Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-17
Mr. TAFT AND TIE NEGRO.


Mr.. Taft's latest message to the
south. delivered at New Orleans upon
his return from Panama, deals with
the question over which the south has
shown the keenest concern. the atti-
tude OF the president-elect on the race
problem. No real friend of the south
can fail to commend the honesty and
frankness of Mr.. Taft in stating his
position, nor can there be any question
that his view is the wise one. In an
address to 1000 negroes at Pelican
island, Mr.. Taft said:
There is not the slightest doubt but that
the race question can be settled and that
II Is now In the process Of being settled.
The north, however. must not appear as IL
1t would force the settlement. The south
knows more about the problem than the
north does. and we people OF the north must
stand aside. OF course we must commend
what has been done and encourage both
sides to accomplish more.
We have been told that the whites and
blacks cannot live together in the same
country, and that the negroes should be
sent away to some other country Now
where are we going to send the negroes?
You are here, and you will remain here.
But I tell you this. that II we were to find
a place which It would be practical to send
you, that the first people to protest would
be those whom the theorists say you can
not i've with
/ ask you to elevate the individual. IL
may be necessary to give some of the col
ored people advanced e-ducation-such as
the professionalism the masses should have
primary and Industrial education, so that
they can make their hands useful and make
themselves good citizens. Your history
shows that a great deal OF injustice has
been done to you. but you must forget this
ana eliminate all prejudice II you wish to
assist In settling the race question. II you
want a square deal you must give a square
deal. You must teach your children that
work Is honorable, that no matter if they
obtain the very best education no work is
dishonorable. and that II it is necessary
that they dig in the bitches they should be
proud of the honest labor they are doing.
This reflects the sentiment of the
best people of the south, however
much It may be denounced by men of
the Tilman and Vardaman type who
are opposed to the education of the
negro and opposed to any law that
looks to giving him political and prop
erty equality with the whites. The
southerners understand that the COM
mercial and industrial development of
the south must come largely through
the labor of the negro n they are
beginning to understand that the more
fnfoIIi0ont fha Ioharar Tho - - 0i1
the Industrial advancement will be.
Their efforts to educate the & in
Industrial lines and in the common
schools have been hindered by the OPP
position of the Tillman type, by the
negroes themselves, in many ways, and
by some well-meaning philanthropists
who have sought to adapt their the
cries to conditions which they do not
understand. Mr.. Taft's advice is that
the north should stand aside and allow
the problem to be solved by those who
understand 1t best.
The right of the negro to vote, sub
applied to white voters, must be main
tanned, but, as Mr.. Taft explains, it can
better be secured by education thar by
force. The south appreciates his and
the franchise laws in different states
are being adjusted to meet the condi-
tions, with the prospect of an early
and more satisfactory solution of the
problem. The race question can not
long remain a troublesome one If Mr..
Taft's suggestions for dealing with it
are followed.