New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-05
Modification of Anti Trust Law. Cur
rency. Mail Subsidy, Postal Bank
and Labor Legislation
Recommended.
Recommended.

DEVELOPMENT OF mutually prohtdple ti"0T
tween this country and the islands. MeantlIle
our government in each dependency is uphoio-
ing the traditions of civil liberty and increasing
popular control which night~be expected under
American auspices. The work which we are
doing there rebounds to our credit as nation
THE SOUTHERN PROBLEM.
7 look forward with hope to increasing the al
ready good feeling between the South and the
other sections of the country. My chief purpose
is not to effect change in the electoral vote OF
the Southern States. That is a secondary con-
sideration What 1 look forward TO is an in
crease in the tolerance Of political views of all
kinds and their advocacy throughout the South
and the existence of respectable political OPP
position in every state; even more than this, to
an increased feeling the part of all the people
In the South that this government is their gov
eminent, and that its officers in their states are
their officers.
The consideration of this question cannot,
however, be complete and full without reference
to the negro race its progress and its present
condition. The Thirteenth Amendment secured
them freedom; the Fourteenth Amendment due
process of law. protection of property and the
pursuit of happiness. and the Fifteenth Amend
ment attempted to secure the negro against any
deprivation of the privilege to vote because he
was a negro The Thirteenth and Fourteenth
have secured the objects for which they were
intended While the Fifteenth Amendment has
not been generally observed in the past, ii ought
TO be observed and the tendency of Southern
legislation to-day is toward the enactment of
electoral qualifications which shall square with
that amendment OF course the mere adoption
of constitutional law is only one step in the
right direction. 1t must be fairly and justly
enforced as we'll In time both will come.
Hence Il is clear TO all that the domination or
an ignorant irresponsible element can be pre-
vented by constitutional laws which shal ex-
cIude from voting both negroes and whites not
having education or other qualifications thought
to be necessary for a proper electorate. Tne
danger of the control OF an ignorant electorate
has therefore passed. with this change the In
terest which many Of the Southern white cltl-
zens take in the welfare of the negroes mas IN
creased. The coored men must base their nope
IN the results of their own industry, self-re-
straint thrift and business success, as well as
upon the aid and comfort and sympathy when
thew NAV receive from their white neghbors Of
the South There was a time when Northerners
who sympathized with the negro in his neces-
ssrv struggle for better conditions sought to
give him the suffrage as a protection, and to
enforce its exercise against the prevailing sem
timent Of the South. The movement proved 70
be failure. What remains is the F1tteenth
Amendment 10 the Constitution and the right 70
have statutes of states specifying qualifications
for electors subjected 10 the test Of compliance
with that amendment. This is a great protec-
ton 10 the negro. It never Will be repealed and
II never ought 10 be repealed. II 1t had not
baen passed. II might be difficult now 70 adopt
II. hut with It IT. our fundamental law the pol
lev Of Southern legislation must and will tend
70 obey IT, and so long 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 IL is not the dis
position or within the province IF the federal
government 10 interfere with the regulation by
Southern states Of their domestic affairs. There
Is in the South stronger feeling than ever
among the intelligent, well-to-do and influential
element In favor of the industrial education of
the negro and the encoura cement of the race 20
make themselves useful members Of the com
munity. The progress which the negro mas
made in the last fifty years from slavery "hen
It's statistics are reviewed Is marvellous, ana II
furnishes every reason 10 hope that In the next
twenty-five years still greater Improvement
In his condition a productive member OF So
ciety, on the farm and in the shop and in other
occupations, 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 IL and 10 die Tor
it. Encountering the race feeling against them.
subjected at times 10 cruel injustice growing
ont Of IT, they may well have our profound sym
pathy and aid in the struggle they are making
We charged with the sacred duty OF max
ing their path as smooth and easy as We can
Any recognition of their distinguished men. any
appointment to office from among their num-
Der is properly taken an encouragement ana
an appreciation of their progress, and this just
policy should be pursued
But it may we'll admit IF doubt whether, In
the case of any race. appointment of one OF
their number to local office in a community in
which the race feeling is widespread AMI
acute a s to interfere with the and facility
with which the local government business can
he done by the appointee Is of sufficient benefit
by way of encouragement 10 the race 10 out
weigh the recurrence and increase of race feel
ing which such an appointment is likely TO
engender Therefore. the Executive In recog-
nizing the negro race by appointments must
exercise careful discretion not thereby 10 do 1t
more harm thar good. on the other hand, we
must be careful not 10 encourage the mere pre-
tence Of race feeling manufactured in the in
terest of individual political ambition
Personally I have not the slightest race preju-
dice or feeling, and recognition Of its existence
only awakens In my heart deeper sympathy
for those who have to bear II or suffer from it,
and I question the wisdom of policy which is
likely 10 increase IT, Meantime. II nothing is
done to prevent, better feeling between the
negroes and the whites in the South will con-
tinue 10 grow, and moro and more OF the white
people will come to realize that the future OF
the South is to be much benefited by the In
dustrial and Intellectual progress Of the negro.
The exercise of political franchises by those of
his race who are intelligent and well-to-do will
ba aco,Iiesced in. and the right 10 vote will be