New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-04
THE HOGANSJILLE INCIDENT.

The attempt recently made on the life OF the
colored postmaster at HOgansville. Ga, has
served to call attention afresh to the uncertain
and trying status Of the negro, as such, In the
life and politics of the South To the Northern
mind no attitude could well involve more
contradictions Of logic and feeling than that
habtually assumed by Southerners toward the
negro race Marked kindness and sympathy
i'm most Of the practical relations Of life are dis
placcd along certain lines Of contact by a fierce
ross of intolerance and vehemence Of prejudice
which seem to argue only the most rooted and
violent race anripathy. In politics, OF course,
the sense of irritation between the two races
las been carried 20 its acutcst pitch for on no
other field do white and black meet on level
however slippery and clusve-of recognized
and unavoidable equality. Thirty years OF life
under the conditions imposed by Reconstruction
have failed. however. to extOrt from Southern
sentiment any full or substantial acknowledge
ment of the parity Of rights and duties cstab-
lshed by the negro's enfranchisement and ele-
walton to citizenship. That the savage protest
against the negroes possession or employment
of political power which famed ont in the or
eanizcd terrorism Of the Ku-KluX conspiracy,
finds no general echo now I'm Southern scnti-
ment may be freely admitted. Yet the old
spirit which sees in even the slightest recOgni-
ton of the ncgro's equal right to political pro
ferncnt n mortal afrOlt to cherished Southern
preiudccs still survives in many communities.
and it's intensity and vitality are constantly dis
closed by exhibitions of race antipathy ms wan
ton and ndefensiblc as the shooting and MAIN
ing of the colored Ofiice-holder whom the Ad-
minls'raton had selected for the paltry dignity
and dutie; Of a fourth-class postmastershp.
1t has been encouraging TO find in many
Southern comments on the attempted murder a
certain note of apology and depreciation. Many
unusual burdens and annoyanccs are alleged to
have been imposed ON the people of HOgnns-
vile by the change In the administration of the
local postOfiice and some color is sought to he
given to the view that the attack on Loftin,
the postmaster, was inspired more by personal
than by political and public enmity. But with
all the ingenious pretences with which 1t Is
sought to overlap the gravity and true slgniti-
canoe Of the attempted crime, Southern opinion
does not shrink from plainly owning its rooted
aversion to any recognition of the ncgro's eligi
bility to Office or from confessing its determine
ton to resist by every method possible the Gle
walton Of negroes to posts Of political RESPONSE
billty or power The Administration having np-
him in possession, in spite of the local con-
spracy to Dust him by fair means or foul. His
right to receive the appointment was unques
toned and he should be susta ined IN It's enjoy
ment in spite of local terrorism and lawlessness.
The Postoffice Department has taken effective
steps to compel the people Of Hogansville to lift
the boycott put upon the new postmaster by the
white citizens Of the town and has forbidden
their use OF private mail route to get their
letters In and out without recourse TO the local
ofice But doubtless public resentment will
somehow find way to make the new function
ary's administration both profitless aud an
embiitered one.
How long the South Will continue to battle
against the recognition from any quarter Of the
political rights and privileges Of Its negro citi-
zens no present-day observer can tell. For
twenty years past practically no progress has
been made by the Southern negro toward sub