Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-05

keep up = Tire m the Eehf VI Tue agents
whom we have authorized to do our work
on the isthmus. We must hold up their
hands. and speaking for the incoming ad-
ministrstion, | 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
completion OF this, the greatest construc-
tive enterprise OF modern times.
The governments Of our dependencies in
Prosperity of Dependencies.
Porto Rico and the Philippines are pro-
crossing as favorably as could be desired
The prosperity Of Porto Rico continues un-
abated, 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 be-
tween the United states and the archi-
pelago, with such limitations in sugar and
tobacco as shall prevent injury to the do
nestle interests on those products, we can
count on an Improvement in business con-
ditions in the Philippines and the develop
ment Of a mutually profitable trade be-
tween this country and the islands. Mean
time our government in each dependency
is upholding the traditions OF civil liberty
and increasing popular control which might
be expected under American auspices. The
work which we are doing there rebounds
to our credit as a nation.
Attitude Toward the south.
1 look forward with hope 10 increasing
the already good feeling between the south
and the other sections OF the country. My
chief purpose is not to effect a change in
the electoral vote Of the southern states.
That is a secondary consideration. What
l 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 reasonable 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 Off
GERS.
Negro Question Important
The consideration of this question cannot,
however, be complete and full without ref
erence to the negro race, its progress and
its present condition. The thirteenth amend
ment secured them freedom, the fourteenth
amendment due process of law, protection
VI bAOPClNs dAu Nlb BuishiN VI hoPfAhNS1t
and the fifteenth amendment attempted to
secure the negro against any deprivation
OF the privileges to vote, because he was
a negro. The thirteenth and fourteenth
amendments have been generally enforced
and have secured the objects for which they
were intended. While the fifteenth amend
ment has not been generally observed in
the past, it ought TO be observed, and the
tendency OF southern legislation today is
toward the enactment of electoral qualifi-
cations which shall square with that
amendment. or course, the mere adoption
OF a 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 It is clear to all that the
domination of 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
for a proper electorate. The danger of the
control OF an ignorant electorate has there
fore passed. with this change, the interest
which many OF the southern white citizens
take in the welfare of the negroes has in
creased. The colored men must base their
hope on the results of their own industry,
self-restraint, thrift and business success,
as well as upon the aid and comfort and
sympathy which they may receive from
their white neighbors of the south. There
was a time when northerners who sympa-
thized with the negro In his necessary
struggle for better conditions sought to
give him the suffrage as a protection, and
to enforce its exercise against the prevail
ing sentiment OF the south. The movement
proved to be a failure. What remains is
A. &c., - ~.
and the right to have statutes OF states
specifying qualifications for electors SUBJ
jected to the test OF compliance with that
amendment. This is q great protection to
the negro. 1t never will be repealed, and II
never ought to be repealed. II It had moi
been passed, it might be difficult now to
adopt it; but with 1t in our fundamental
law, the policy of southern legislation must
and will tend to obey 1t, and so long as
the statutes OF the states meet the test OF
this amendment 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 gov
eminent 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 in
dustrial education of the negro and the en-
c~ouragement OF the race to make them
selves useful members of the community.
The progress which the negro has made
in the last fifty years from slavery, when
its statistics are reviewed, is marvellous,
and II furnishes every reason to hope that
in the next twenty-five years a still greater
improvement in his condition as a produc.
tive member OF society. on the farm, and
in the shop, and In other occupations. may
come. The negroes are nov Americans,
Their ancestors came here years age
against their will, and this is their only
country and their only flag. They have
shown themselves anxious to live for II
and to die for II. 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 aic
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 properly taken as an encourage
ment. and an appreciation OF their progress
and this just policy shall be pursued
Recognition Not the Remedy.
But It may well admit of doubt whether.
In the case OF any race. an appointment
of one OF their number to a local office IN