New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-03
THE NEW LILY WHITE"

THE NEW LILY WHITE"
Mr. RoOsevelt's decision to deprive
Southern negroes of any part in the
third term movement is in sharp con-
trast with his attitude while President.
He still processes high principles OF
equality, but with an obvious diner
ence: and the reason is not far to seek
Then Mr.. Roosevelt professed RepuD-
licanism and had use for the Repu0-
lican organizations in the Southern
States. Now he prOclaims the ''brehk-
up of the Republican party though
lie Is seeking 10 run on IT'S tlcKet III
Kansas-and as National Progressive
wants Southern white votes. He
knows that the race issue has main
tanned white solidarity in the South
and kept many men voting the Demo
cratic ticket who did not agree with
Democratic policies If he can dis
sociate himself from the negroes he
hopes as a Lilly White" candidate to
detach support from the Democrats in
the Southern States. Therefore the
Southern negro is told to face facts.
unpleasant facts" and realize that his
ultimate good is 10 be achieved by DE-
vorcing him from politics in that re-
gi0n.
II is Il perfectly simple aud easily
understood policy. 1t is one which has
often been advocated by white Rcpuh-
licans in the Southern States, and hps
hitherto found no more rpsolute 81
nent than President Roosevelt tn,
Lilly White" policy was urged upon
him while he was in the White House
with much the same arguments which
he now presents The Republican party
could not permanently stand on is
apex instead of its base. If il was to
amount TO anything IN the South ii
must face actual facts. make it POS
sibe for the whites 10 divide oil mat
tiers of living political principle, instead
of binding them together by race
prejudice. The ultimate good of tie
negro would thus be promoted, the in
telligent property owning negro's in
f1uence would in due time he so"-ht
and he would take the place which his
merits commanded. For neither the
party nor for him. however. was there
hope while he was used to perpetuate
the conditions which consolidated hos
tility 10 it and to him in a position of
unShakable dominance in the South.
But these arguments fell on deaf ears
at the White House. Mr.. Roosevelt
could not make compromise with sin.
He could not let the negro stoOp TO
conquer. The policy of asserting the
negros political rights on paper must
be preserved. and in token thereof his
part In the Republican organization
and his representation in Republican
conventions must be maintained. Mr..
RoOsevelts famous Door Of Hope"
letter must still be classic in the
minds Of negroes politically ambitious.
Mr.. Roosevelt is still. Of course. for
the negro's rights where the recogni-
ton Of them is practical. His general
sentiments toward the race are uneX-
ceptionable. He would merely defer
their hopes. And If they complain
that hope deferred maketh the heart
sick he can tell them that he permits
q few negro delegates to attend his I'M
bossed convention from some Northern
states, where the negro vote Is almost
a balance Of power and can be useful
to him. while all the negroes voting in
the South would not help him, since
there he must first divide the white
vote. Mr. Roosevelt has no need OF
negro delegates. He is already the
candidate. and support Of him Is the
test Of National Progressive regular
ity. What he wants from the South Is
votes. Therefore, as a practical man,
he does not feel obliged to keep open
the Door Of Hope" as In 1904 and
1908. He may seem to be Inconsistent
but his course, read in the light Of
actual situations confronting him from
time to time. is ruled by one clear and
steady purpose.