The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-20
sUMTER S. Q. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 20. 1ooo

graduation that today the expression
or any political view in the South is
possible without involving social os-
tracism or any of the penalties with
which it might have been visited in
earlier times. Ten years have made a
great difference in the attitude which
the controlling people OF the South oc-
cupy towards the North and the gov
ernment."
The president-elect then summarz-
ed the causes which had worked and
were affecting this change-the Span
ish war; the attitude OF Mckinley, his
lovable character and the principles
he stood for in his campaign; the sue
cession of Roosevelt with his Georgia
mother; and finally the wonderful!
business developments of the South.
Il am Republican but 1 concede
fully the great advantage Of the coun-
try Of having Democratic party suf-
hciently powerful ct times to win the
presidential elections and always to
put the Republican party, when in
control in fear of possible or prob
able defeat. And SO in the South no
one can deny the advantage that will
arise in local and State governments
when there is a substantial and intel
ligent minority, which may become a
successful majority in punishment of
the abuses that are likely to grow out
OF the long continued and undisputed
control of one party. Added to that,
the uncertainty which may attend the
result Of national elections in a State
is certain TO give it additional impor-
tance to the councils of the nation.
Il observe that among some promi-
hent members of congress there is
disposition to charge me with an at
tempt to win the South over to Re-
pubicanism and a somewhat contem-
ptuous expression of opinion that this
Is utterly impossible. To them i
would say that 1 am not hopeful of
winning the South over as they say,
but that the South has succeeded in
winning me.
IF my coming had been partisan
no such meeting as this tonight would
have been possible, and so 1 may say
of. all the receptions and expressions
OF good will and welcome that I have
received from point to point through
out the Southern country. The very
success of my trip, the very reason
why 1t gives me so much satisfaction,
10 the pronounced non-partisan charac-
ter Of the welcome which has been so
kindly extended to me
Now If this indirectly makes, not
Tor partisan advantage, but for
continuance Of the movement in favor
or independence Of speech and action
and political tolerance, it's result is one
that all citizens of whatever political
party must rejoice to have brought
about.
The direct local effect OF a nation
al administration upon the South is
CHIEFLY through its local officials, ap-
pointed and exercising their functions
through the section, and therefore the
expression o. the administration to-
ward the Southern people takes it's
color in the character Of those officials
and there the administration may be
properly held accountable and its pol
icies determined by the qualifications,
fitness and standing OF the men ap-
pointed to represent it in the districts
and States OF the section. realize,
therefore, that expressions Of SYM
pathy with the South and an earnest
desire to bring 1t closer to the CEN
trail government in thought and action
and feeling will have comparatively
little weight unless this expression is
accompanied by such appointments in
the South as shall prove this SYM
pathy to be real and substantial.
All caH say with reference TO the
future policy of the administration in
the South on this subject is that
expect to spare no effort to find out
the facts in respect to the character
OF the proposed appointees, and so far
as In me lies to select men whose
character and reputation and stand
ing in the community commend them
to their fellow citizens as persons
qualified and able to discharge their
duties well, and whose presence in i'm
portant positions will remove, if any |
such thing exist, the sense Of alienism |
in the government which they renre-
sent"