The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-24
A Victim of Politics.


a barbarous. brutal and revo.ting crime
was that which was committed at Lake
City, S. c., on Tuesday morning last. The
negro postmaster was killed, his infant
child was shot to death in its
mothers arms, his wife and three
for life, and the postmaster's
house was burned. Our dispatches say
that indignation is expressed everywhere,
and, it is to be presumed by everybody, at
such an exhibition of barbarity. Language
fails to express the feelings which such
crimes arouse. The people Of Lake City,
and Williamsburg county, SHOULD not
rest until the perpetrators of the fearful
deed are brought to justice. There is no
excuse that would justify their escape
from the punishment which the law pro-
vides.
But there is another side to the case. Is
not the administration, to a certain extent,
responsible for the crime? The President
and the Postmaster General know what
the feeling in the South is in respect 20
negro officials, and particularly negro
postmasters. Why then should they ap-
point negroes to important public posi-
tons? If they couldn't find white Repub-
licans to take the federal offices in the
South there would be some little excuse
for appointing negroes but there are plen-
ty of white Republicans, of excellent char
acter, who would gladly accept office I'M
der Republican administration, and there
would be more white Republicans if the
negro politicians were kept in the back
ground.
The President has no excuse for appoint
ing black officials in the South, except
the purpose of rewarding them for helping
him to get his nomination for President
and of securing their help In getting a re-
nomination in 1900. There are thousands
of negro Republicans in Ohio and thous-
ands in the states of New York and Penn
sylvania. In neither of the foregoing
states nor any other Northern state are
negroes appointed postmasters, or to any
other important OFFICIAL position. And,
why? Because the people of the Northern
states would not submit to having negro
officials at the head of prominent federal
offices. Why then should the President
expect the white people in the South TO
tamely acquesce in the appointment of ne
| groes to federal offices? He does not ex-
pect 1t. He knows what the feelings of
the Southern people are in regard to the
matter, but he prefers to pay his politi>
cal debts rather than respect their wishes
and feelings. And because he takes that
position he is partly responsible for such
crimes as that at Lake City.
For weeks the people at Hogansville, in
| this state, have been without a postmas-
ter, practically, because they refuse to
patronize their postoffice as long as a ne
! gro is postmaster. Does the President pay
! any regard to their wishes in the matter?
Not at all. He virtually says that the Ho-
gansville people must accept negro post
master or go without postoffice facilities.
For the wishes of the people he has no
consideration whatever. If he has not al
ready killed what promised to be grow
ing Republican party in the South, he will
do so before the end of his term.
1t may be said that it is hard on the ne
gro to be shut out of the offices which his
party has to distribute. The negro ought
not to expect to step into important Off
cial positions within few years after his
emancipation. Against the negro there is
no feeling of hostility, but against the ne
gro as an official there is, and the fact
might as well be recognized and admitted
by both whites and negroes. There is nc
use reasoning about tit exists and the
fact that 1t does exists should be taken
into account in administering the govern
ment. There is a prejudice against the
Chinese and Congress shut them out OF
the country There is a prejudice against
negro office holders; why not keep them
out of the offices? Why let prejudice con
troll in one case and not in the other?