Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-09
4 Level Headed Leader Has Faith i'm
President Taft.

rev Negroes have fallen into the err
ror of considering alone the number
and quality OF political appointments
TO date. An equitable representation
in the Offices, whether North or
South. is admittedly the wish and
hope of every Negro, and he considers
il but the just recognition of his
citizenship, and his loyalty, too, and
observance of the laws of his coun-
try. Still. however. il must not be
assumed that political appointments
alone constitute the one and only
basis upon which to predicate criti-
cism of President Taft and his Ad.
ministration.
"Regrettable though Il be, there
is real and fancied line OF distinc.
tion between the whites and Negroes
OF this country. President Taft in his
every public utterance has shown
that he is out of sympathy both with
the real and fancied line OF distinc-
ton. However. this has not closed
his eyes to the existence of this line.
nor prevented his attempting an ad-
iustment OF conditions which will. he
sincerely hopes, eventually destroy
every evidence Of race distinction and
race conflict. That he is sincere in
this matter no Negro who knows him,
or correctly judges him will affirm
70 the contrary.
If those Negroes who are Impatient
for shower OF political fruit from
the Presidential plum tree will stop
to consider that when the Maryland
disfranchising law was before the
electors OF that state for adoption,
President Taft threw the weight Of
his influence against il, and in Wig
orous terms denounced Il as an un-
just discrimination; and that with
out that influence, probably, every
Negro In Maryland today would be
disfranchised. perhaps they will con
clude the beneficent effect of his in
fiuence in Maryland as far more
fruitful for the race than any number
OF political appointments.
IL the Negro critics of the Presi.
dent will recall his Hampton, Howard
University, and Wilberforce Univer-
sity speeches, in which he declared
unQualitiedly for. and urged vigor-
ously the widest, most varied, and
best possible education for the Ne
gro, perhaps, If they are honest and
sincerely interested In the race ad-
vancement. will conclude that the
AAAAANANC GANANG0 UN AuG IItSlutNl
for education will have a vastly more
important bearing on the uplift OF
our ten millions of Negroes than a
hundred political appointments of
high or low degree could have.
II the Negro critics will stop and
consider the deep interest shown,
and the efforts put forth by President
Taft's Administration. to preserve
h.a fnHan.nHonCn 81
the permanency and progress of the
Liberian Republic-thus affording an
opportunity for the Negro TO show
and develop his capacity for self-gov-
ernment-perhaps they will assume,
and rightly, too. that the cause of the
Negro is a matter OF deep concern
With the President.
''If the Negro critics, and those
seekers for the temporary elevation
to be found in political appointments
will recall that the President, in his
annual message TO Congress, advo-
Gated the holding of a semi-centennial
celebration of the emancipation of
the American Negro from slavery, in
order that the race might show in
concrete and assembled form the won.
derful progress made in fifty years of
give him the credit he has earned for
a sincere desire for race uplift.
And. also. it must not be lost
sight of, when in forming a judgment
of President Taft, that in every
measure. policy or legislative enact
ment recommended by him to bene-
fit the people of the United States
as whole, the Negro, as a part, must
necessarily be benefited, and for this
we have a right, in common with the
whites, 10 feel grateful to him.
The fact that he President retain
ed his membership on the Jeanes
Fund Board, board having the man
agement and disposition of a fund for
Negro education, although he had
retired from active participation in
all his many societies and boards,
save the Yale corporation, ma6es 1t
inconceivable that he can be regarded
in any other light than one Who
aims to be a friend. And that he
takes a keen interest in the work
of the Jeanes Fund Board is evil
denced by his having had fits mem
'bers meet with him at the White
House last December.
After all. the paramount consid-
GRAFTON involved in the Negro ques-
ton is not what influence should be
exerted for any restricted or pre-
scribed sphere for the Negro, but
what influence should be put forth to
form an incentive to "a forward march
all down the line. Not what influence
should be exerted merely to conserve
the interests of the aspirants for or
fee, but what influence Is necessary
to conserve the industrial, CONNER
cial and professional advance of the
race. Not what influence should be
directed merely to and for the Ne
gro, but what influence should ne
directed affecting both the Negroes
and whites in order TO ameliorate the