The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-05-03
HARRISON AND TIE NEGROES.


HARRISON AND THE NEGROES.
The New York Herald discusses,
TO the extent of a column, "Presi.
dent Harrison and The colored Of
flee seekers," and comes to the con-
clusion that the negroes should not
be given the Federal offices, and
least of all III lhe South. 1t is
true that they constitute the bulk
OF The Republican party in this sec
ton, but then, says the Herald, par
aphrasing what Mr.. Harrison him.
self SAID 10 one of his dark visit
ors-what good are these votes TO
the Republican party, for whom do
they elect? Says the Herald:
The negroes ask for, offices on the
grounds that to the victors belong
the spOilS," but tie question arises:
Are lhe colored Republicans of the
South "vctOrs 2" Did they con-
tribute anything to Mr.. Harrison's,
success, or TO that OF his partyg
The answer must be No, they did
not. II is asserted that all, or sub
stanlially all the colored voters III.
the Southern States are Republi-
cans. They have a majority of
votes IN a number OF those States,
bur they did moi carry one for their
party. On the theory that "to the
victors belong The spoils" we do
not see how they have a shadow OF
"claim' tn office at the hands OF
President Harrison They had in
many States majorily-in some
large majOrily-of volers, but
they either did not go to the polls
or did not get their votes counted
| if they did, and the States which
by their numerical strength they
ought TO have carried Tor the Re-
publican party were lost to that
| party. TO "reward" them for To-
sing their States would be absurd.
But aside from the spoils theory,
The Herald sees other reasons why
Mr.. Harrison should not appoint.
negroes to office because such ap-
pointments would be objectionable
to a considerable portion of their
neigh bors, as well in The North as
in the South; indeed, The Herald
is cor vinced that the negro is more
objectionable personally and more
disliked on the other side than on
this side of the line. For which
reasons, ii lays down the following
grounds why negroes should no; be-
appointed TO the Federal Offices:
Now it is fact that there exists,
not merely in the Southern States,
but equally In The Northern States,
a strong prejudice against colOred
men holding Federal offices. We
do not hear any Northern cOmmu-
nifty or Northern political leaders
demanding the appointment OF col
ored men to office in their neigh
borhOOds-even to small postof-
ces. To our minds the prejudice
is inhuman and unchrlstian but
it is even stronger in the North
than In the South, for we know of
several instances in which Demo-
ocratic Governors of Southern
States have made cOlored men
sherilfS without serious objection
from their fellow Democrats, and
we doubt if a colored man has ever
been either appointed or elected
to so important an Office in any
| Northern Republican community.
But so universal a prejudice, un-
worthy though it may be, forms
part of the matter which a Presl-
dent is bound to consider IN select
ing his subordinaies. To these he
must confide in part the execution
of his duties, and it his agents are
for any cause incapaciiated to per-
form those duties in a manner sat
islactory not only to the President
but 10 the people, he is, we think,
obliged to consider that fact.
We think, therefore, that Presi-
dent Harrison is not "bound to ap-
point colored men 10 Office in the
Southern States" neither on the
aspoils" theory nor any higher one.
We should think him wise IT he
made no changes in cffice In the
! Southern States at present, nor un-
ill he has had time To look over The
ground by his agents, and ascertain
what changes are necessary. When
he does appoint 10 Office in those
States, we think it his duty TO Sc.
Iect only protecHonists and men OF
influence and standing acceptable
10 their communities.