Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-05

i u2Iaux IUe IA '"e A"'e
utterauces.
The new President declares be
locks forward with hope TO increas
INK the already good feeling between
the South and other sectious OF thu
country" A most laudable amo:
ton ss to the sincerity Of which
probably no one harbOrs a DOUBT.
Pursuiug the subject Ct conditions
in the South, particularly with refer'
nee 70 racial matters. Mr.. Taft ~
| pears to assume a dual position nc
less pronounced than that taken upon
the tariff question.
In the frst paragraph OF the extract
from the address quoted below he
declares with regard to the appoint
ment # negroes to Federal ofices.
that this just policy shall be- pursued.
This declaration evidently is Intend
cd to propi,iate the black race, while
the paragraph Immediately following
IL for white consumption.
Says he:
we are charged with the sacred
duty Of making their oath rs smooth
and easy AZ Se can. Any recogn'-
ton CT their distinguished men. any
appointment to Cffice from among
their number. Is properly taken as an
encouragement. aud an apprecia lion
Of their progress, and this jus, policy
shall be pursued.
But Il may veil admit Of doub.
whatever, in the case Oi any race. an
appointment Of one OF their number
to a local cfflce In community In
which the race feeling Is so wide
spread and acute as 10 interfere with
the ease and facility with which the
local government business can ne
done by the aypointee. is OF sufficient
benefit by way Of encouragement to
the race to outweigh the recurrence
and increase Of race feeling which
such An appointment Ia likely TO en-.
danger. Therefore. the executive. IN
recognizing the negro race ny appoint
ments must exercise a careful dis.
cretion not thereby to do 1t more
harm than good On the other hand
We must be careful not 70 encourage
he mere pretense Of race feeling
manufactured In the interest Of indf'
vidual political ambition
While the incoming executive has
amtably executed "s,raddle'' upon
some policies. it is painful to per.
crive that he comes out boldly AMI
uneQuivocally for widered Federal
governmental control over the AFFAIRS
Of States and cities. Presumably
this utterance was inspired BY the
recent controversies in certain Paci-
fic coast States growing out Of the
i cal tepugnsnce to raciaily mixed
schools, and the national govern.
ment's treaty with Japan.
It Is remarkable and exceedingly
disquieting that he new President
should unQualihedly recommend the
compelling Q. obedience On the part
OF States and cities to the tenets Of
treaties with foreign governments
which are directly opposed to beth the
spirit and the letter Of the United
States constitution.
Should Congress act favorably upon
Mr.. Taft'S recommendation. II would
be easily possible for the govern
nent at Washington to engage by
treaty with the African republic Of
Liberia to compel Newpor, News 10
admit pupils Of African descen, TO AT
the white psblic schools in this city.
Furthermore, the army and navy
could be employed II necessary TO en-
force submission.
Treating OF this subj:c, Mr. TAFT
says In part:
This leads me to poin, out a seri-
Gus defect in the present Federal
jurisdiction which ought to be rene
died at once. Having assured tc
other countries by treaty the pr,tec'
, ton OF our laws for such Of their sub
jects or citizens az We permit to come
within our Jurisdiction, We now leave
TO q State or city. net under the
| control Of the Federal government.
the duty o. performing our in,erna.
| tional ob'ixations in this respect. Dy
rruper legislation We may. and ought
t.. place In the hands Of the Federal
| executive the means Ct enforcing the
secs'y rights OF such aliens In the
courts CT the FEDERAL government.