The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-05-15

man as can be found. When he was SUI
pervisor from this beat we took occasion TO
speak we'll for his public services. though we
opposed successfully his reelection. and
would oppose IL again. because We believe
in the election OF Democrats and white men
TO office. We would be pleased enough 10
see him rewarded by some such appoint
ment rs suggested above. but when IL Is
made rs apparent AS u now Is that his APP
pOintment to the pOstoffice here VIII mill
tate against the towns interest we feel IL
our duty AS well as our impulse TO join in
the protest.
This is bad enough in very provincial
journal, but the Times Democrat, of New
Orleans. is equally puerile:
1t would DO an act OF peculiar injustice
and oppression TO appoint or TO retain In
oifice negro postmasters in our seacoast
resorts. They ARE frequented by the nigh
est. most refined. and best educated classes
OF Northern and Southern people in winter
and summer. Neither visitors nor resi-
dents have any objection TO appointees TO
these offices on account OF political opin-
ions. All they AISLE Is that they should be
honest. competent. and polite. and that
they be either respectable white men or
women. This desired qualification is not
AN outcome OF sectional prejudice: North
erners and Southerners alike demand it:
and II the administration be disposed TO
act fairly in the matter. and TO avoid unjust
Pile OF these communities. it will comply
with this urgent demand.
And the PicayUne says:
The appointment OF a negro man named
l.. j. Piernas to be Postma ter at Bay st.
Louis in place of Miss Ioor. a white lady.
was recently announced. The change was
found extremely Objectionable. Bay St.
Louis. besides being place of considerable
Importance. is largely inhabited by the
families OF men doing business in this city,
OF which 1t is in reality "a suburb. The men
of the families being 'abscnt in the day
time. their postal business is done almo st
exclusively by the ladies and children. AN d
the appointment OF negro TO be Post
master In place OF a lady has aroused with
good reason widespread protest.
The Item, New Orleans, says:
II the Presidents Southern policy is to
placate the white race, he must not push
the negro race into the postofices, as at
Ocean Springs and Bay St Louis. The
postofflce touches the white people nearer
than any other Federal place; the whites
(women and girls includedl constitute the
great Majority OF it's visitors. because the
whites chiefly use the mails. Give negroes
custom house and internal revenue places,
Mr.. President. IL need be, but keep tho
postotlices Tor the whites, and at summer
resorts for white postmistresses where
practicable.
This is simply monstrous. Mr.. Piernas,
let il be remembered, is honest, capable,
and "as good colored man as can be
found. He has been appointed to an
Office where good service to the public is
required. The assumption of the Demo
cratic papers is that postoffice kept by
an honest, capable colored man Will be
offensive or dangerous to the white ladies
of the town. The whites of tho South
will trust the colored man as a custodian
of their houses, as a coachman, as a
business agent. As a head waiter in q
dining-room, or as a caterer, or as the
proprietor of an iee-cream parlor or a
confectionery store he will not be often
sive or dangerous to the ladies. Why
should such man be dangerous or often
sive as n Postmaster? Why Is the APP
pointment of Piernas an act of injustice
and oppression?