The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-11-19
TAFT,s SOUTHERN POLICY


President-elect Taft Is very anx-
Ious TO win favor with Southern peo-
| pie, and announces that he will do
| anything within reason TO obliterate
the feeling of antipathy which South
erners maintain tward the Republi-
can party The South is tired of be-
| ing ignored, and we believe that If
| Judge Taft In sincere in his utter
ances her people will meet him half
way. He cannot, however, play the
double game to which Roosevelt has
| resorted. The president who is about
20 retire pretended TO be friend of
the South, but he did so because of
his vanity. Roosevelt loves adula-
ton, and in order to make the South
ern people obsequious he pretended
that they occupied a high place in
his estimation. But actions speak
louder than words, and Roosevelt
demonstrated on more than one oc-
easion that he does not care rap for
the South or her people.
Roosevelts policy toward the ne
gro. was in itself enough to ansago-
nize the South. No loyal Southerner
can really admire any white man Who
believes or pretends to believe that |
negro is as good as he is, and |
Roosevelt sougIat1~in many ways tol
obliteTate the. color line and eStab- /
lish social and political equality be- /
tween the tEe races. The people of /
the South may forget the indignitfes
that We're heapedaupon them by theI
Union soldiers during the civil war,
for the war is a thing of the remote
past, and we have practically recoy-
cred from its disastrous effects, but
the negro, like the poor is always
with us, and we realize more fully
each day his unfitness for citizenship.
Judge Taft is undoubtedly an able
man, and If he has the hardihood to
sree himself from Roosevelt domina-I
lion can do much to blot out the feel
ng of antagonism which now exists
among Southerners toward their
Northern brethren. But this policy
must be sincere and consistent. and
he must prove by words as well as
leeds that he has the best interests
If the South at heart. The appoint :
nent of some chicken-hearted South
.rn mugwump to a cabinet portfolio
will never accomplish the end in
-iew, nor will few trips through
he South beget the. love and admira-
ion of her people. If Judge Taft
eally wants to fngratiate himself
With the people of the South he must
how them the same respect in polit- :
Northern constituents S out h n
should be consulted in
making all appointments in their re-
pective districts, and no man who is
ersona non grata to the people with
whom he is to come in daily contact
hould be appointed to Office. BY all
means let him refrain from appoint
ng negroes to Office in the South,
or nothing is more obnoxious to the
Ihite people Of this section than to
ee a burly negro holding a federal
oh and boiling over with egotism, =
and self-importance.
During his career Judge Taft has
lied many notable positions, and has
lied them with credit and distinc-
on. but the supreme test is now at
and. Freed from Roosevelt, he can
i've us clean, business-like admin
'tration that will be acceptable to
Itizens in all parts of the country,
ut with Roosevelt debating his pol d
y he is pretty sure to make mess .
things. It's up to Judge Taft, and
me alone will reveal the course he
ltends to pursue.