The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-01-23
VARDAMAN OPPOSES
REINFORCEMENT
OF NEGRO
ISSUES STATEMENT GIVING REA.
SONS FOR OPPOSITION TO
TERRELL NOMINATION.
SORRY TO DIFFER WITH WILSON
S'lt is Source of Profound Rearet
That He Does Not View the Race
Question AS | Do" Says Senator
Should Look Truth in the Face.

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Yard
aman gave out formal statement CIV
ing his reasons why he will oppose
President Wilson's nomination of ROB-
ert H. Terrell, a negro, for reappoint-
ment as one of the three municipal
judges of Washington. Senator Varda.
man said:
"It is always disagreeable to me to
do anything in opposition to the wish
es of President Wilson.
81 have great faith in his integrity.
admiration for his ability, and am
sure in all matters he is actuated and
moved by the Hottest motives.
ut is a source of profound regret
however, that he does not view the
race Que stion as ] do. 1t is as impos-
sible for the white and colored races
to live amicably together on terms Of
political equality as it is for oil and
water to mix. Time has demonstrat-
ed that to be absolutely and incontro-
vertibly true.
II have no animosity for the negro.
want him to improve and progress
along the lines that he is capable of
improving
But I am not going to consent that
he shall share with the white man in
the government of this country. 1t
. was never intended-it cannot be done.
And in the proportion the negro par
1 ticipates in the government the gov
eminent suffers both races suffer.
Whenever the President appoints
negro to Office in the District of Co
lumba he inspires ambition in the
bosom Of every other negro in America
for the unattainable.
81 believe in protecting the negro in
the enjoyment of life, liberty, the pur-
suit of happiness and the products of
his toll. But am opposed to him par
ticipating in the government of office
holding or otherwise. If left to him
self, the negro will ultimately, in ODE
difnce to law of the eternal fitness of
things, take his place in the economy
of the government in which he is best
suited. But when yoL put him in office
he becomes the competitor of the white
mana conflict is inevitable, and we
all know from the history of the Anglo
Saxon race that the deadly attrition is
going to be on the side of the weak.
Party Promises Fail.
at is passing strange to me that peo-
pie should overlook these facts in deal
ing with this great problem. Why, az
negro cannot go and buy residencg
il cortain districts in the city of Wasc
ington or any other city in the United
STA without causing trouble, The
value Of the property depreciates and
discomfort and unrest follow. No self
respecting white man or white woman
will maintain social relations with the
negro They all feel that way about it
that is, all normal white people do.
And yet we go on doing things or suf-
fering things done which only inten-
sify feelings of hatred between the
races which result in discord and
strife.
"Why not look the truth squarely in
the face and act accordingly.
at is maintained that the President
or his supporters promised the negroes
Offices if they would support him for
President. do not know about that,
but ! do know if such a promise were
made it cannot be executed en-.
forced in any court of law or consci-
ence for the very good reason that 1t
is in violation of a decent public pol
icy.
at is very disagreeable to me to do
anything in opposition to President
Wilson in the performance of his Off
cial duty But I should be untrue to
the civilization of the century,I should
be faithless to the Anglo-Saxon race. !
should be an enemy to society II J
shoThd do less than all within my pow
er II defeat the confidhation Of any
negA to any office ex\ ept, perhaps.
miniAt& to Haiti, Liberia or some 9th
er mel . country IA
3, -