New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-14
THE ATLANTA FOOLISHNESS.

Monday night, it is said, an armed mob OF
white men, including many citizens OF prom
inence and influence, were paradlng the streets
of the excited city, and it was only through
the intervention of the Governor, and as
result of his pleadings for peace, that bloody
conflict between the races was warded OF.
Now, what was the origin of this frenzy-ior
that is the only word by which it can be de-
scribed-on the part of many of the more in
telligent and conspicuous residents OF a town
whose name is a synonyme the country over
for enterprise and energy, and all the other
attributes of progressive nineteenth century
community? Why, simply that negro had
been appointed TO a place in the postofllce
where a white young lady, who was also a
clerk, might have to come into contact with
him.
As the attempt has been made to represent
this amazing outbreak of race prejudice as
the natural outcome Of feeling which pre-
walls in the North as well as in the South, 1t
may be as well to give the facts in their proper
order. General Lewis, the offending post
master makes statement in The Atlanta
Constitution which leaves the conduct of the
white rioters as much without provoca-
ton as it must be considered without excuse,
even if there had been provocation. There
were two vacancies in subordinate places
in the p0Stoflce, one in the Money Order De
paltment and the other in the Registry Depart
ment. The local Civil Service Board fur
niShed on application two names, between
which the Postmaster Disseminated sufficient
ly to appoint the white man to the place in
the Money Order Department, where he would
be brought into contact with the citizens using
the Office, and to put the negro at desk in
the Registry Department, where he would have
nothing to do with the public. So the action
of the Postmaster, instead of being in rcck-
less defiance of race prejudice, was really an
endeavor to make all the concession to it that
the situation permitted But there was
young white woman employed in the office,
whose desk stood in the next room, and all
this pother has been raised because the white
young woman might be drought into con-
tact' with the negro. As the PostmaSters
statement shows, however, there could be no
neal necessity for this, and the sympathy Of
some who have leaned to the white side Of
this case, under the impression that the young
lady had been forced into close cOmpaniOnship
with negro proves to have been entirely
misplaced.
The white citizens of Atlanta, however al
lowed thc-T feelings to run away with their
judgment, and a mob of ., 600 of them, it j.
said, burned the efligy Of the Postmaster along
with that of a leading politician who was also
held responsible for the appointment Then
the negroes came very near allowing their
feelings also to run away with their judgment.
They became very much excited, just as the
whites had done, and threatened TO burn in
cffigy the young woman whose personality had
been the centre OF all this contention, and her
father Unfortunately enough, at this junctme
a negro was shot dead by police officer in
the discharge Of his duty, and the agitation Of
the negroes was greatly increased Thercupon
The whites, who have the advantage Of the
blacks in being able to grow very much more
excited On any proyocation than the latter
can, were aroused to fury again, and poured
cut into the streets in the mob of Monday
night, their special prOyocation this time be-
ing the threatened insult to a wOman-Which
would indeed have been disgfaccful. But
the blacks restrained their foolish impulses
thus exhibiting powers of sell-control decided
ly greater than those of the whites. They did
not burn The young woman in elfgy who, by
the way, promptly resigned, and whose place
had already been flied by another white
woman Of excellent connections. The negroes
also appealed to the Governor for protection
and he succeeded in inducing the mob to dis
perSe.
The entire transaction is dscIcditable to the
whites Of Atlanta, who have not benefited the
good name Of their city 10y INDUCING in these
excuses Of race passion. The negroes who
are by far their interiors in education and in
telligence make altogether the best record in
the affair. In fact, by this time, the more
reasonable among the whites are probably
wondering why they should have given way
to such an OutburSt of feeling about a matter
of 50 little consequence. The same degree Of
association between whites and blacks has
been tolerated before, even in the South. The
episode Of the trial Of Yede for murder in
South Carolina is a much brighter picture to
turn to. 1t was feared by many in the North
that when he, a negro was taken South from
Pennsylvania to be tried for the murder Of q
white man his doom was sealed. But although
he was tried by white jury, he was acquitted
1t is said to have Been necessary to keep him
out Of count when sentence was pronounced.
| because threats had been made to kill him i'm
the very presence Of the Judge if he should
be acquitted. But the authorities carefully
protected his life. and got him out Of the state
in safety. It may seem strange to say Of
civilized country that the performance Of this
obvious duty was a credit to them but under
| the circumstances. it was so nevertheless
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TIE FLACK DIV0RCE
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