The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-08
OFFERS HIS HAND.
Taft Invites the South to Come
and BE Friends.
In an Address Before the North
Carolina Society.
HE JUSTIFIES COURSE
Of Southern States in Ruling
Out Negro Vote.
No Reason Exists for Their
Political Solidity.

Taft who came to New York to address
the North Carolina society of this city,
was given a tumultuous reception by
the members of the organization and
prominent men from all parts of the
south at the annual dinner of the North
Carolinans at the Hotel Aston. Five
hundred members and guests of the So
ciety filled the brilliantly decorated
banquet hall
Mr.. Taft in the course of an address
which was confined entirely to the
south and its problems, did not hesitate
to follow up what he regards as the
advantages of his trip through the
south during the recent campaign. At
the conclusion of practically every one
of his pointed sentences, Mr.. Taft was
interrupted by applause and cheering.
After paying tribute to North Caro-
lima, Mr.. Taft pointed out that the laws
were made for the north and south
and the functions of the government
extended from the Canadian border to
the Gulf of Mexico; and led up to this
question: What is it that sets the
south apart, and takes from the south
ern people the responsibilities which
the members of a republic ought to
share in respect to the conduct of the
national government He continued:
Why is it that what is done at
Washington seems to be the work of
the north and the west and not of the
south? Should this state of affairs con-
tinue?
1--WE can answer these questions as
the historian would and we can explain
the situation as it is; but 1 don't think
we can justify or excuse a continuance
of 1T. 1t is of no purpose to point out
that early in the history of the coun-
try, the north was as responsible for
bringing slaves here as the south, be-
cause we are not concerned with whose
fault it Is that there was slavery nor
are we concerned with the probability
that, had the northerns been interest
ed in slaves they would have viewed
the institution exactly as the southern
ers viewed it, and would have fought
to defend it. 1t does not help in the
slightest degree in the present day to
stir up the members of the controversy
by attempting to fix blame on one part
of the country or the other in respect
to institution which has gone and
happily gone, on the one hand; or in
respect to the consequences of that in
stitution which we still have with us
on the other.E
Il am not going 10 rehearse the pain
full history of reconstruction or what
followed it. come-at-once to the pres
ent condition of. things stated from
constitutional and political standpoint
and that is this: That in all southern
states it is possible by election laws
prescribing proper qualifications for the
suffrage, which square with the fif-
tenth amendment and which shall be
equally administered as between the
black and white races. to prevent en-
tireIy the possibility of a domination of
southern state, county or municipal
governments by an ignorant electorate,
white or black. 1t is further true that
the sooner such laws were adopted and
supplied with exact equality and JUS
tice to the two races the better for the
moral tone of the state and community
concerned. Negroes should be given an
opportunity equally with whites, by ed
ucatiOn and thrift, to meet the require
mentS of eligibility which the state leg
islatures in their wisdom shall lay
down in order to secure the safe exer-
else of the electoral franchises. The
negro should ask nothing other than an
equal chance to qualify himself for
franchise and when that is granted by
law and not denied by executive dis
elimination, he has nothing to COM
plain of.
1.-The proposal to repeal the fif-
teenth amendment is utterly imprac-
ticable and should be RELOCATED to the
limbo of forgotten issues. What we
are considering is some thing practi-
CAL something that means attainable
progress. 1t seems to me to follow
therefore that there is or ought to be
a common ground on which we can
all stand in respect to the race ques-
ton in the south and its political
bearing, that takes away any justif1ca-
solidity of the south to prevent the
socalled 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 no
foundation except in the imagination
of those who fear such a result. The
federal government has nothing to do
with social equality. The war amend
ments do not declare in favor of so
cial equality; all that the law or con-
stitution attempt to secure is equality
of opportunity before the law and in
the pursuit of happiness and in the
enjoyment of life, liberty and proper
ty. Social equality is something that
grows out of voluntary concessions by
the individuals forming society
Mr.. Taft referred to the trials OF
the reconstruction period which ac-
centuated the greater trials of the
past and the slow return of prosper
ity to the south following the civil
strife as further agencies that heIped
to keep alive the feeling engendered
by that controversy. He spoke OF the
commercial growth of the south since
1890 as marvellous and gave MANY
figures. He continued:
'In this marvellous growth the man
ufactures of the south now exceed the
agricultural products and thus com
plete change has come over the char
acter of her industries The south
has become rich and only the surface
of her wealth has been scratched. Her
growth has exceeded that of the rest
of the country and she is now in every
way sharing in it's prosperity
"Again the Democrat party has not
preserved invioIate its traditional
doctrines as to state rights and other
issues and has for the time adopted
new doctrines of possibly doubtful
economic truth and wisdom. South
ern men adhering to the party and
the name find themselves, through the
influence of traditions and the rear
of restoration of conditions which are
now impossible supporting platform
and candidate whose politicaf and &c