New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-07
SACRIFICING TIE NEGRO.

Soft words bUtTcr no parSnlpS for nc
renudiated negroes If the Roosevelt
rarty. Behind the empty professions
Of regard for their ultimate welfare
they see movement ostensibly de
voted to the rule Of the people. 20 so
-iII Justice and larger democracy
trucking 10 the spirit Of aristocrauc
race ore udicc in the cndeavor 10 curry
favor with the white elements who Tor
forty-ii7e wears have been the pcrsis-
toni enemies OF the idea that the negro
could ever have the right 10 participate
I'm his OVID government. No wonder de-
voted and sincere workers for true de
mocracv like Miss Jane Adams are
grieyed and make Il pathetic appeal
against such fatal Inconsistency. They
svmDathize with Mr.. Roosevelt amli-
tiop "a break the solid south hut stand
scha-- at the cost of tho effort: for
despite an apologies it means Mr..
EooscycIrs recognition Of and acquI-
esccucc IL class rule and his adoption.
COR the southern states Al least. Of the
doctrine that this is exclusively white
mans government
What Mr.. Roosevelt is doing eXpedi
cncv has urged the Republican party 10
do for twenty years With the indus
trial development Of the South the Re-
publicans might have won u great fol-
lowing II they had been willing u
abandon the principle of equal rights.
Rut III. ua~ty of Lincoln aud Seward
and Grant or Fred Douglass and
John r. Lyuch-thc Mississippi negro.
by The way. whom Nlr Roosevelt one"
helped elect chairman ~ q Republican
National Convention over o southern
white man. being then firm for the rec
IGNITION Of the Southern negro In poll
ticS-thaf party could not for selfish
ends betray It's ideals and adopt the
policy Of race discrimination. ~ WAS
uet able in practice SOB enforce ITS prii-
ciplcs on local governments hut IL has
steadily borne witness for the faith
L might have gained advantage ht
throwing the Fifteenth Amendment
overheard ana uuder The Fourteenth
cutting down southern representation
In Congress and the Electoral College
50 that Democratic chances of winning
cirhor would be- slight But >ucn q
course meant rot merely the Continu.
ance Of discrimination which Rcpue-
leans could not prevent but acqui-
essence III the principle of discrimina'
lion. II meant doing exactly what Mr.
Roosevelt I'm his door Of hope ierter
from the White House declared was
Fundamentally wrong.
His supporters may Aauer him rs
Sir Richard Grcnviilc did Lo.d How
ard
.f know you ar" 200 coward
"Tou fv chem Tor moment 20 hgnt
with Them again.
But. like the old sailor they realize
that flight MEANS abandonment II the
helpless 80 the relentless enemies Of
their rights. The Southern Democracy
ms been split u.fure now bt white
movement, akin % M. Roosevelt 8.
F POnuliSm swept over it "a few years Jgu.
several state governments were carried
nv independents. They never brought
. the uegro-the worthy educated negro
ON whom Mr. Roosevelt said the "door
Of hope" must not be closed--one inch
nearer the enjoyment Of a share in hi-
( own government. And Mr.. Roosevelt
ESSAY in he same direction would not
I His present move j. no doubt one 81
tactics: but the gOa is not future p0-
litlcal equality for the negro-it Is
merely political advantage for Mr.
Roosevelt. His surrender 10 lilly
white" counsels OF expediency il neceS-
eariiy the complete abandonment OF the
Negroes fundamental rights. and 10 one
has stated that truth more convincing
" and forcibly than Mr.. Roosevelt him
self