out
Of voluntary concessions by the in
diyiduals forming society.
Reasons Of Sentiment
With the elimination Of the race
question can we say that there are
removed all the reasons why the
people Of the South are reluctant
10 give up their political solidity
and divide themselves on party lines
in accordance with their economic
and political views. No. there are
other reasons: perhaps only reasons
Of sentiment, but with the Southern
people. who are high strung, SEN
sfjve and outsnoken people, consid-
erations Of sentiment are frequently
quite as strong as hose of some
political or economic character.
" tho fSrer n7ace II ie nov, oo,rlv