The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-11

CAN SEE NO DANGER
OF Negro Domination, and Says Race
Problem is Eliminated Politically.
He Asserts That This Section )
Interests Are No Longer Bound
Up. 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 a tumultous reception to-
night by the members Of the organ
ization and prominent men from all
parts of the South at the annual din
ner of the North Carolinans at the
Hotel Astor. Five hundred members
and guests of the society filled the
brilliantly decorated banquet hall,
which was redolent of the pines of
the resinous trees forming the back
ground for more fragrant blooms,
which were scattered everywhere ov-
er snowy linens and Hag-draped
walls. Intertwined ensigns 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
ly to the South and its problems
urged again that the voters OF the
South should break away from the
outlived sentiment and traditions
of their past political affiliations and
cast their ballots in accordance
rather with their economic and real
political beliefs:
Mr.. Taft declared that nothing
would give him greater pride during
his coming term in the chief execu-
tive office than so to direct the policy
of the national government with re-
spect to the Southern States as to
convince the intelligent citizens OF
the South Of the desire of his ad-
minstraton to aid them 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 poins. Of view.
White Supremacy Assured
"I am not going to rehears the
painful history of Reconstruction or
what followed it. I come at once
to the present condition of things
stated from a constitutional and po-
litical standpoint. And that is this:
That in all Southern States, it is
possible, by election laws prescribing
propar qualifications for the sufr-
rage, which square with the 18th
amendment and which shall BE-
equally administered as between the
black and white races, to prevent
entirely the possibility Of a DONNA.
ton of Southern State, county or
municipality governments by an ig-
norant electorate, white or black.
1t is also true that the sooner such
laws when adopted are applied with
exact equality and justice 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 education and thrift to meet the
requirements of eligibility which
shall lay down in order to secure
the safe exercise of the electoral
franchise. The negro should ask
for nothing other than an equa.
chance to qualify himself for the
franchise and when that is granted
by law and not denied by executive
discrimination, he has nothing to
complain Of.
"The proposal to repeal the 18th
amendment is utterly impracticable
and should be relegated to the limbo
of forgotten issues. What we are
considering is something practical
something that means attainablc
progress. 1t seems to me to follow,
therefore, that there is or ought to
be common ground upon which we
can all stand in respect to the race
question in the South and it's po-
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
social equality between the races
shall be enforced by law or brought
about by political measures really
has no foundation except in the i'm
agination Of those who fear such a
result. The federal government has
nothing to do with social equality.
The war amendments do not declare
in 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 OF
happiness and in the enjoyment o.
life, liberty and prosperity. Social