San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-09

| "A CRITICISM OF nose DlSBruntleu
at the Galveston Collectorship.
SAN ANTONIO, August 3, 1889.
Editor LIGHT:
The appointment of n. w. Quincy to
| the collec torship of Galveston has
created decided stir in political cir
cles. The hornets nest in the hustle
of the democratic party is fairly
stirred up and the insects are buzz
ling npleasantly about the ears of
Mr.. Quincy and his friends. The Gal
weston News declares that in Cuney's
appointment the repu blican party re-
ceives a black eye. Other democratic
papers sarcastically refer to him as
the "Cooney,n etc. A universal howl
of dissatisfaction is heard on every
side. The grumbling is not confined
to democrats. A few republicans are
expressing themselves fully on the
subject. One gentleman is credited
with having said: THE appointment
of Quincy will cost his party several
thousand votes.n Just what grounds
he has for the assertion is a mystery.
Expressions more worthy of child
rem than men are heard and
neither the President or Mr..
Quincy is spared. 1t is a
matter of surprise and regret that in.
telligent men who will manifest the
most listless apathy Oh every other
phase of the negro question are taking
so much interest in this case, and are
giving vent to such childish utteran-
ces. All this, as is plainly evident, is
the outcome of party and race preju-
dice. Regardless of the principles of
the republican party, unmindful of
the fact that the constitution of the
United States recognizes man, not
by his color or previous condition but
upon his merits, that in the spirit and
letter of that document all men are
alike, a few republicans and all DEM
oarats will persist in abusing Quincy
and censuring the president for hav-
ing appointed him. 1t must be a
Quincy that no one has seen fit, or Is
able to deny his peculiar fitness for this
office to which he has been appointed,
though unsparing in their criticisms.
His ability Is, therefore, unquestion-
ed, and as long as this remains to his
credit he has nothing to fear. Mr..
Quincy enjoys the confidence of his
race in far greater degree than
many of the so called lea ders. A de-
termination to remain loyal to them
at all hazards, has characterized his
every action, and it is this which has
won for him the reputation which he
enjoys to-day. In his appoin tment
not only is one of the most cherished
tenets of the republican party exem-
plified, but worthy man is reward
ed. In fact, better selection could
not have been made. 1t is not the
purpose of this article to Indulge in
any particular eulogy of the negro, or
to prove his qualifications for office.
But it does seem that when an i'm
portant position is given a negro,
a few disgruntled politicians
should cease nursing their sore
thumbs and come out on the side of
justice. In no: sense is the negro an
arrogant, strictly speaking. He. like
all others, presents his modest claims
and of course expects them to be no.
ticed. He is careful to qualify himself
before taking such a step. The intel
ligent negro is nothing if not conser-
vative. Realizing the almost insur-
mountable barrier-that of color-be-
tween himself and other races, he
does not ask for social recognition,
but is content with having his rights
as citizen. Entering, as he does,
largely into the population and pros
perity of the United States, 1t is but
right that these should be accorded
him. The only objection to Quincy is
that he is a negro. Let us hope that
this will nrOva hut tan1pOrary