The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-17
Mr.. Taft on Disfranchisement.
Atlanta journal.

Atlanta journal.
President-elect Taft was the princi-
pal speaker before the North Caro-
lima society in New York on Mon
day night aud give voice to some ex-
pressions on the subject of the negro
as factor in the solid South which
cannot fail to attract widespread at
tentiOiI
The people of Georgia and of a
number of other Southern States will
be particularly interested in what he
had to say in regard to the enforce
ment ofthOse constitutional amend
ments which have been adopted look
ing to the disfranchisement of the
ignorant and purchasable negro
voter
1t seems almost too good to be
true to say that the incoming chief
executive has practically endorsed
these measures and pledged himself
to their support, and yet such was
very strongly the tenor of his re-
marks.
In the course of his speech be was
making a sympathetic and candid in
quiry into the causes which have
kept the South solid in it's adherence
to the principles Of the Democratic
party. He was expressing the hope
that the bonds of fraternity between
the South and the other sections of
the country might be strengthened
and that the last elements of dis
trust might be eliminated.
He is too we'll informed not to
know that the menace of negro
domination has been one of the
strongest elements in keeping the
South solid, and this led him natural
ly to IL discussion of the disfranchise-
ment amendments which have been
adopted.
To say that he did not deprecate
these measures would be the mildest
statement of his sentiments. He
pointed out that it was useless to
talk of the repeal of the fifteenth
amendment of the colonization of the
negro, but Republicans, he said.
do not deem that amendment to be
inconsistent with the South's obtaining
and maintaining what it regards as it's
political safety from the domination of
an ignorant electorate
He points out that these amend
ments square with the fifteenth
amendment" and leaves but little
doubt in the minds of those who fol-
low his utterances that he will up
hold these amendments so far as it
lies in his power.
His attitude is in striking contrast
with those of the Crumpackers and
Dicks and FOrakers, who are per-
petually invoking these amendments
as a threat against the South's rep
resentation in congress, and indi-
Gates a sane and wholesome view of
the situation.
The distinguished speaker errs
! when he says there are no tendencies
on the part of the laws and the in
depreciation of the laws towards
social equality True, the law can
not compel that more intimate social
equality which centers about the
home, but if the Berea college decision.
for instance, had been other than
what it is, or if a recent District OF
Columbia decision, throwing open
the places of public entertainment to
black as we'll as to white, is to be sus-
tanned, it is difficult to see how the
tendency towards social equality is
to be escaped.
However, the South feels grateful
to Mr.. Taft for the quasi endorsement
he has given to our efforts to purify
and elevate the franchise, and if he
co-operates with US to that end he
connot fail to make a favorable i'm
preston on our people.