Huntsville gazette., 1881-07-30
Another Gulf Breeze,
OBSERVER FORTIFIEs HIS POSI-
TION.
Facts Against Fiction.


written to 'srefnte the erroneous statements
containe. in my letter to your paper June 25th
Mr.. Perez assumes great knowledge of the
subject upon which he writes. Possibly he
has, but would remind him that sit is human
to err" for proof of which let any intelli-
gent, unprejudiced citizen of Mobile read his
letter.
He writes to ssrefute?) erroneous state
",ents and proceeds to Jump at wrong conciu-
sions with great ease.
Inat part OF my letter in regard to
MOBILE OFFICE HOLDERS
was written for the Information of the readers
OF your paper Mr.. Perez overlooks all that
was said in praise Of colored officials, and, in
his prejudice, seems to think the letter written
solely to laud others, and to aid in preventing
the removal of the present Postmaster. The
writer understood that other causes than the
bestowal of the patronage were given by Re
publicans desirous of the removal OF the Post
master, and of these causes he professed igno-
rance. Mr.. Perez fails to disprove a st,tg5e
statement made in reference to the Post
Office excepting as to the time the Postmaster
has served. He devOteS great flourish OF
figures and space to this unimportant point.
What difference does 1t make it he has serv-
ed ten instead Of five years, granting that the
whole Of his administration has been charac-
teriZed by the same fairness and recognition
of the Negro?
l am also charged with ignorance of the
number of departments i'll the post-ofhce. In
the name OF common sense, how does that ef-
feet the question at issue. What If there be
nifty departments if the Postmaster controls
them all. Mir. Perez admits as much VIXEN he
states that the Postmaster recently filled a va
cxncy i'll the carriers department. These
frivolous points, underserving OF notice, are
fair samples OF the others he makes
| stated that there were seven colored men
in respectable positions in the post Office, VIZ:
The Superintendent OF the Box Department,
u mailing clerk and five letter carriers. Mr..
Perez does not deny this and fails to call at
tention to my omission of the Supernumer-
ary r. r. Mines, colored, in the carriers de-
partment. Ii his knowledge was complete
and he was so anxious for the public to be
properly informed, why did he withhold this
lact, and mention only four carriers. He
states that there are seven colOred Republl-
cans and nine white men i'll the office, only
two Of whom are Republicans. The fact Is
there are nine cOlored men i'll the office, all OF
whom are Republicans Mr.. Perez Is either
guilty of Withholding these facts from the
public or is ignorant of what he processes to
know and to teach me. he needs Ito prose-
cute his lnquiii. little further"
AS to my overlooking white men and Demo-
erats in the office. reply that | never
fearful OF the krights Of our white brethren.
Whether Democrats or Republicans they will
continue to get all that is due them. Thls
may be written down as certainty. At the
same time l believe that ''to the victors be-
long the spoils." Taking leave of the post
Office l may inquire what erroneous statement
has Dir. Perez ''refuted'? Not one.
CUSTOM HOUSE.
Mr. Perez is even more erroneous and ridic-
ulOus in his assertions and criticisms con-
corning the appointments by the present
Collector of Customs He asserts that no
credit is due Gen. Burke for the promotion of
NJ. hat hi
agents of the government had him appointed.
Did my letter contain any such unfair state
ment. Does not Mr. Perez here rob the Col
lector Of credit honestly due him. l state
authoritavely, that the statement of MIR.
Perez is untrue. | have informed myself
upon this point because l doubted Its truth
and it was due the public TO know the facts.
Mr. Perez also errs as to the rlmber of ap-
pointments made by the present collector.
He saws that ''eXcepr the promotion OF
Nicholas, w. B. Taylor is the only new ap-
pointment of colored man, for the appoint
ment of D.. 5. Brandon was only to hll a
vacancy" Does Mr. Perez know what an APP
pointment is? Was not the appointment
OF Brandon to fill vacancy as much of an
appointment as that OF w. b. Taylor? Was
| Brandon transferred? Could not q white Dem
ocrat or Republican have been appointed
| ask Mr.. Perez who appointed c. ?. Bland,
| of Lowndes county, an educated and repre-
| he is all appontee OF Gen. Burke. Therefore
| instead of one, as stated by Mr.. Perez the col
| lector has appointed three eolored men and
| promoted one Ii this Is the manner III which
he would meet the issues Oh the stump il
would be well for those interested to keep MIR.
Perez off the stump.
The use of the word night-watchman is
wrong. | repeat that when Gen. Burke came
into Office there were oily two colored inspec-
tors Now there are four, one on the day and
| three Oh the night force | dare say Mr..
| Nicholas gives Gen. Burke more credit for his
promotion than he does to all the response
| bic ageutsfof the government Wherein has
| he disproved anything that sold III regard to
| appointments in the Custom House? On the
contrary Mr. Editor, his letter is full of eiro
| Does he expect III this way to benefit the Re
| publican party or to advance the Interests OF
| the Negro.
| He Gves collector Morgan no credit for re-
| tanning Mr. Europe because lie has appoln :ed
none but white men since he has been Ill office
| If the Collector found way to get rid of some
men under him and appoint 'other white men
| wasn't it possible for hlm to have gotten rid OF
Europe? .sNhere there Is Will there Is "A
way Gen. Burke found Waiter Braziel, N
| H. Lam, of Colbert, Colemin Of Mobile and
others in the service. these are all leading
| and representative colored men III their ceun-
| ties and | am certain, Till their positions with
| credit and efficiency and give the Collector
| credit for their retention. No doubt Mr.
| Europe is like them in this respect
| His insnuation that sought personal ad-
yanceInent in writing the letter is like ali his
misstatements without foundation i'll fact
THE MOTIVE.
| The euestion arises why did he write his
| letter? 1t is evident that he failed to disprove
|. Observers statements. TO take that letter as
a pretext to make war on the Office holders
here 'smacks" somewhat of cowardice and a
want of moral courage to inaugurate indepen-
IDENTIFY ''this struggle against injustice" 1t
may be said that Mr.. Perez is engaged In
business and does not desire to hold office,
/ therefore his letter is deserving all the more
of respectful consideration. Is it the letter OF
patriot having the interest of his race at
heart, waging war for them instead of in spite
-smarting under personal disappointment in
seeking Officer
| Ny experience has been, Mr.. Editor, that
those who have been persistent and active i'll
| politics, who have done much ''stumping
feel that they are entitled to something, and
would not, to say the least, refuse An office.
The truth is most OF them ''hanker arter it. y
Mr.. p, may be an honorable exception to tins
rule, though he says he likes to meet ''the
issues" What, then sis the milk in the
cocoanut?" Mr.. Perez has held Office here,
and was a candidate last year for school COM
missioner. Was he ever an applicant for a
place in the Custom House? Is it known?
! - IL s1xsII.