The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-03-27
A simon-Pure Democrat in The Taft

leSS the most striking ana cleaF.cut.
exhibition OF political liberality and
bipartisan fairness with which chief
magistrate has ever favored the peo-
pie of this country. There have been
several instances of the partial cross
ing of party lines by former presidents
in the choice of their cabinet counsel
Tors. President Cleveland, for in
stance, appointed a 'sMugwump" or
cleveland Republican as member
Of his second cabinet; President Nc
Kinley had "Gold Democrat" in
one of his cabinets, and President
Roosevelt appointed a Roosevelt
Democrat" to cabinet position; but
it has been left to President Taft to-
confer such high honor upon a con-
sistent and simon-pure political oppo,
nent, one who declares that he has
never in his life voted a Republican
ticket.
The man to whose lot it has fallen to
De the first out and,out Democrat
called into The cabinet of an t-and
out Re u b lie n president-it is
scarcely necessary to say tn at
there is no instance Of raeord, nor
likely to be, of like magnanimity Oh
the part of any other kind of presi-
dent-is Jacob Med. Dickinson OF
Tennessee, the new secretary of war,
In the course of an address delivered
at a banquet given in his honor March
8 by the Iroquois Club of Chicago,
Democratic organization of national
fame, Mr.. Dickinson defined his polit-
zeal status, the motives that led to
mis- appointment by President Taft,
and the conditions under which the
position has been accepted and its du-
ties will be fulfilled, in the following
candid and unequivocal terms:
For nearly forty years, and most Of that time
with great activity, have been in the ranks of
the Democratic party. have never sought OF II
the reward of office or any other dement's, dlrect
or indirect. Like many southern men have at
times disapproved Its policies, but on account OF
local conditions, did not actively oppose It,. 1t
is an abnormal condition when almost all OF
zenship of contiguous states act together polltl-
caliy. 1t is certain that all of them do not think
alike on all such questions, and that differences
of opinion would lead to opposite party ANNA
tons in the southern states as IN the other
states, but for a constant and powerful COM
paeuing force 1t is misfortune to the south, o
misfortune to the whole country, that lnexor-
able conditions were such that differences on all
other questions have been suboEdinated to one
question When such action of those best quail
lied TO represent their people extended through
out so long a period and so constantly. 1t would
be like indcting nation to affirm that 1t was
either unWlse or unpatrlotlc Whethef OF not
these conditions viii operate IN the future as
Shey have in the past. do not claim the wisdom
TO predict. All lovers of our country should
unite in the hope that this may not be true, not
so much account of the political result, as on
account of the conditions themselves, which are
a constant menace to the south and in reHextlon
operate with UNHAPPY effects upon the entne
country,
's1)n account of the cause to which I have re-
ferred all of the southern states at the last cleo
ton cast their electoral votes against PRESIDENT
Taft as they have hitherto with respect to other
Republican presidential candidates Therefore,
politically, there was no bond between him and
the southern states. He is now, after the battle
has been fought entering upon the duties OF his
Office as president of the entire country. he has
been much in the south and for years has counted
very many southern men within the closest cir
Gle of friendship. his JURISDICTION as Juage eX-
tended over the states of Kentucky and Tennes-
see Through long period he was IN close as
ISOLATION with the people therei visited their
of everything affecting the general welfare OF the
country, and came to know more about the
southern people and the causes controlling
their social and political action than any man OF
the north who has been called to higher national
Office Moved by no obligations to the south,
but by strong friendship and sympathy tor the
southern people and still more by patrlotlc
love for the entire country. whose welfare is
necessarily bound up with that OF The south, ne
determined to invite into his cabinet southern
man thereby giving assurance to the southern
Ia hat alt electoral
was against him, he wanted them to feel that
they were in close relation with his adm1nlstra-
ton and would be in no sense alien to it.
If he had selected for this purpose a southern
Republican. however qualified to discharge the
duties Of the office, would not have fulfilled the
f,E1luose he had in mind. 1t he had selected
Democrat who had voted for him, there would
have been room for carp1ng criticism TO say,
however unjustiy, that the appointment had
been rendered and accented as reward lot ms
support, and besides such an appointment might
have lacked that Hgament with the southern
people which would exist between them and one
who had not left the party. am confident that
the great purpose OF the president was to es-
tablish the relationship L nave indicated. 1t
would helittle the broad PATRIOTISM winch IN
spired him to assume that ms purpose was 70
achieve political results, Having known me for
a long time and Intimately, and having con-
ferred with southern men whose opinions he
valued he came to the conclusion that my quail
feations and my relations to the southern people
we're such as to justify putting me IN ms CABINET
Having accepted the position, shall bring to
the discharge OF the duties of the ONCE my best
Efforts and shall OF course, carry out his poflcles
cannot conceive that any duty can arise III con-
nection with that Office that viii be incompati
pie with any views have hitherto entertained.
Certainly if such an occasion should arse
would net enlbarrass the president by holding a
position, the duties of which could not heartily
discharge.
THAT the purpose operating in his mind was
broad 1aagnaninous and patriotic, no one can
question. The wisdom both of the purpose ana
of his selection is to be tried by time. have
every assurance from letters and expressions IN
the public press that his action in appointing
me and my action in accepting are approved by
the south, and having the approval OF the south
ern Democratic states whose Judgment was es-
Decially appealed to in this manner by the presi-
dent can bear with eQuaninity any criticism
that may come from individual Democrats else
where"