The Washington times., 1908-12-08
President-Elect, in Speech
Before New York Tar
Heels, Expresses Hope.
RACE PROBLEM'
is NOT A REALITY
Ohioan Declares Section Deals
Wisely With Negro Question.
Gets Great Ovation.

y
Taft expressed his hope OF winning the
South to Republicanism and sOlidifying
il with the remainder OF the country.
He repeated. in effect, what he said on
the subject in an interview ne gave to
the Sunday evening edition of The
Washington Times.
He was greeted with tumuItuous ap-
plause by the 800 Carolinians when he
entered the hall, and, as he spoke. ex-
planning the foundations for his anbi-
tion TO elevate the South to political
prominence and prestige. he was cheered
again and again.
He declared that there is no reason 10
fear a race problem" because the
South has dealt with the problem well.
What he advocated was that the negro
be given an equal chance 10 educate
himself and use his thrift so that he
would have a chance TO prove himself
worthy to vote.
Taft's Speech.
he spoke as follows:
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? These are the questions that
force themselves on those of Us con-
cerned with the Government and who
are most anxious TO have q solid. united
country, of whose Will the course of the
Government shall be an intelligent inter-
probation and expression.
I am not going to rehearse the pain
1ul history of reconstruction or what
followed it come at once 10 the pres
ent condition Of things, stated from a
constitutional and political standpoint
And that is this: That in all Southern
states II IS possible. by election la WIS
prescribing power qualifications for the
suffrage which square with the Fif-
teenth amendment and which shall be
equally administered as between the
black and white races, to prevent entire
y the possibility of a domination Of
southern State, county, or municipal
governments by an ignorant electorate.
white or black II is further true that
the sooner such laws when adopted are
applied with exact equality and Justice
L. the two races the better for the
moral tone Of the State and community
concerned
Should Have Chance.
Negroes should be given an oppor-
tUnity. equally with whites by educa-
ton and thrift. TO meet the require
ments OF eligibility which the State
Legislatures in their wisdom shall Law
down in order TO secure the safe ex-
ercise OF the electoral franchise. The
negro should ask nothing other than an
CtIudI CHANCE 10 QG14llX .lllIfSelI Tor the
franchise, and when that is granted Dy
law and not denied by executive dis
elimination, he has nothing 10 com
plain of.
The proposal 10 repeal the Fifteenth
amendment is utterly impractiCable and
should be relegated 10 the limbo OF for
gotten issues. What we are considering
is something practical. something that
means attainable progress 1t seems to
me TO follow therefore, that there is
or ought to be a common ground upon
which We can all stand in respect to the
race question in the South, and its pO-
lItical bearing, that takes away any
Justification for maintaining the cOntin-
ued solidity of the South tc prevent the
so-called negro domination.
What Fear Is.
THE fear that in some way or other 4
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.
with the elimination of the race
question can we say that there are re-
moved all the reasons why the people
Of the South are reluctant TO give up
their political sOlidity and divide them
selves 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 a high-strung,
sensitive, and outspoken people, consid-
erations of sentiment are frequently
quite as strong as those Of some politi-
cal or economic character.
I'm the first place it is now nearly
forty years since the South acquired
Its political solidarity, and the inJensIt5
OF feeling by which it was maintained
and the OStracism and social proscrip-
ton imposed on those white Southern
" Wi %
necessity for such solidarity could not
but make lasting impression. and create
a permanent bias that would naturally
outlast the reason for its original ex-
istence."
On Reconstruction.
Mr. Taft referred to the trials Of the
reconstruction period, which accentuat-
ed the greater trials Of the past, and
dwelt upon the present prosperity OF
the SOdth, quoting figures to illustrate
Again, the Democratic party has not
preserved tnViOiate its traditional doc
trines as TO State rights and other is
sues. and has for the time adopted new
doctrines OF possibly doubtful economic
truth and wisdom southern men, ad-
herring to the party and the name, find
themselves, through the influence OF
tradition and the fear of a restoration
of conditions which are now impossible.
supporting a platform and candidate
whose political and economic theories
they distrust. Under these conditions
there was in the last campaign, and
there is throughout the South among
many of its most Intelligent citizens.
an lmpauence, q nervousness, and a
Testlessness IN voting one ticket and
rejoicing in the success of another.
Not a Carper.
'1Sow I am not one of those who are
disposed to criticise or emphasize the in
consistency of the position in which
these gentlemen find themselves. l be-
heve II would be wiser If all who SYM