Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-05

| to do our work on the isthmus. We must
hold up their hands, and speaking for the
| incoming administration, l wish to say
| that / propose to devote all the energy
possible and under my control, to the
pushing of this work on the plans which
have been adopted, and to stand behind
the men who are doing faithful hard
work to bring about the early compile
ton of this, the greatest constructive en-
terprise of modern times.
Policy of Colonies
The governments of our dependencies in
Porto Rico and the Philippines are pro-
crossing as favorably as could be de-
sired. The prosperity of Porto Rico con-
tinues undated. The business conditions
! In the Philippines are not all that we
could wish them to be. but with the
passage of the new tariff bill permitting
/ free trade between the United States and
the archipelago, with such limitations in
sugar and tobacco as shall prevent injury
to the domestic interests on those pro-
ducts, we can count on an improvement
| in business conditions in the Philippines
and the development of mutually profit
able trade between this country and the
islands Meantime our government in
each dependency is upholding the tradi-
lions of civil liberty and increasing popu-
lar control which might be expected I'M
| der American auspices. The work which
we are doing there rebounds to our credit
as a nation.
| 1 look forward with hope to increasing
the already good feeling between the
south and the other sections of the coun-
try. My chief purpose is not to effect
| a change in the electoral vote of the
southern states. That is a secondary con-
sideration. What 1 look forward to is an
increase in the tolerance of political
views of all kinds and their advocacy
Throughout the south. and the existence
of a respectable political opposition in
every state; even more than this, to an
Increased feeling on the part of all the
people in the south that this government
is their government, and that its officers
In their states are their officers.
Negro Franchise
The consideration of this question can
not however, be complete and full with
out reference to the negro race, its pro-
gress and its present condition. The 18th
amendment secured them freedom; tho
14th amendment due process of law, pro-
lection of property and the pursuit OF
happiness; and the 18th amendment at
tempted to secure the negro against any
deprivation of the privilege to vote, be-
cause he was a negro. The 18th and 14th
amendments have been generally en-
forced and have secured the objects fo'
which they were intended. While the 18th
amendment has not been generally OBJ
served in the past, it ought to be OBJ
served, and the tendency OF southern leg
islation today is toward the enactment oil
ELECTORAL qualifications which shall square
with that amendment. Of course, the
mere adoption of constitutional law Is
only one step in the right direction. II
must be fairly and justly enforced as
well. In time both will come. Hence II
is clear to all that the domination oil
an 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 necessary fol-
a proper electorate.
l The danger of the control of an ignor.
ant electorate has therefore passed With
this change. the interest which many ol
the southern white citizens take in the
welfare OF Tie negroes is increased. The
colored men must base their hope on the
results Of their own industry, seIf-re-
straint, thrift and business success, as
well as upon the aid and comfort and
sympathy which they may receive from
their white neighbors in the SOUTH. There
was a time when northerners who sym
pathized with the negro in his necessary
struggle for better conditions sought to
give to him the suffrage as a protection
and to enforce it's exercise against the
prevailing sentiment Of the south. The
movement proved to be a failure. What
remains is the -15tht amendment to the
constitution and the right to have statutes
Of states specifying qualifications fol
electors subjected to the test of compli-
ance with that amendment. This Is a
great protection to the negro. 1t never
| will be repealed, and II never ought to be
| repealed. If 1t had not been passed, II
might be difficult now to adopt It; but
with it in our fundamental law, the policy
| of southern legislation must and will tend
to obey it, and so long as the statutes OF
the states meet the test of this amend
ment and are not otherwise in conflict
with the constitution and laws of the
United States, it is not the disposition or
within the province of the federal govern
ment to interfere with the regulation by
southern states of their domestic affairs.
There is in the south a stronger feeling
than ever among the intelligent, well-to-
do and influential element in favor of the
industrial education of the negro and the
encouragement of the race to make them
selves useful members of the community.
The progress which the negro has made
I'm the last fifty years from slavery, when
it's statistics are reviewed, is marvellous,
and it furnishes every reason to hope
that In the next twenty-five years q sui
greater Improvement in his condition as q
productive member of society, on the
farm, and in the shop and in other occu-
pations, may come. The negroes are now
! Americans. Their ancestors came here
years ago against their will, and this is
their only country and their only flag.
| They have shown themselves anxious to
live for and to die for it. Encountering
the race feeling against them, subjected
at times to cruel injustice growing out
| of it, they may we'll have our profound
| sympathy and aid in the struggle they are
making. We are charged with the sacred
duty of making their path as smooth and
easy as we can. Any recognition Of their
| distinguished men, any appointment to
| office from among their number, is prop
| erly taken as an encouragement, and an
| appreciation of their progress, and this
just policy shall be pursued.
Negro Appointments
But 1t may we'll admit of doubt whether,
| in the case OF any race, an appointment of
one of their number to local Office in a
community in which the race feeling is so
widespread and acute as to interfere with
the ease and facility with which the local
government business can be done by the
appointee, is of sufficient benefit by way
of encouragement to the race to outweigh
the recurrence and increase the race feel
ing which such an appointment is likely
to engender. Therefore, the executive, in