Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-03-10
President Taft on the South and
the Negro Pollen

President Taft on the South and
the Negro Pollen
The following excerpts from the
inaugural address of President
Taft show his attitude on the
Southern situation and the Negro
problem:
81 look forward with hope to
increasing the already good feel
ing between the South and other
sections of the country.
"While the Fifteenth Amend.
ment has not been generally OBJ
served, in the past, it ought to be
observed, and the tendency OF South
ern legislators today is toward the
enactment of electoral quallfica-
tions which shall square with that
amendment. Of course. the mere
adoption of a Constitutional law
is only one step in the right di-
rection. 1t must be fairly and
justly enforced as we'll. In time
both will come. Hence it lie
clesr to all that the domination of
sn ignorant, irresponsible element
can be prevented by constitutional
laws which shall exclude from
voting both negroes and whites
not having education or other
qualifications thought to be nee.
essary for a proper electorate.
"There was time when North.
erners who sympathized with the
negro in his necessary struggle
for better conditions sought to give
him the suffrage as protection
and to enforce it's exercise against
the prevailing sentiment of the
South. The movement proved to
be failure. What remains is the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Con-
stitution and the right to have
statutes of States specifying quail
fications for electors subjected to
the test of compliance with that
This is great pro-
lection to the negro. 1t never
will be repealed, and it never
ought to be repealed.
"If it had not been passed, it
might be difficult now to adopt it;
but with it In our fundamental
aw the policy Of Southern legis-
alton must and will tend to obey |
t, and so long as the statutes of
he States meet the test OF this
amendment and are not otherwise
n conflict with the Constitution
and laws OF the United States, it
8 not the disposition or within
The province of the Federal GCv-
to interfere with the reg
llation ty Southern States of their
domestic affairs.
"The negroes are now Ameri-
,ans. We are charged
With the sacred duty of making
heir path as smooth and easy as
We can. Any recognition of their
distinguished men, any appoint
nent TO Office from among their
lumber, is properly taken as an
Encouragement and an apprecio-
ion of their progress, and this
ust lolicy shall &c pursued.
"But it may we'll admit of
Ioubt whether, in the case of any
ace, an appointment of one OF
heir number to local office in
community IN which the race feel
ng is go widespread and acute AZ
o interfere with the ease and ia
ility with which the local COVER
lent business can be done by the
ppointee is of sufficient benefit by
FAY of encouragement to the race
0 outweigh the recurrence and in
rease of race feeling which such
n appointment is likely to en-
ender. Therefore, the Excel '
i've in recognizing the negro race
v appointment must exercise Il
areful discretion not thereby TO
o ~ more harm than good. On ,
re other hand, we must be care. /
vi not to encourage the mere pre- c
or &c of race feeling mar ufactured d
4 the interest of individual polit-
,.,I ~