Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-21

The Color Line at the North.
The first step has been taken towards
drawing the color line at Asbury Park,
Nj. Asbury Park and Ocean Grove are
close together on the Jersey coast, and
very little distance from Long Branch.
Both places are resorts for people who
want to mix religion with surf bathing
and sea breezes. The visitors are eX-
cellent people, and the most OF those who
occupy cottages through the summer are
influential members of the respective
communities IN which they live.
II is probable that more consideration
is shown colored people at Asbury Park
and Ocean Grove than at other summer
resorts in the country, and yet at these
places the white people have begun 10
complain that they can't stand the men
and women Of African descent, They
say that they do not object to the cOlored
people as long as they keep their places,
and do not force themselves where they
are not welcome, and do not take priyi-
leges not intended for them.
The cOlored people, of course, insist
that they are just as good as any body,
and to show their independence make
themselves disagreeable. The local pa
per at Asbury Park has sounded the note
Of discomfort, and the war between the
races, in a very mild form, has begun.
The inevitable colored preacher has taken
the matter up, and has begun discussing
it from the pulpit. The town authorities,
on the part of the white people, are pre-
pairing 20 make rules and regulations that
willrender the colored people little more
unobiectionable.
1t seems that the town authorities are
satisfied that if the colored people are per-
mitted to have their way they will speedily
drive all the white people from the place.
That is not a condition of affairs that is
to be desired.
1t is somewhat remarkable that the
New York Tribune has not taken hold OF
this Asburv Park outrage and dealt with
it in the aggressive and aggravating way
that it took hold Of the alleged Alabama
outrage, which it discussed with so
much bitterness few weeks ago.
That alleged outrage furnished the
Tribune a subject for several editorials.
After all, even if everything that the
Tribuae stated about the affair were true
it wasn't one hundredth part as great an
outrage from the Tribne'S standpoint as
this Asbury Park affair is. Why then
does the Tribune remain silent while the
black man is being denied the privilege of
dispOrting IN the same surf, and prone
nading on the same beach where the white
% 40
term?
The Alabama incident amounted to very
little. A colored man and his wife, hav-
ing first-class tickets, got into car set
apart for white people. In Alabama a
tirst-class car is always provided for
colored people. The conductor invited
the colored couple to 90 into the car pro-
vided for the people of their race. They
declined the invitation. They were COM
PEELED, however, to comply with the rules
of the railroad company. A Brooklyn
shoe drummer interfered in behalf of the
colOred people, and was quickly given to
understand that he would have TO attend
to his own business.
Is it an outrage in Alabama or GeOr-
gia or Florida to require colOred people
to occupy cars provided for them. and not
an outrage to shut them out of a public
place like Asbury Parky
The truth is that, notwithstanding all
the cant and hypocritical professions of
certain class of Northern people respect
ing the colOred race, there is just as much
prejudice against that race at the North
as at the South, and any assumption of
equality will be as quickly resented
there.
1t is probable that the Tribune will not
discuss the Asbury Park matter, because
it concerns the North, but it will keep a
sharp lookout for something in the South
which it can twist into an outrage.
There appears to be a good deal of dis
cussion at Washington about what are
called the ''red letter" certificates issued
by the Treasury Department. 1t seems
that prior to the recent conference at New
York between United States Treasurer
Jordan and the banks $S60,OO0 of these
certificates, which are simply certificates
to pay the holders OF them in any lawful
money, had been issued. IL is said that
/ it is not claimed at the Treasury that the
certificates have any legal character. The
theory Of the Treasury seems TO have been
| that any receipt or certificate which the
| bankers were willing TO take was good as
a memorandum as between the Treasury
/ and the banks. Some OF the Congressman
/ who have become acquainted with the
circumstances talk very sharply, and say
/ 81, II
! policy. suggestions Of that sort appear
TO cause no terror at the Treasury. The
| officials there consider il their duty to
avert any possible danger which may
arise from the silver complication until
Congress meets. After that the respon-
sibility will rest with Congress.
Some time ago a movement was started
in New Orleans to arrest the loss Of cotton
business TO that city. As large proper