The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-21
WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE?
SERIOUS SIDE OF THE NEGRO
QUESTION Is APPARENT.

Shall the Administration Continue to
Force Negroes on the Southern
PeOpIe--The Lotion Case to BE Coma
sidercd by the Cnbinct-Wiu the
Negro he Backed by Northern Bay
Onets-Thc Question as 1t Affects
Lyons appointment.
Washington. Sept. 9.-President Nc
Klnley evidently hesltates about inflict-
ing Judson Lyons upon the people of Au-
gusta as postmaster. A long list of post
masters was announced to-day, but Lyons
was not named
J. S. Garrett secured the Columbus Of
flee, defeating e. N. Clemence, who was
backed by Walter Johnson.
Lyons was at the white house to-day
with the expectation of seeing the Presi-
dent, but there was such a crowd of pre-
fcrred callers, including several senator's,
representatives, and bureau officers, that
hefdid not secure the much desired inter-
view Lyons was accompanied by Bill
Pledger and DR.. Merrill of Atlanta and
James Hin, the colored national commit
teeman from Mississippi Walter Johnson
went home last night. so Lyons is here
conducting his interest for the Augusta Of
flee single handed.
Lyons Is not saying much regarding the
question of colored postmasters in the
south. except that he knows he will not be
molested If appointed postmaster at Au-
gusta. He refers to the fact that c. r.
jackson, colored, was a few days ago ap-
pointed postmaster at Darien, Ca, one of
the Oldest cities in the state Ne has the
nd Of LOADING 6an1oar9fG of the
principal democratic papers.
National Committeeman Hill said to-
day: 81 do not know anything OF the
situation at Hogansville, Ga, but / know
that IL the colored man was shot because
of his appointment as postmaster, that
does not represent the general sentiment
OF the white people of the south. For
years past coored men of character and
standing have been appointed postmasters
for southern cities without being molest-
ed in any way
The postoffice department has taken no
action regarding the trouble over the APP
pointment of a colored postmaster at Ho-
| gansvile, Ga, which has stirred up the
| people of that section to a high pitch Of
| excitement, resulting in the shooting OF
| the coiored man. The Fourth Assistant
| Postmaster General, speaking of this mat
ter to-day, said that he had no official
| information regarding the trouble on
/ which to form judgment, and that ha
| would take no action until such informa-
| ton is received. 1t Is understood that
/ the report Of the postofiice inspector, who
| has charge of Investigating the matter,
| will be here in a day or two. 1t is said
| that in nearly every case i'm which a COLI
| ored republican is appointed to a postof-
| fee in the south charges are made against
| his character and the place in which he
| proposes to locate his office. Among soma
| of the officials of the postohice depart
| mont, says the Star, there Is very strong
| feeling I'm favor of upholding the colored
| postmaster at Hogansville by very heroic
means. If necessary. 1t Is likely that the
| matter win be considered not only per-
sonally by the Postmaster General, but
that it Will be discussed al a meeting OF
the cabinet in order to determine upon a
policy to be pursued in the appointment
of colored men as postmasters through
out the administration"
The Washington Post, in commenting
upon the Hogansville affair, states the sit
uaton in the south with commendable
fairness. THE recent murderous assault
of certain citizens Of Hogansville, Ga,
upon their negro postmaster therefore
merits seyerest condemna tion, and the
perpetra tors Of the dastardly crime should
be brought speedily TO justice. At the
same time, while we do not excuse 1t, we
can readily understand the spirit of re-
sentiment which has eliminated in the as
sault on Postmaster Lotion. Whether the
President cares to be blindly indifferent or
not, the ant-negro feeling in some por-
tions of the south is still quite bitter. The
time when the negro was slave is not
so remote that it has been forgotten, nor
has The inculcated sentiment of almost a
century been dissipated by the passing of
a few years. There Is no doubt that the
condition of the negro in the south is and
has been steadily improving. In his eff
forts TO secure education and a conse-
quently firmer footing in the struggle for
advancement, he has, in many southern
states, been generously aided. He is al
lowed full scope TO succeed in the profess
sion of law, or of medicine or in the re-
muneratve trades. 1t is only when he is
placed i'm the position Of authority over
the white man IL is when he comes In
close personal contact with citizens, male
and female, OF all classes in the daily dis
tribution Of mail, for instance, that the
pride of race asserts itself and the de-
plorable events occur which we have oc-
casion now to condemn
whether the President would act wisely
in continuing 10 appoint negroes to office
in the south Is a serious question. So far
the experiment has not been accepted kind
ly by the people placed under negro au-
thority We know that the colored BROTH
or comprises ninety per cent perhaps, OF
the republican strength in the south, and
we know that he has waited long and in
vain for something to fall to him in the
distribution OF the loaves and fishes. That
his patience and unrewarded devotion to
his party IS worthy of practical apprecia-
tion seems to be self answering propo-
sition. and yet when his appointment to
federal Office invariably produces race
trouble and possible blood shed, the situa-
ton becomes one for thoughtful consider
alton"
-s-e~-o