The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-21
The HogansviIIe AFFAIR.

The indications are that the attempted
assassination of the negro postmaster at
HogansviIe viii be given considerable
political prominence before it is permitted
to drop out of the public mind. The po-
siuon Gov Atkinson has taken in respect
TO 1t will assist in giving it prominence.
The governor does not, of course. sym
pathize with the attempt to assassinate
the postmaster, but he thinks that the
President is largely to blame for what
has taken place at Hoganselle, and we
are satisfied that conservative and right
thinking people in all parts of the coun-
try agree with him.
The President was well aware that a
negro postmaster would not be acceptable
TO the Hogansville people A protest
against the appointment Of a negro, sign
ed 10y nearly all the white residents. was
presented to him before the appointment
was made. He was also aware that the
appointment of a negro would likely lead
TO trouble. Why, then, did he make an
appointment which he knew would in
cense the people and perhaps bring about
a race conflict? Was it because no white
republican could he found willing to ac-
cept the office? That was not the reason.
because it is expressly stated that there
is a white republican in the town who
would have gladly accepted the ofice-a
man who has the good will of the people.
But even if there had not been an availa-
bic white republican, it doesn't follow
that it was necessary to appoint negro.
The office is not one of great importance,
II
ed his party in Georgia of any considera-
bic amount of patronage if he had APP
pointed a democrat.
The office of postmaster is not one to
be used for the payment of political debts.
1t doesn't necessarily belong to the party
in power 1t belongs to the people, and
the people have a right to have their
wishes respected as to who shall fill it.
The Office of postmaster is quite differ
ent from that of other federal offices,
in that it CONES closer to the people.
Men, women and children are daily Wis
itors at the postoffice.
If a satisfactory man to act as post
master could be obtained, why was an
Questionable one thrust upon the people
at Hogansyile? 1t seems that the man
who was appointed was a supporter of
the President at the St Louis convention,
and demanded the Hogansville postoffice
as his reward. In order, therefore, that
a political henchman might be rewarded,
the wishes of the people of a very con-
siderable town were disregarded.
Doubtless the President thought that as
the only thing against the man he pro-
posed to appoint was his color, he would
take it upon himself to show the people
of Hogansvile that he had no sympathy
with their prejudice against a negro post
master Was he justified in disregarding
this race prejudice? We say emphatically
he was not In making the appointment,
if he desired to serve the people, he was
bound to take into consideration all the
existing conditions. He had no right to
treat with contempt the prejudice against
a negro postmaster. When he disregard
ed it he knew he invited trouble, and per-
haps violence
We have no objection to the Presidents
providing for those who helped him to get
the high office he holds, but let him pro-
vide for them where they will not be the
cause of strife. There is no reason why
he should annoy a whole community in
paying a political debt.
We do not wish to be understood as
approving assaults upon negro postmas-
ters. on the contrary, we condemn them
as strongly as it is possible to do Neither
do we wish to put a single straw in the
way of the advancement of the negroes,
but where there are conditions which make
the appointment of a negro to an office
unadVisable it is the part of wisdom to
recognize the existence of these condi-
tons.