Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-07-04

The recsui iynsllpe II Sam Hoss, nsai
Atlasts, has caused uuch bod for
thoughs among The moro intelligent
| oltissne, White ard colorod, Of this seate.
/ his elass eenefally deplorss snch
actiona % h part Of ~ whites, but
| ~ arRumsne q ussd that % loug - III
blacl1 persist IN sach mledssds, just %
long Win ~ lynchiags continus. II
NEST not b supposed that The blacks
are al brutse or ths whites oil savages.
Less than pss cent % the soathern
negroes are d the lawless character oil
Sam Hose, ard The majority Of thu
negroes are eth IL trusted employes Of
he whies men, - they have been for
years.
The IDEAS promulgated BY uninformed
neWspapee writers are Ill wrong, % fAI
- the relstionshlp between the races ID
concerned. There are Thousands Of
negroes who occupy the highest posi-
tions Of trust and respect among their
white neighbOrs. Tue education OF the
negro has been bic salvation. No other
country can show such . history Of
quick adjustment between alien races ~
can Do shown BY statistics In the state
Of Georgia. Educated negroes are never
guilty Of the crimes that arc charged
against some Of the brutal and ignorant
whites.
Here 10 . story Of Q negro, born on q
plantation, who has been the "watch-
dog" Of The Georgia treasury for nearly
o quarter Of century. His name d
Peter McAlchael, aud he has passed,
without stain, through every state I'D.
ministration since the Democrats came
Into power 10 1870.
Peter ID an octoroon, his father having
been Shadrack McAichael,a large planter
and landholder In jasper County. Shad.
rsoh 1cMichsel Lost bis wife some years
befDrs The var. Hb heuse-gifl was Z
coosly mslattO, and they lived together
20 man and wife after the death OF his
wife. while they were not, and could
not, under the Law, be legally welded
hs recognized Peter and his three sister
by this girl ~ hh own children. He
proposed to leave thsm 1900 each Ia
his will, and, In the meantime, sent them
all to school. They were all small dur
Ing the var, bot they managed 70 make
the best Of their opportunities. The old
man died about the close Of the war,
and his estate vas turned over TO hii
son By his legal wife, Shsdrach Nc
Michael, Jr. The latter recognised TIKI
claims Of his hAlf-brothers and sisters
20 far ~ to agree 10 the payment Of thu
81 100 which Il had cost to give then
their schooling, but declined TO abide By
the provisions Of his fathers will.
Young Peter was consequently turnet
upon his own resources. His sisters
wbo were older, married. Peter, who
vas lad OF unusual intelligence, wal
kept on the plantation - sort OF gen
eral fAc<otum. He Was trusted - h
grew older, with looking after the gresl
| sagou-trains that drove TO Madison AND
other points on the Georgia railroad q
| dispose Of the cotton crop. He proved
himself perfectly Trustworthy.
Finally, deciding 70 better hls fortunes
no came 70 this city and secured TIT
place OF page 10 the General Assembly
where he soon won the confidence OF thu
State House officials. "Send for Pete
Vas the remark when anything Of par
ticularly special nature VAS 70 be trans
mitted. That was during the last day
Of the reconstruction period. Finally
In 1871, the Democrats came into power
and james NJ. Smith, the "blacksmiti
Governor" WAS elected. His attention
had been attracted TO Peter, and he made
him messenger In his Office. At thu
close Of his term, after he had done
much service In handling the funds o.
the state. under the treasurer, Peter VA
made messenger Of the treasury.
Since that time, about . quarter Of |
century ago, hc has held the same posi-
tion under each successive adminIstra
ton. He has handled millions Of dol
lars Of the state, and never has Their
been the least discrepancy. Sometimes
he has carried TO the various stat,
repositories a. much n e35 900 per day
during the 6usy season OF the psymen
Of taxes. He has the confidence and 90
TEEN, not only OF the State House OH
Gals, but OF every Georgian who 10 IL
any way convcrsant with the working
Ut the state machinery.
Peter Ii now Q little over forty year,
Of age. He has nice home Of his own
and has provided . comfortable domicil'
for his aged mother In this city.-Nev
York Post.